Greetings -

For reasons that aren't really that interesting, I need to remove the first roller guide which I just added to a rod that I just finished wrapping. I've got one underwrap of thread, one over wrap of thread, and three coats of High Build rod finish that just finished curing yesterday. What is the best technique? Is there a safe solvent that I can use on the blank to disolve the finish to expose the thread, and then cut the thread with a razor blade? Can I use that same solvent to clean up the blank before I put on the replacement guide? Is an alternative to use a razor blade to carefully peel off the finish?

I guess the good news is that the under wrap will go back in the same place, so as long as I don't damage the blank, a few light scratches or light damage to the finish of the Calstar blank will not be visible on the final product.

Thanks all,
John Esler

Your answer is already on the FAQs page here.

..............

Take a razor blade or some thing similar and cut though the thread. Peal it off. Don't hit the blank !! Use your thumb nail or a soft plastic device to remove the rest of the finish. Re wrap.

Bill - willierods.com

Ahhh, there it is in the FAQ. Sorry about that.

Regards,

John Esler

John,
Use a heat gun in the area of the wrap to slightly soften the finish. Don't overdo it, but a bit of heat makes the job much easier and you will have it cleaned up in a few minutes.
Take care
Roger

I have a question about removing Flex coat... I am building my first fly rod and I wraped tape around my blank at the end of my guides, so I wouldn't get Flex coat on my blank where I didn't want it. Well it sort of worked, but the flex coat seeped underneath the tape in places. My question is, is there a way to remove dried flex coat without messing up the finish on my blank?

I have a question about removing Flex coat... I am building my first fly rod and I wraped tape around my blank at the end of my guides, so I wouldn't get Flex coat on my blank where I didn't want it. Well it sort of worked, but the flex coat seeped underneath the tape in places. My question is, is there a way to remove dried flex coat without messing up the finish on my blank?