I am wanting to replace an old reel seat on a bamboo rod. Any recommendations on how to remove this old reel seat without damaging the bamboo blank and cork grip??
Thanks in advance!!

Hi Robbie, I have removed a few reel seats, both aluminium and graphite. I built these rods so I knew what was under the reel seat, i.e. masking tape arbors. I used a dremmel with a fine cutting disk, running down two sides. Then simply levered the reel seat off. I mention about the arbors as I knew i had approx 3-5mm between the reel seet and the blank and knew I would NOT damage it. Regards Adam



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/13/2010 12:41AM by Adam Edwards.

Robbie,

Adam's solution is a good one. You definitely do not want to heat the reel seat and fry your bamboo rod. As Adam stated use extreme care if you do decide to use a cutting wheel of some sort. If you can clear material from either fore or rear area of the reel seat and see what kind of room you have to play with.

Tight lines,

John

You might be able to just wiggle it and caress it and "persuade" it to come off. The glues they used back then were not great, and by now the adhesive under the seat is very dried out. A little careful twisting and pulling, and it may come right off. BE AWARE: there is probably a pin that holds the reel seat hood in place. Remove the pin before attempting to remove the seat or the pin will shred the bamboo.
And, be careful with the cork grip, or you may loosen it in the process. I would try to grab the blank just up from the cork with one hand and the seat with other hand, and try to pull the seat off the end of the blank.

George Forster
Fort Collins, CO



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/12/2010 10:19PM by George Forster.