I have a 6'6" heavy rod that I would like to rebuild. I started out removing the guides with a heat gun and a razor blade. On one guide I went a little to deep and ended up removing about an inch of the outer glossy finish. I did not cut into the fibers that I can see. Did I render this blank unusable? The cut is in an area I'll be wrapping a new guide on to the blank. I did put it under a load a few times and it seemed fine.
Has anyone else ever experienced this mishap?

If it is just the finish, no problems.

Never cut against anything except the top of the guide foot - that will prevent this problem in the future. See the FAQs page here for guide removal instructions.

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Thanks Mike & Tom,
I've removed guides in the past but for some reason I started at the side of the guide.
Thanks again,

I always cut the first wrap loose, at the toe of the guide, and unwrap all the thread off the guide. I guess it's a fear factor. I have always done it that way even though it takes longer.

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

I do that all the time - carefully - with heat then start the thread and pull it off as I heat to keep it soft.

Bill - willierods.com

You should be fine, I would load it a number of times in the same manner 'maybe a little more' that you will while fishing it to be sure it is okay before you build it up.

Tight Lines and Bull's-eyes,

Get Bit Outdoors
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I did load it a few times and put the pressure to it thinking if it's going to break do it now while I'm loading the rod and not while I'm fishing. I'll try it a few more times before rebuilding it.

Thanks

As long as you do not see splinters as in wood you should be fine

Bill - willierods.com