I'm in the process of converting a one handed (7" full wells) steelhead fly rod I built on an 11' CTS Affinity blank, to a switch rod with a 9.5" full wells handle and a 4" extension handle/fighting butt. I removed all of the old cork, but there is still some epoxy and embedded tiny cork bits on the recessed hood part of the reel seat that I need to clean off before I can attach the new, longer handle. I believe the reel seat is a black/heavier duty aluminum REC model.

I used Devcon two ton, clear, waterproof epoxy to attach the reel seat & handle to this rod around 7 years ago (that stuff has an incredible bond!). Aside from painstakingly picking/scraping away at it, is there any method or solvent that I could use to safely remove this old epoxy, especially where a little excess originally oozed out onto the knurling of the visible portion of the recessed hood cap?

P.S. On another old rod I built with this epoxy, I could not loosen up a reel seat using the heat of a hair dryer. I actually submerged it in boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes. Never got the woven insert off.

Thanks!

Try a LITTLE heat from a micro torch or cig lighter.

I'll second Bob's post above, I have used a heat gun do to the same thing, try it on a light setting first, then increase it a little bit at a time. Trick is to take your time and tread lightly with the heat.

Solvents won't touch epoxy.

Use as much heat as is required to soften the epoxy, and then use a straight edged razor blade - scraped at 90 degrees to the surface. Generally, just a few minutes will take care of the residue.

Take care
REW

Just to be on the safe side, wrap a wet rag around the portion of the reel seat behind the hood, and the rod blank in front of the seat. The reel seat is aluminum, and might conduct heat where you don't want it. I have started to use old credit cards etc,. to scrape this stuff off. They are harder then a finger nail, and more forgiving then a razor blade.

Mike Bradfrod
R.M.B. Fishing Rods
Nampa, Idaho

Not to disagree with others but there are epoxy paint strippers that will remove cured epoxy. They aren't pleasant.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.