I have a customers rod for a restoration project. He wants to keep it as original as possible and he also wants to keep the original aluminum reel seat. I suggested replacing the seat but he wants to keep the original.

It's a fiberglass boat rod(circa 1961). I have the guides removed already and the blank is semi sanded down so far. What looks like hickory for the grips. If I remove the fore grip I know of no other way than ruining it to get it off. I would then need to match the wood.

What is the best way to remove the green stuff from the reel seat?

Does anyone have knowledge of typical woods used in 1961 for grips??

Patrick Lloyd
Pearland, TX
Have been repairing and building rods off and on since 2001

I have used Simple Green on it so far with a medium brislte brush. So So results but did remove a good bit of the green stuff.

Patrick Lloyd
Pearland, TX
Have been repairing and building rods off and on since 2001

A product called CLR is the very best I've seen for removing light corrosion including the green stuff.

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

You can try vinegar or something like CLR. Depending how bad the "green stuff " (corrosion) is, the problem will probably be the pitting that is left behind.

A product that works very very well for this problem is the use of Auto Mag wheel cleaner. Put it on, give it a quick scrub with a toothbrush and it is gone. Many of these cleaners also contain a polish whill help protect the aluminum from future corrosion.

If the fore grip is all right, as well as the butt grip and if the aluminum cleans up all right; why would you have to remove the fore grip.

Any wood can easily be matched. Take your rod - as it is right now to a good cabinet shop and the folks at a good cabinet shop will easily be able to identify the wood and provide suggestions for a match.

If you do decide to do the fore grip, I would suggest that you do both the fore grip and butt grip at the same time. Find matching wood, and then make both the fore grip and butt out of the same branch for a perfect match.
Chop the branch to length, chuck it into the lathe center drill it and thrn it down to the necessary shape. If you don't have the lathe or ability, trake the rod to a good wood working shop and have the craftsmen there duplicate the grips.



Roger



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/30/2011 12:16PM by roger wilson.

Flitz should clean the green off, and polish the metal as well. This is a paste product, but is very fine grit. I have used it to remove rust from blued guns. You didn't say why the wooden grips need to be removed. Are they loose, damaged, or just need to be refinished?

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

CLR will do the trick.

Mike I peeled off the cord from the fore grip and after sanding it down I found a hairline crack in it. Cracked not to the point it would interfere with fighting fish. I'm going to use an epoxy to fill the void. I have used this on pens and bowls before with pretty good success.

Patrick Lloyd
Pearland, TX
Have been repairing and building rods off and on since 2001

Hickory and maple

Dennis J. Danku
(Sayreville,NJ)