I have been having fits trying to remove tip tops from a couple fiberglass boat rods. These rods are 6' 6" medium heavy fiberglass and I removed all wraps and epoxy up to the top before heating it up but they will not budge. I hate to heat the fiberglass up too much for fear of damaging the blank. Can anybody help me out with this?
Thanks,
Steve Chontos

Rest assured that too much heat, even by a tad, will ruin the tip of a glass rod blank. The resin holding the blank together will melt at a temperature that you'll easily exceed with even a common cigarette lighter.

About the only way to remove them is to spiral cut the tiptop tube while being careful not to cut into the blank tip. Go lightly and as soon as you get close to cutting all the way through insert a screwdriver blade tip into the slot and twist - the tiptop should pop apart and easily come off the rod.

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I have broken down a few myself. I have found that some of these older rods, they didn't use tip top glue to aheese the tip top on. Instead they used actual 2 part epoxy. it was the craziest thing i saw. I literally had to peel the tip top off.

I guess it's best just to cut any tops from glass blanks. And I guess the small dremel tool with an abrasive wheel is what you all are using?
Thanks for the help,

Steve Chontos

I use a file edge. Power tools are great, but they also tend to speed up the rate at which you damage something.

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The dremel will also generate heat in a hurry and also cut quicker than you may realize.

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

sounds good guys, thanks for the info.

Steve

When you heat a old tip top for removal the main thing you are doing is breaking the glue bond. Thats it. Not cooking or melting it. I have had very good success heating tips over a stove top. This is not like cooking a hotdog or a marshmellow. I work the rod tip quickly with a few spins as I go. Then take it out of the heat for a moment. Repeat as necessary and check the tip to see if its removable.The tip out of the heat will still continue to break down the epoxy. Never twist it off. Pull straight off. Needless to say in my younger days I have had some shoot off like rockets and the tip look like and exploding cigar but experience has prevailed and my tip replacements have never come back for repair.

I have done a lot of those
I use the paper clip and rubber band on the clip the clip on the top

I heat with a candle as it is under pressure You may have to do it several times but when ready it will pop off

Bill - willierods.com