I recently built a casting rod on a mud hole X camo blank. The first round of epoxy didn't gel, as I tried measuring with a graduated cup and Yorker caps instead of syringes. I decided to go ahead and finish over this mess, and the top coat gelled fine. Over time, the ungelled first coat blistered up through the top coat, so I decided to strip the rod and start over. It stripped easily, except there is some epoxy that gelled properly left on the blank past the edge of where the thread was. Does anyone have a safe way to remove these tiny bits without damaging the blank finish? Can I leave it and finish over this, since it is properly gelled?
Thanks in advance!

Fingernail or credit card. If you're lucky the cured epoxy will probably "pop" off the blank.

When I strip the guides from a rod and replace them (in the same location) I only remove rhe epoxy forn the threads. If as Billy said above doesn't work I leave the epoxy that extends past the wrap alone if it is in good condition. I use a fingernail card to lightly sand inside the bands of good epoxy level being careful not to scratch the blank or the epoxy bands. Don't wory that there is some epoxy left between the bands just be sure that it is very thin and level. Under wrap from band to band this covers the messy area then procede with the guide instilation as you would on a new build. I apply the first coat of epoxy up to the bands but not over them then the second coat covers the bands. They will blend into each other and disappear.

Don

Thanks guys. One of those ideas should work.

There is something about a thumbnail. It just works. Try warming the epoxy a bit with a hair dryer. Just warm it. Then start picking at it with your thumbnail.

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