I know I am asking a difficult question with out being able to give more facts I recently picked up an older custom rod it is a yellow blank and looks to be
a fenwick I dont think it is a lami because it is to light in color that being said the problemb I am facing is that some one for one reason or another saw fit
to coat the rod with what looks to be rod varnish and a very poor job of it now underneath this mess is a very well done butt wrap that I would like to salvedge
it does appear that the wraps are epoxyed under the gobs of stuff whatever it may be.
any suggestions would be greatly appreiatted.
forgive my crummy spelling
Joe

Sounds like a difficult chore to say the least! Are you planning to re-wrap the rod or trying to save the existing wraps. Trying to remove the top varnish chemically may damage the finish on the wraps and then the repair becomes more difficult if you are trying to save them.Try using alcohol first and work your way through stronger solvents is my best advice.

Try putting the flamefrom a cigarette lighter on a small area of the blank to get peeling started Use a utility knie to get under the heated varnish and peel off the varnish Once started you can peel the whole rod,using a little heat in stubborn areas. It`s going to take a bit of time but can be done.

Are you trying to save all the wraps or just the butt wrap? If only the butt wrap, cover it with masking tape (completely and tightly), then use a stripper paste to remove the varnish. There are strippers made especially for varnish.

If you are trying to save all the warps, you have your hands full, and heating the varnish will also soften the epoxy over the warps.

The first thing you have to be sure of is what the over-coating is!!

Try Citristrip, available at any hardware store. It is non-toxic, gentle on the blank, and very effective on old varnish.

George Forster
Fort Collins, CO

Thanks for all the replys folks hope to have some time this week end will let you all know the results

X2 on the citristrip. Works well for this application. The heat and pick process will be your best chance at saving the butt wrap weave.

Terry