I would like to remove a reel seat from a spey rod and reinstall it as a downlocking seat to improve the rod/reel balance. The rod is a Meiser, that I built as a kit, without realizing the seat should be downlocking.
I'm assuming I'll have to sacrifice the lower grip, but would like to save the seat without damaging the blank. I've read a few suggestion for doing this, but thought I'd look for the best advice on this site.
Any help would be appreciated.

if the seat is solid you can try some heat to sofen the epoxi but don't hold your breath , for the most part the seat is on there an the easyest way to remove it is to cut an install a new one if you count your time as money that is the fastest way , in pass threads if you look up on this forum lots of people have tried but few have accomished it ,
most just replace the seat , some use heat gun an kep it moving some use a hot water bath an some just use a drumel tool cut a slit from top to bottom on 2 sides 180 deg apart , them use a flat tip driver an go to it , [ that is the fastest an easyest way to get it off you will need to rework the top grip if not ' REPLACE IT "
my 2 CTS ON IT, run a surch ont this froum an see what thet have tried in the passed try's

William Sidney
AK

I have had very good luck removing fly rod reel seats using the boiling water method. I place the seat in a zip lock bag to prevent it getting wet, then boil for 15 min. and work quickly (use gloves as seat will be hot) to pull the seat off the butt end. Sometimes it takes a couple of boiling sessions to get the epoxy under the seat warm enough to loosen. It is easier if the reel seat is all metal or the wood insert is hardwood as they conduct the heat to the epoxy better. Be sure the entire seat is under the boiling water!

Thanks for your replies.
I'm a little nervous about damaging the blank while boiling the seat. The lower 6" of the blank would be in the water as well. Should I be worried?

Most graphite blanks utilize resin systems that won't be harmed until somewhere over 225F. Most will handle a little more. Since water boils at 212F, you are generally okay to try this method.

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Will give it a try...Thanks for your help.

G'Day Rick I only had one success in removing grips & seat to put on another rod & I managed to do this using hot water from the tap .With a lot of time & twisting things the glue started to loose their grip .The overall time was around the 2 hour mark .But once things started to move the time from then on was probably only around 15 min. I made sure that I had thick rubber gloves to stop scalding of my hands The grips & seat are now mounted on another blank & the owner is fishing happily with it .

Regards Baz

Bundeena
NSW Australia

I've done quite a few repair jobs involving handle changes or reel seat replacements and always managed to recover the reel seat to be used again. The best an safest way was with the heat gun. I've also tried cooking the handle in the oven or boiling it but with the heat gun I have better control of the procedure . You should wave the gun and constantly rotate the rod to avoid burning the reel seat or the rod blank underneath the reel seat. A cooking glove or something else which can also provide heat insulation and a good grip will do to grab the reel seat and rotate it . You should heat and try to rotate rotate the reel seat at 2-3 minute intervals . Of course, previously you have to remove the butt section of the rod.
In fact , changing factory design of fishing rods brought me to this : [www.youtube.com]

kingofbeasts custom rods