Hello all!
New to the forum and want to say thanks for hosting a great site. I'm relatively new to rod building, having only built one rod about 10 years ago. I still fish it to this day. I am starting on another winter project rod and ran into a small problem early on. The shop that sold me the blank put a butt cap on the end of the rod (I assume to ensure it fit) However, now that I'm ready to start my build, I can't for the life of me get the thing off in order to glue it back into place. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to successfully remove it without damaging the cap or the blank? It is a simple PAC BAY rubber cap.

Thanks all for your help.

Try a blunt instrument pried into and under the cap edge. Work it around the circumference until the bond is broken.

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How about dipping just the cap into near boiling water. Not sure how much rubber will expand but it might be enough to get it off.

Steve Hartzell
Lake Conroe - Willis, Texas

Adam,
Just a thought, if the cap is on so well that it is next to impossible to get off, why not just leave it on the grip and use it.

It sounds like the friction fit is so good, that there is little need for any additional adhesive.

Be safe

Thanks for all the replies! I had tried applying heat and using a blunt instrument until it made me uncomfortable due to possible blank damage. In the end I've decided to go with Roger on this one. I appreciate a more experienced rod builder offering that advice.
Cheers
Adam

if you can't get it off why do it , as you said you want to re-glue it ? if just to clean it up, use fine sand paper, fine steel wool are just a couple of ways to do it ,
if you want to save it for a different rod cur it off a clean it out . if you want to save the blank, just open it cap up an remove it . to save the blank an cap just dig the handle out ,
save all three BLANK , Handle , & cap, leave it alone an just clean it up the best way you have near you

William Sidney
AK