Let's try my first post again now that I have read the owner's manual and included my last name as required. I am trying to remove a tip top installed with Flex Coat Five Minute Epoxy. Notwithstanding the advice in Tom Kirkman's book, heat applied with a butane lighter hasn't worked. I would rather not shorten the blank by an inch and am afraid that applying too much pressure while heating the tip will damage the blank. Suggestions?

If heat will not remove that tip top then you have a problem.
You could try again with an alcohol lamp this time, being careful to keep the flame moving under the tip top for a very short period of time.
Be warned though, that the over zealous application of heat can melt and ruin your rod. If this still fails, then I see no alternative but to cut the tip, and this will likely change the handling characteristics of the rod, if the amount removed is as much as an inch.
Personally I always use a hot melt glue stick to install tip tops specifically to avoid the sort of problems that you are now having.
Good luck!

I forgot to add in my last post that if you try again with heat, be sure to pull the tip top directly away from the rod. Do not twist it.
If by chance you soften the resins in the rod, twisting can ruin the blank!

On obstinate and difficult to remove tops I will usually grind them off instead of exposing the rod to heat from a flame. The bland will fail quickly and suddenly if overheated. Grind a "slit" the length of the tip-top tube being careful not to go too deep. Usually the top will looses well before the slit completely cut from end to end. Use macking tape to protect the blank.

I use a small 4" grind wheel on a drill press for this. A dremel tool will work well too.

Lou

Phil,

I would avoid using heat to remove the tip, no matter how careful we are it is difficult to control the amount of heat applied to the part. Lou has the right Idea. Grind it off, I have been very successful using a Dremmel with a stone disc cutting wheel. I make many slight (to avoid heat bildup) passes along the length of the tube until I see a faint crack line in the metal, I repeat this process 180 degrees from the origional cut. Then I carefull pry the sides apart. This process is slow but effective and safe. After all how many times does this happen. Invest the time and be safe.

John

I have removed a tip top guide that was epoxied with Flex Coat rod bond (5 minute epoxy), using a butane barbecue lighter. I've been told that the heat from a lighter is nowhere near the temperature that a graphite rod is baked at, so not to worry about hurting the rod. After applying heat for a minute or so, I twisted the tip tip guide off, buffed the rod tip, and applied another tip top. Sorry to disagree with the others, but my experience worked OK.

Thanks for all of the advice. I opted for the Dremmel and cutting disk. Working slowly, as advised, I was able to remove the tip top with no damage to the blank.