What is the best way to remove epoxy without damaging the paint underneath? I need to relocate some guides and they are not going back on the same place they were on. I would rather not have to repaint the rod.

Hello Ryan.

It may not be the best way but here is what I do:
1.with a sharp ravor I cut the epoxy & threads off the top of the guide foot.
2.peel back the thread & epoxy from left to right or right to left, if it doesn't all peal off
3.I use a plastic razorblade to scrape it off.
4.If that doesn't work I gently heat it and keep scraping with plastic razorblade.

Hope Thats Helpful.
PS you can use a sturdy plastic spoon insted of the plastic razorblade.

Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/29/2023 05:22PM by ROBERT GUIST.

Since the paint under the old guides has been protected from the sun and other environmental influences, and the rest of the rod has not, I don't think there is a way to do what you want without a color mismatch. Do the guides really have to be relocated? If the rod worked before , it will work again with guides in the same places.

Pick your poison: color mismatch or same performance as before.

First, I do the same thing as Robert except I live on the edge and use an actual razor blade, not plastic (best have a steady hand, however). Second, I agree with Michael's comments.

I like using a piece of split bamboo to scrape off epoxy. Any type of bamboo will do even old cheap cane poles. I get mine from neighbor who has some +and growing in his backyard. When split you get a sharp hard edge on the external side that works like your fingernail. The softer internal part works well to rub the epoxy off. The epoxy can be softened using a hairdryer.
It should be noted that it can be very difficult to remove epoxy from a painted rod.. it depends on the quality of the paint job.
Norm



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/29/2023 07:20PM by Norman Miller.

Once you remove the thread most is off can go over it was a razor blade. Go make it even. I never use a solvent.

I use a heat gun, after about five to ten seconds of heating the guide finish epoxy will start to come off clean, from that point on just peel the epoxy away from the guides, nice and clean.

Glenn McMurrian

I use a heat gun to soften the epoxy then use a razor blade to cut the threads off the guide foot. Once the threads are cut I peel back the edges, as much as possible, then using a dull knife I scrap until I have to heat and repeat. A dull blade Is less likely to damage the blank when removing the epoxy, but I still haven’t had a perfect finish after removal.

I removed the threads and guides and not only there was epoxy residue but also thead residue. I used a razor and scraped it up and down. I found the trick is to use zero downward pressure, only up and down in the thread area.

Some, but tiny amounts, of the paint got chipped off either due to scraping or removing the guide foot. They are barely noticeable and may blend in with the other scratches and chipped paint on the rest of the rod from normal usage. Also, the new guides happens to be positioned on 2 of the original guide locations, so that will help cover up any blemishes caused by removing the guides.