Years ago I learned a tip for setting regular epoxy quickly for attaching a tip guide. Mix and apply glue to rod/tip then heat the tip for a few seconds with a lighter (it will "boil"), the glue will set in a short time. While I use 5 minute epoxy if I have it I have used this method and never had a tip come off. Could there be problems doing this?

The application of heat speeds the cure. Although 5-minute epoxy sets pretty quickly as is.

There should not be any problems, although you need to remember that any application of heat to a rod blank needs to be done gently and briefly. Too much heat can liquify the resin holding the fibers together. You see this often on rods where tips have been replaced by misguided repairmen who use far too much heat to remove a top.

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I have heard that it can make the graphite brittle, causing a a break where the old tip used to be.

Will a hair dryer supply enough heat to remove the tip and not affect the graphite?

Dave

Depends on what the tip was put on with. Generally, 2 or 3 seconds with the flame from a butane lighter is all that is required. If you have to apply the heat for more than a few seconds it is better to remove the tip via other means.

Remember, the heat from a flame is at the tip, not in the middle of the flame.

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There are many factory (and custom) rods that you flat cannot get the tip off with a low enough heat to keep from damaging the blank. This is one thing that you will pick up when you start repairing lots-o-rods.

In those cases, when you have applied what you believe to be enough heat that it should come of but hasn't, it is best to bite the bullet and cut the top off. If it is a large enough diameter tube, you can saw it or use a Dremel tool. On small diameter tubes, you are better off using a triangular file or something similar, and cutting the blank to remove the top. You will loose at most about a 1/2". Losing that 1/2' is much better than taking the chance on damaging the blank with too much heat.

I use Gudebrod ferrule cement to install most tops. I use 5 minute epoxy to install boat rod size tops.

I agree 100% with what Mike says. And another thing, if you heat a small tip that has been put on with epoxy they sometimes come off like a bullet. The epoxy will expand so be carefull where you are pointing the rod tip. Flex Coat also sells a cement for tips. It looks like the Gudebrod cement and they both hold very well. They are easy to apply and easy to remove.

You don't have to cut the blank to remove a small top. If you cut the tube with a triangular file at the point where the ring connects, you can usually open it enough to pop it loose from the epoxy or whatever is holding it. Yes it takes 5 or 10 minutes to carefully do this but the customer can't complain about you shortening his rod. Don't know about the rest of you, but I have many customers who are quite particular.