Guide Repair

[c0untryf1sh3r]

I have a rod that I built a couple years ago and just recently I noticed that one of the guides is FUBAR'd, and of course it is in the middle of the rod so it's not going to be an easy fix I imagine. What would be the best way to go about replacing the guide. Should I file down the epoxy little by little until the old guide breaks free and just tie on a new guide or how should I go about this?

[unfrozen]

The location of the guide won't make this any harder or easier.

The easiest way to remove the old guide is to gently heat the epoxy but at the same time not to hot to damage the rod. I use a few passes with a lighter and that has worked fine.

Then take a razor and gently slice the epoxy and thread down the top of the guide foot. Don't slice anywhere where you could get into the blank. If you keep the epoxy warm you should have little trouble peeling at it with your finger nail, a plastic knife or something similar.

It'll take some patience to get all the residual epoxy off. Once everything is removed you're ready to put the new guide on.

[Asandir]

I will take a razor and on the foot of the guide cut the thread and epoxy. You can then unwrap the thread down with just a little epoxy remaining. I will then carfully take the razor and clean the rod of remaining epoxy.

Then it is just a simple matter of matching thread up and rewrapping. I have never tried to heat it before so I don't know if it is better or worse.

[Hardyboy]

I agree with Chad above! NEVER take a razor blade to a bare blank as one nick and your done for. The heat works best but like he said you just want to warm it not get it hot you are just trying to make the epoxy pliable. I use an alcohol burner as that's what i have on my bench The guide should come off relatively easy.

[c0untryf1sh3r]

Thanks guys, I'll have to give it a try one of these days considering the wind has been blowing like an SOB for the what seems like the last couple weeks. Dont think I'll be hitting the open water anymore this year. I still have the same thread around here somewhere, and still have the wrapper I made back in high school. Now would any two part epoxy work or would I have to order some?

[CAMAN]

Order some, regular epoxy will probably yellow and won't protect the thread from UV rays.

[upnorth]

Not to mention gets brittle. You need some sort of flexible finish. There are few brands and I think cabelas has it is one shot type of packets so you can order in a smaller quantity.

[c0untryf1sh3r]

Thats kinda what I thought but figured I would ask anyways. That'll work good being I planned on ordering a kit from them over the winter anyways. Its the first rod I ever made and I'd like to give it to my son some day, whenever the wife and I have a kid haha. It's a 6'2" UL but it has a nice stiff backbone for the hungry 'eyes that come along when were looking for the crappies. Thanks for the input.