Dan,
I was a little intimidated prior to stripping the cork off for the first time but after reading about the topic online - I grabbed my water-pump pliers and a trash pail and my fishing rod and started at the base and began nipping a bit off at a time. After a few shallow bites, you quickly learn how much you can nip off at a time. It's more like a pinch and roll or twist and it comes off really quite easy. Regarding the seat, if it's plastic, I use a razor knife with enough blade sticking out just to get through the plastic. I take a few shallow cuts down the length of the seat in a forceful but controlled push with my thumbs. I don't know how else to describe it. Sometimes that's enough to spread apart easy - sometimes it needs careful help with a screwdriver, sometimes a second cut to pull it off. Whatever works but you can't put pressure or cuts into the blank. Aluminum seats need heat to soften the epoxy.
Then I open up the razor knife and with the blade on the flat, I start shaving/whittling off the epoxy and cork bits. It doesn't take long and it doesn't have to be absolutely perfect but you'll get nearly all of it off in less than an hour from the time you start. Get as much epoxy off as you can then give it a wipe with isopropyl alcohol and you're good to start the build. It's all easier than it seems.
Others here will or may tell you something different. There are always different ways to do something and I don't insist that my way is perfect - it's worked for me with what tools I had on hand at the time.
Do little research and go for it. The worst thing that can happen is you bugger up the blank but you'll learn what didn't work and the time won't be wasted if you pln to do other rods.
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Topic: Help, stripping down a rod (Read 9210 times)