[STAN M]

Purchased a second hand rod today, on the tip section the upper layer of laquer/varnish is flaking off, my question is how do I get it all off? Is there any technique or material I can use to this effect?

Thanks in advance.

First off be prepared to be careful and have patience. Use a very sharp Stanley type blade and small areas at a time holding the blade vertical (guillotine style) and gently scrape the varnish off along the length of the rod. You could well go through a few blades just keep using sharp ones. Dont flatten the blade at all or you can dig into the blank. Then you can give it a final clean off with wet and dry, (preferably wet) starting around the 600 - 800 gauge and moving up to 1600 - 2000.

If I`m rubbing a fly rod I can go to 5000 or even 8000 gauge micro mesh.

Have fun it`s a pain in the butt of a job :blink:

 

[STAN M]

Another question, if I did go for a rebuild, do they usually go through the process of removing the old cacky varnish, and re-apply some more?[/QUOTE]


Can only speak for myself, yes. If it`s a full re-build then it should be just that. Total strip down to the bare blank, prepare the blank, new blank coating (not varnish), re-spline and balance the rod, new guides, new grips or shrink wrap, reel seat or whatever, reflective tip tape and so on. Apart from decals / labels which may not be available to replace, the rod should be returned to you in factory new condition or better.

Alternatively you can simply ask for new guides put on or new reel seat or whatever you choose, entirely up to you but the extent of the work asked for will obviously be reflected in the costs. The more expensive the rod to replace or even a less expensive rod that is your particular favourite and can`t be raplaced because you dont want to part with it could well justify a full re-build.