Taking a rod apart?

[reviveourhomes]

Is it possible to take a rod apart, I found a nice boo rod the blank is good and some eyes are good but would need the handle and reel seat replaced. Its glued on pretty good. So can you get them off, and how do you do it if so. Thanks and GOD BLESS :D

[GUTHOOKED]

It can be done, but its no fun, IMO. The grip you can probably cut off with a knife or coping saw, just be careful not to damage the cane. You'll probably have to heat the reel seat in some way to soften the glue, then pull it off the back.

Now I should probably mention that I do not work with bamboo rods, only graphite and glass. There are lots of guys around here that do bamboo restorations who could probably give better advice. I'm sure one of them will chime in soon.

[reviveourhomes]

Well it just so happens that I have a graphite rod Im thinking about restoring, would you have any hints about that.

[GonetoSeed]

I'm helping a friend with a boo restoration right now. We removed the seat. We used a Dremel with a cutting wheel to slice the seat. Being very, very careful not to hit the blank. We inserted a flat head screw driver into the slice and twisted. The gap opened enough to remove the seat. It was nerve racking. This btw is a technique sometimes recommended for graphite rods. The other one is Danny's. Place the seat in boiling water, with a cold rag wrapped around the grip to keep it cool. After a few minutes, try to pull the seat straight off, don't twist. If this doesn't work, use the Dremel.

The grip can be harder because of the taper. The best way is remove the guides on the butt section in order to slip the new one from the butt section tip like it was a new rod. If you don't take the guides off, you have to come on from the butt end. This means that the ID of the grip has to be as big as the butt end, which makes it larger than the OD at the tip end of the grip. To deal with this you can build a shim on the front with thread (the size thread depending on the gap).

I agree with Danny. It's possible but (oops, edited) NOT fun. I've found that unless the rod has some real sentimental value, it's better to buy one of the new, high-value blanks and build from scratch.

[reviveourhomes]

Not sentimental at all, soooo maybe I will forget doing that. LOL

[fishnpreacher]

I've done a few boos and removed the seat and grips on some. If the grip and seat are trashed and you are not planning on saving them, then the Dremel tool and razor knife are your friends. Just work slow and don't cut the bamboo.
If you want to try to save the seat, make sure you remove any pins that will be in the seat hood. These can be a real pain, but must be removed. Then heat the seat with a hair dryer on high or a paint stripper. You want to heat it just enough to loosen the glue. Try not to twist it too much when you are pulling it off. The grip will come off easiest like GTS said. Remove the guides and heat the grip, and slide it off with the taper.
What make is the rod? You may have a rod worth restoring, and if so, you would want someone experienced working on it. If it is an old Monty, or other low end rod, have at it. Experience is its own best teacher.