Guides are on. Could someone help with the refinish steps. I plan to use a turkey baster.Thanks.

Blank refinishing should be done with the guides off the rod, at least if you intend on a complete blank refinish. Generally you'd strip the old finish and refinish with any of a variety of products that can be used on bamboo, although a modern varnish type is most often chosen.

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Many old "classic" bamboo rods were dipped with the guides on them. The trick is to find a small diameter plastic tube that will allow the guides to pass through the opening. Fill with finish of your choice - as Tom has pointed out a modern varnish (outdoor) works just fine. The key is to dip the rod in - but remove it very slowly allowing 90% of the finish to wick or drip off back into the tube and then hang the dipped rod in a dust free environment for 24-48 hours. If that sounds like too much trouble you can also use outdoor wipe-on polyurethane in gloss finish - Minwax makes a good product that is available at most hardware stores, Lowes & Home Depot. Read the label carefully for "OUTDOOR" (and gloss or matte finish). Put the rod in a dryer / wrapper and rub the finish on while the rod is rotating a slow speed. For this a finger works well - as do soft lint-free cloths (like an old cotton undershirt) . It should dry hard enough to take fishing in 8-10 hours