Hello everyone.
I'm looking for the path of least resistance here. I've got 4 old customs that desperately need guides and some over all tlc. Normally, I'd jump right in and strip them, but these are old ugly stick style blacks. No finish on the black from the factory, and the blanks were fully coated from the late Jesse Buky.

I want to reuse the blanks, but if it would be less of a pain I'll get new blanks. The ones on hand are identical to the ugly stick bWB 1130 blank, I also want to add slick butts this go around. Jesse had a closet full of these blanks, but he passed a few years back, and I don't know where to,source new ones from.

This will be my winter project, so time isn't really an issue.

Thanks in advance.

Knowing Jesse, he coated them with Flex Coat finish epoxy and it will be a major pain to strip them. Best bet is to scrape it off (scrape not slice) but that will take a good amount of effort and time. I can't advise on a paint remover type coating that will do much with epoxy. Perhaps someone else will chime in.

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Have a supply of straight edge razor blades on hand.
Have a good heat gun on hand as well.

Use the heat gun to heat the coating. When the finish has softened a bit, use the razor blade - held at 90 degrees to the blank, to scrape off the old finish. If the finish is not coming off, add just enough heat to soften the finish, but not the blank too much.

If you over heat the blank - particularly in the small diameter areas near the tip, you may very well destroy the blank.

Patience and heat and scraping will take care of the issue.

Be safe

The best rod scraper I have ever used is a piece of split bamboo from a broken rod. The edge is very hard and holds up extremely well and will not cut or gouge the blank like a razor blade or utility knife may do. It is like a super finger nail! I use a hair dryer to soften the finish and go to it. I know having access to split bamboo is not a common thing, but if you can find some try it. Maybe one day it will become available commerically for use as a scraper.

Norm

You can also use a butter knife with a streight edge

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/07/2015 12:55PM by bill boettcher.

Just make sure that whatever you use that it is not very sharp. Sharp causes problems if you are not careful. A butter knife sounds good, but never tried one

Norman,
Actually, I prefer sharp. Yes, it can cause problems, but as long as you are careful, the job goes much more quickly with a sharp edge.

Be safe

You are right about sharp going faster. I have had good results with sharp and also have had some very bad results, even when I thought I was being careful. The problem is when you hit a stubborn area and press a little harder than you should. So not to take the chance for disaster I moved to dull blades and got better overall results, with fewer problems. Then moved to split bamboo with no problems. Applying heat does make things easier and faster. Popsicle sticks and plastic scrapers are useless and do not work at all (much to soft). Your finger nail can be a very good scraper but does not last very long and can cause some pain. OK for some small spots. In summary, try diffent things and use what suits you the best just take your time and be careful.

I use a throwing dubble edged blade knife I use I do keep it sharp but unless it has been done before
Just keep it at 90 With a Little Heat it should come right off

Bill - willierods.com

I just got one of the flex coat burnishing tools I think it is made out of cow bone. I just took the guides off a rod and was trying to remove the finish the old credit card as a scraper didn't work so I tried the burnishing tool and thought it worked good it is hard but has a dull edge I used the handle part which is curved and followed the curve of the blank.