Need a bit of direction.....

I'm restoring an old bamboo fly rod & I've run into something I've never encountered before.

The old reel seat, which I'd like to replace with a newer styled one, is a downlocking nickel plated brass seat which slides over a wooden spacer (approx 3/4 inch diameter) which runs not only the entire length of the seat but also under the handle. What I originally thought was a cork ring handle is actually the wooden spacer covered with cork sheeting.

My question is this...

Has anyone ever had occasion to remove the wooden spacer? If so, how was this accomplished without damaging the bamboo blank under the spacer?

If the recommendation is NOT to replace the spacer, please advise also.

Thanks in advance, Rich

Richard, It's possible that your rod may be a winner of sorts, and if restoration is an option try that before removing the old reel seat and handle and the wood arbours. If repair/restoration, to make it fishable, is not an option, go for it. The arbour can be removed in a number of ways. I've sanded them off on a disc sander and cut the last few thousandths off with an exacto knife. You don't have to remove it all, just enough to install the new seat and grip. Most of the wood can be removed by turning on your lathe, then use a blade to remove the rest. Or use a draw knife. Think hard about repairing it first. Lots of good luck with your choice. Don Greife

Most likely the bamboo is only inserted about 2 to 4 inches under the cork handle.. If you have a dremel just start cutting a slot length ways down the handle. First remove the winding check then start.. Then what I did was inserted the butt section in a butt section of a graphite rod, I was lucky I had a butt section from a 7'6" pitching stick and it worked perfect, just attached reelseat and cork to the graphite section, and epoxied the bamboo inside the graphite the exact same distance..
If you have a lathe you could make one out of 3/4 dowel... If you try to turn down the existing butt section on a lathe you will find it hard to be true, because most likey the bamboo is not straight..I got this idea from Michael Sinclair... Thanks Dave