hey guys, i just removed the rusted and molded guides off my manufactured south bend. i know that it isnt worthy to rebuild it, but im just doing it for fun, not marketing. however, i want to get rid of the reel seat because it rusts easily and get stuck with the reel. and the rubber handle is in the way. i tried removing it by burning it, but the fumes were killing me and i stopped. any advice?

Throw rod out.

why should i?porbably it is a good idea since the reel's roller is cracked.

Cut the reel seat off with a dremel tool and an abrasive wheel. Just be sure not to cut the blank. Cut the rubber grips off with a knife, again don't cut the blank. Granted the rod may not be worth much, but you want to practice as if it is your best rod in case you need to do it in the future.

the blanks are off already. i heated the blanks and cut the wrappings off. thanks. thats all i need, a practice!

If the rod's components suck so bad that they're rusting/corroding, I think its safe to say that the blank sucks just as badly. Since you're already buying new guides, a reel seat, and a grip why put those new components on a bottom of the barrel blank? Why not just buy a cheap blank for 30-60 bucks more and have a nice rod that you'll use? I know its the first time, but I made my first rod last year, and proceeded to catch a lot of fish on it without it breaking.

Bottom line - don't waste your money refurbishing a POS. Spend a couple more bucks and build a real stick.

good point. then i will use the blank to poke at my cousins' ear this thursday night.

What Don said.

i got him.

I dumped the rod after breaking the south bend POS. It wouldn't withstand a striper's weight. It sucked like hell.