I pose this question for a couple of reasons.

I have a few IMX rods that are old and a couple that are new...

I like these rods a lot but now that I have been building rods I don't use them. I'm considering stripping them and starting over with good cork and a fresh set of guides. How difficult is it to get the old guides and finish off, WITHOUT harming the blank? I've read stuff in the past that some are easy and some not but never brand specific.

To anyone that has replaced guides on Loomis rods, did they come off easy? It looks like they are all wrapped with regular nylon thread and no CP. So I assume the finish completely penetrated to the blank.

Would it be worth my time to strip them or just sell them and buy new blanks and components?

Thanks!

flechero,

Reel simple to get the guides off of a rod. Use the wife's hair blower to heat the finish (not to much) then make your cut at the guide foot. Heat again (not to much) and peel off the finish, the guide should just twist off. Now the harm, if the blank has a gloss finish to it you will most likely mess that finish up. On a matte blank you should be able to remove the guide use the 3-M pad to clean up and a little denatured will clean the rest. I have removed guides on gloss blanks and had to make sure that the new guide went back in the same spot, or re-finish the blank in those spots.

I personally would sell the old rods and purchase new blanks and components. But it is up to you as to whether or not you want to get into the job if you have gloss finished blanks.

Tight Wraps!  

Reelmech,

Thanks!  That's exactly what I was looking for... honest opinions.  All the rods in question are matte charcoal colored IMX blanks.  I didn't want to dive into stripping one and then find out it isn't worth the time and effort vs. buying a new blank and starting from scratch.

I personally would sell the old rods and purchase new blanks and components. But it is up to you as to whether or not you want to get into the job if you have gloss finished blanks.

Do you mean you would strip the matte finish blanks?  Or did you mean you would start over either way?

Thanks,

Keith

flechero,

I mean if you have matte blanks they are much less hassle than the gloss finish blanks. My experience with re-do's is that the rod isn't much better with new guides than with the older setup. It has a lot to do with the spacing that the manufacturers do. I also if re-doing an older rod try to re-spline the rod for proper placement this is tuff to do with the grip in place. If the spline is ok, then I would also try and do a static test for proper guide placement, all of this is much easier on a matte finish blank than a gloss finish blank were you would have to repair the blank before replacing the guides.

Hope this helps..

Tight Wraps!  

That's what I needed to know.  All but 1 of them is offered as a blank, so I might sell the 2 new ones and finance some blanks.  

One other question, Have you ever built a 3C66HF ?  I wonder how it feels compared to a MBR785C in IMX?  I had the old (10-12 yrs) model MBR785 which was rated Mod-Fast and had a heavy tip and when I got the new MBR785 they had changed the action to fast and the tip is much lighter... I miss the old one for short range heavy cover pitchin'!!

flechero,

Yup got one hanging on the wall waiting for someone to want it built. I have not built one for myself. I can tell you that it is good and stout, I have built the 3C70HF and use it for jigs.

I haven't built on any of the new Loomis blanks, so I can't give the comparison that you need.

Hope this helps some...

Tight Wraps!  

Reelmech,

You have one of everything I ask about... too bad I don't live in Ks!!

I have the 5C70HF built and leave Thursday night for a weekend of "field testing" ...lol  It feels good and I think the 6' 6" version would see a lot of use in the places I fish.  I did some looking at specs and the 66HF has a little thicker tip than the 785 so I think it will be more like what I'm looking for.  Of course the tip diameter doesn't necessarily mean it's heavier since the mandrel and materials are different, but I think it will translate in these rods.  If not, I'll have another worm rod... that is a pretty good "worst case scenario" huh?  ...lol  

Thanks for the feedback,

Keith