ferrel removal

Question
I have a new 6' 2 tips bamboo fly rod blank. The ferrels are attached and i need to remove them so i can feather the edges.  please provide information that will allow me to remove these ferrels without damaging the rod.  thanks

Answer
Hi Larry,

I assume this is a modern blank.  A vintage blank might have ferrule pins which would need to be removed first.

To remove the ferrules, you will need a couple of items to make the job a little easier.  A vise with some wood on the jaws so you don't scratch the ferrules.  If you don't have a vise, you can use vise grips or channel locks...just make sure you pad the jaws with wood to prevent scratching the ferrules.  Plus, a hair dryer or a heat gun.

Clamp either the male or female end of the ferrule as appropriate into the vise padded with wood.  Do not squeeze it tight...just enough to hold it so you can pull the rod shaft away from the ferrule.  Too much pressure will distort the ferrule and you won't be able to get the sections to fit together again.

Using the hair dryer or a heat gun on low heat setting, apply heat to the ferrule portion that the rod blank fits into.  Don't overheat the ferrule.  Too much heat can discolor the ferrule and/or scortch the bamboo.  Gently try to pull the rod section away from the ferrule as you are heating it.  The glue holding the ferrule will soften at some point and the shaft will slide out.

Clean the old glue out of the ferrule and off of the shaft before reinstalling.  Install by applying hot glue to the end of the rod shaft and press the ferrule in place by pushing the shaft into the ferrule as you apply heat to keep the glue soft.

You can feather the edges of the ferrules with sandpaper or with a small metal file.  You will want to polish the edges with fine paper or a fine file to make them smooth enough for thread to go on with no nicks or cuts.

An alternative is to apply masking tape around the bamboo blank right up against the ferrule.  Then use a small metal file and very slowly and very carefully feather the edges.  You might slip and hit the tape once in a while, but if you have enough in place (or you change it often) you should be able to get this done without damage to the bamboo.

Good luck,  Joe