I would not attempt it.
You can not get the old epoxy off without at least leaving a mark on the blank or leaving some residue.
I would never be happy with a rod building project that is not as close to perfect as I am able to do.
Covering old epoxy leaves "humps and bumps" in the finished product.
My advise it to fish the rod you have the way it is.

But I'm sure you'll so what you want.