Jim,

Please accept a belated thanks. My wife isn't so sure about either of us though. I borrowed her fancy hair drier to heat the windings up and it helped get the bulk of the epoxy and wrappings off. However, she came home while I was boiling the rod - we've just remodeled the kitchen and everything is new and she was a bit curious about what was for dinner. The reel seat came of readily but the cork handle took some time and I never did come close to getting all of the old epoxy and embedded cork off. I did succeed in getting most of it off. I've rebuilt the rod section and I'm getting ready to start applying finish to the wrappings. The rod looks very good and it's just in time for the spring crappie season.

Graybeard