Yes a hair dryer will work. That will work for finishing it up. For the start a lighter and blade to get the wraps started coming off then you can peel off the wrap. Then use the hair dryer.
Granted, you can use a blade to start the process, BUT ONLY use it CAREFULLY on the top of the guide foot. Lay it almost flat to the foot and cut GENTLY along the length of the foot TOWARDS the guide. Peel the threads off with your thumb nail, warming the finish with a hairdryer. Slow, methodical, careful, or you can really make a mess of the blank.
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.