Refurbishment the ROD OF STEEL

I must admit .. I tucked this at one corner for a year now , I guess.
Trying to look for the agate guides for replacement but could not find any.

The last resort would be putting up the steel guides as replacement. The cork handle have been fully replaced.

This is the rod of steel I was talking about.
The Heddon "Life-Pal" steel baitcasting rod was produced in the 30's era.

Refurbished rod with new guides and new cork grip to the handle.

I don't think the owner will use it.. :) but it's still a great piece antique for wall hung decoration.

Heddon Pal Handle Refurbishment Project

A short refurbishment project of a Heddon Pal fiberglass fly rod.

A closer look at the dislodge cork rings at the top part of the cork grip.

Since I am not going to remove all the guides, hook keepers and the original winding check, I have to work from bottom up with the hope I can retain the original reel seat.

But unfortunately, this reel seat have to go. I have tried to soften the epoxy at the reel seat with the hot air gun for an hour but in vain. It was impossible to have the reel seat removed and I do not want to damage the blank in the process of trying to remove this reel seat in good condition.

I have to go with a wood insert reel seat in replace.

The cork rings are glued, stacked and shaped.

The new cork grip and reel seat are then glued and fitted onto the blank.

The NEW and the OLD cork grip

The NEW LOOK and the OLD