Sometimes you will have to replace a guide on one of your rods. This may seem daunting at first, but it’s easier than you think. The hardest part is matching the thread colors. First you have to remove the old guide. Using a bit of heat (a hair dryer will do the trick) to soften the thread wrap then cutting off the wrap with a single edge razor being careful not to cut into the blank. Cut from the outside of the wrap towards the center of the guide near the guide foot and then reverse the section and repeat the cut on the other side. Cleaning off the old finish can be done with lacquer thinner or something similar. You may have to apple a bit of heat again to soften the old finish.

We have found that the easiest way to match the thread colors instead of guessing; is that after you have cut off the thread wraps look on the underside of the wrap and you will see the original thread color as close a possible anyway. Trying to remember exactly what finish technique you used is pretty tough.
That’s why we tell our rod building students to always make a rod work sheet with all the component models you used and the thread dye batch color number and the type of finish you used.

Now, the easy part. Re-wrap and refinish and you’re done!