Hard stepping aero tech regular flex shafts- extending graphite etc.

I promise I’ve done tons of research but I’ve found so much conflicting info on the following topics.

So I bought some ap2s off ebay basically to get the aero tech steel fiber shafts and put them into my bridgestone j38 dpc irons(both .355” hostels and shafts). I had hit the 110s (on different heads)and liked the shock absorption properties and didn’t think they were too flesh. which is the main reason I got them due to finger joint pain). I read all over the internet that the i95 regular flex played much stiffer than most regular flex shafts and even that they played like or even stiffer Nippon 950gh shafts in stiff which are what I am switching from. I got a 5-gw. And I like them but they are probably a bit too flexible. I may have taken out too much head weight on the nippons because I was trying to compensate for extended length (maybe that’s why my nippons felt stiff- but I only took out 4g shaft tip weights at the most) and those were definitely done at factory.

First question- how difficult is it to pull steelfibers? I’ve pulled steel and reinstalled with no problems. My local shop does $5 per shaft to pull. Anybody try the $80 pullers on ebay? Or have a recommendation for a cheap shaft puller for graphite? Here’s the cheap ebay one there’s also a $110 version. I’ve got mini torches big torches heat guns. Vises- etc. but no shaft puller.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F254226975457

Hard stepping- the shaft guide shows that soft stepping does a LOT more than I thought tonsteel shafts. Will it make the steelfibers a whole lot stiffer? Like almost to the stiff flex i95?

I’ll need to add some length for sure if I hard step. 1/2” minimum. 3/4” preferred. What does adding butt length do to flex? I’ve read all over but I keep seeing people ignore the question or say it does nothing. I haven’t seen any strong opinions against it and it seems like that’d affect the profile quite a bit. Would using butt extenders alone stiffen the shafts without hard stepping? Extending with hard stepping effects?

Adding head weight? Anybody have a recommendation for the steelfibers in particular? I’ll probably need to with the j38s as they came with project x shafts weighing in at 120g.

Thanks so much for all the help guys!