I have had several tips lose the insert rings. This was true both of Pac Bay and Fuji. Both were about 2 years old. These are my rods so I know they were not mistreated and no one tried to pull a weight through the eyelet.

Is this typical?

Not usually. But tip tops get the brunt of any rough treatment and while you may not realize it, it's likely you bumped the top ends into or onto something.

Here's a little trick that will help - When you're applying finish to your next rod and after you've got all your guide wraps coated, take a toothpick and dab a little of the left over epoxy to 3 or 4 spots at the junction of the guide ring and metal tip top frame. Do this on both sides of the ring, just 3 or maybe 4 small drops. Almost like you're "tacking" the ring in place. Essentially, this is exactly what you're doing. The spots of epoxy on both sides of the ring tend to lock the ring in place a little better. I've been doing this for years and have yet to lose a ring out of a tip top. Give it a try - takes only seconds and you've got the epoxy finish sitting there anyway.


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That is a good piece of info. Thanks John

Great Tip!!

Thanx junkmansj

I've noticed recently that production guides from Fuji appear to have an adhesive applied much as Mr. Kirkman recommends.