I got the tip top for a rod I'm currently building. The tip top and the rod tip are pretty close in diameter and the tip top won't go on. Is it ok, to scrap the rod blank, in a widdling type fashion to make the tip top fit. Or will that weaken the blank to much. Or should I just return the tip top for the next size up?

I would appreciate some input.

Thanks
Matt

Matt, I'd return it and get the correct size!

Regards......Doug@
TCRds

I would keep that tip top, and buy another one. WHy would you bother with sending back the tip, it's not even worth the hassle

Depends on how close it is and whether the blank has finish on it......I've made a very close tip work by lightly heating the tip of the blank and scraping off just the finish with a blade to make it fit...(then again, you can never have too many tip tops)

Get the right size.Heating is not recomended(you may end up with a bigger tip closer to the butt if you heat it).Tom had a good suggestion in RMM to but the target size and one bigger and one smaller.The bigger can be shimmed with an underwrap to snug it up if need be.Unless you have a walk in rod building supply store keep the smaller.They are good to keep even in the tackle box(saved many trips for people this way).As far as Tom`s suggestion he is right on the money for both the buyer and the seller(keep the sponsers in the green and keep the rod builders working efficiently).I am spoiled due to the fact that I have three suppliers within 5 miles and two are on the way to work and open at 5:00am.The luxury of bringing the rod to fit the blank is great.

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

If you plan to do this for a while every time you order a tip top get several in different sizes this way you build up a stock. Do the same with other guides also

Agree with Bill. I like to order the barrle size I think is needed and the next size up as well.

Stan

Thanks Stan,
Also if you are going to use say concept guides , order a set of cheap ones from size 30 down to 7. This way you will have a set you can use for setting up the guide sizes on a rod and you can see what to order

Matt,
If you scrape the blank and all you remove is the finish it will not weaken the blank. I have done this many, many times to make a tip fit tightly that was slightly too small. Be careful though you only want to remove the finish. You do not want to scrape into the graphite.

I agree its's better to have an assortment of tips and get the correct size but sometimes in a small shop this is hard to do. I have on occasion drilled out a tip to make it fit. This is only practible when it is a very close fit and I had a drill bit that was the right size. I will caution you that I have also ruined a couple of tips in so doing this but then again if you need to finish the rod on a deadline it could work. You will have to balance this against the time it would take to get a replacement.