I have someone who asked me to replace the tip on their fishing rod for them since the ring fell out. No problem, right? This is a friend of mine and I told him how to remove the tip and mail it to me. When I got the tip in the mail, I sized it and was smaller than the smallest size pegged on my tip sizer... 3.5... so my estimate is that it is 3/64". Also, the ring size is really small.. like a 4mm or 3mm.

Where do I get a tip this small?

I have had this problem in the past and have gotten by using a small single foot guide as a tip top as recommended by many on this board.

Derek

Problem is that his customer is gong to try and do this himself, right?? So wrapping a guide on may be out of his ability.

I know there are some match grade tops that come that small but can't remember their name or model number. Check all the catalogs from PacBay, Batson and Amtak and maybe you can find something. He may have to be satisfied with a different ring or frame color.

Another brand is the Sevier/Tigereye guides, Dan Craft and Neal's has them, their gold frames I think are the closest to the old frames from before. I think Pac Bay and Sevier have the smallest tube sizes, but they stop at 3.5 with a 5 ring. You could wrap the tip with thread than use a larger tube guide over it.

Sounds like what you'd use for ice fishing rods. Check with MudHole and with Jann's Netcraft. They both have ice fishing building stuff.

If you use a water proof 5 minute expoxy it will be thick enough to fill the gap so that you could use 3.5 tip

Well, thanks for all the tips and ideas!

I've checked out Mudhole and a few other sites. Didn't see anything close to a suitable replacement as yet.

I was hoping to see a couple suppliers chime in with something. Anybody carry a tip top with a tube size of 3/64" and a ring size of 2 or 3mm?