When a tips size says10/12 is it saying the rod blank is a size10 and the eye of the tip is a 12??

Normally it is the other way around. The first number is the ring size and the second is the tube size.

Nathan

Mike Friddle - Nate Brock is right: Tip-top sizes are usually reported as RING size first, then TUBE size. You should look for confirmation of this in your reference, as to which is which. I double-checked my flickering memory in the MudHole and Summer Moon Rod Works Catalogs.

The TUBE SIZE is always assumed to be in 64ths of an inch, unless otherwise specified. It may be reported to the nearest 0.5 / 64ths of an inch. That would be one clue, because if a number is changing by 0.5 units, then that is the TUBE SIZE. On some international websites, like for some Fuji CerMet tip-tops, the TUBE SIZE is reported in MILLIMETERS, which can really get confusing very quickly if it goes unnoticed. Usually, only the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia use the English system and report tip-top tube sizes in 64ths of an inch. Everybody else seems to use the Metric system and report tip-top tube sizes in MILLIMETERS.

Everybody, everywhere seems to report the RING SIZE of the tip-top in MILLIMETERS only. That ring size is a NOMINAL size, and is always an integer number of units of 6 mms or higher. The actual clear and open inner diameter (ID) of the ring will be at least a couple of millimeters less. Keep that in mind when selecting a tip-top that will have knots or swivels passing thru it.

And remember that sometimes a rod blank may have a tip size that is 0.5 / 64 ths off from the catalog specification. Consider having a selection of your favorite style tip-tops on hand in that tube size range, for that situation. LOL. –Cliff Hall, Gainesville, FL-USA +++

Thanks for your help!!

"The early bird gets the worm,.. but the second mouse gets the cheese!"

When dealing with most ceramic ringed guides and tops, the reported mm opening is for the frame, not the ring. In other words, a #8 would have a frame opening of 8mm - the ring would fit within that opening and thus the actual guide ring ID would be somewhat less than 8mm owing to the thickness of the guide ring itself.

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