Hi.

What is the best tip top tube size? Is it 1/64" bigger than the tip diameter?
I've never thought of this before - I've filled the gap if there's been much of it.

Cheers,
Sakari

best thing to do other to measure the tip, is get one size up and one size down to make sure.

If you have a set of calipers, just measure the tip and get the exact tube size to fit. A 4.0 top has a .062 tube diameter, a 4.5 has a .070 tube diameter. If you tip measures .066, order the 4.5 top. Too large a tip is also unnecessary weight at the extreme end of the rod.

order a tip top guage for a couple bucks. They really come in handy

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

i'll second mike's sugestion for the tip top guage. under $5 i think. it's a plastic "card" with holes and extended sections. with the sizes next to each. helps very much in determining the correct needed size. catalogs from the blanks' manufacturer help too, which usually list the butt and tip top sizes. also, don't forget to ask the vendor who's selling the blank. they generally know the product they sell.

eric
fresno, ca.

I know the tip sizes (in mm and in /64"). I got them directly from the blank manufacturer so I guess they are valid.
I'm ordering the guides and tip tops etc before I get my hands on the blanks.
I guess that I should get a tip top with 5.5/64" tube dia for 5/64" tip and 6.0/64" for 5.5/64". Am I right? That's 0.5/64" larger, unlike I (wrongly) said in the first post.

Cheers,
Sakari

No, If it's a 5.5, you want a 5.5 tip if it's a 6, you want a 6.0 tip. You can't always be certain that the particular blank is exact so I woud also get one larger and smaller. This will also allow you to build up a good supply

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Thanks Mike.

It is also true that, (at least for Fuji brand in the smaller tube sizes, as in under 10 / 64ths of an inch ID), the ACTUAL Inside Diameter of the TIP-TUBE is ~ 0.1 mm (which is ~ 0.25 of a 64th of an inch) LARGER than the tube size listed. You can look for a specific tube size and ID information at: [www.anglersresource.net]

In other words, if the rod-tip is truly a 6.0, then the #6.0-TUBE is already slightly oversized to begin with, and should fit nicely. ... The best way to size a rod tip is to try a tube and see how it fits. Done, ...

One parting general comment about rod blank OD's for the rod butt and especially the rod-tip: a rod blank is a HAND-wrapped product, not a precision-machined lathe product. Sure they roll 'em and whatever to smooth the finish, etc. but the variablity in the rod tip is certainly within the realm of 0.5 / 64ths of an inch. Ordering at least two sizes (better the larger?) is a sound practice.

The OD's reported in the rod spec's are a statistical AVERAGE, subject to whatever the standard deviation is for their manufacturing processes. If Manny or Manuela roll the mandrel a little funny that batch, or whack the butt or tip a little up or down the mother-long that shift, then either end of the rod will vary accordingly. Even highly-controlled Quality Control measures will still have variances in them that will always be on the order of at least ~ 0.1mm (~0.004 inch) for either the rod tip or the rod butt. ... This is inevitable, ... IMO, Cliff Hall+++



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/19/2006 12:40AM by Cliff Hall.

Nothing written in stone ha Cliff. Except death and taxes. And if your good, you can get away with taxes ????

You said it, Bill ! ... -CMH+++

You can put this in the "future supposition" or "wild forecast" guess on my part - and disregard if you care to.... As more and more components are produced outside the USA (likely the last place on earth to give up on English measurement of inches and feet) we will likely see standardization to milimeter measurements for rod components and (quietly) convert from measuring one thing in fractions of inches and another in more rational, understandable metric measurements. Rod blanks and all the components that go into making fishing rods will be much easier to fit. Base 10 is just easier to understand.