I use the rubber band/epoxy method too only I put a paper clip through the eye first and then put the Rband through the paperclip to disperse the heat through the band first. and not run the risk of melting the rband.
BjR

Ditto to the "put your tip top on first" suggestion. I ALWAYS 5-minute on my tip top before wrapping the guides. Anyone should be able to line up a top with 5-minute epoxy. If you can't do it with 5 minutes of working time, I don't see how a fast setting hot melt glue will solve things.

I line my handle and reel seat up with the spine, then epoxy on the top. After that the guides are lined up in between. When epoxying on the top be sure to do it with the eye pointed DOWN. This way gravity won't push it around while the epoxy sets.

Jay

Another tip is tale a tooth pick and add epoxy inside the tip top before you apply it to the rod, I also slightly egg shape the very end of each tip top tube-tap it with a cig lighter base while on a hard surface making it SLIGHTLY egg shaped-to make if fit tight, so once in place it doesn't move.

DR

5 minute epoxy & wrap up to the tiptop barrel.

To remove tiptop, I use the rubberband & paperclip method as posted by Fred.

Stan