Hi!

I just measured the tip on a popping rod blank. The manufacturer lists the tip size as 4.5. However, using my Tip Sizer that I got a gift in Charlotte from one of the component manufacturers, I find that the tip is tight on the 5.0 hole and looks like it will fit the 5.5 better.

Which measurement do I trust? The manufacturer's listed tip size or the Tip Sizer. Would I do better to buy a micrometer and just measure it with a more precision instrument? When you are dealing with SiC-ringed titanium tips it does get expensive to buy them in a variety of sizes.

I have a decent caliper that I got for metallic cartridge reloading. Would that work when you are getting down in size with the tips?

Thanks for the help and suggestions.

John



Waynesville, North Carolina --
Gateway to the Smokies

Buy the size you measure. That is the only certain way to be right. The tip sizes are in 64ths so your caliper measurements should be accurate if converted to inch scale.

Stan Grace
Helena, MT
"Our best is none too good"

I'd go with the5.0.
Of all the tips with a tip sizer, I've mesured never had a problem going with the size it is.

The manufacturer's listed size is a target spec, not the actual size. When ordering tips, I usually order the size listed, plus one smaller and one larger. In time, you'll use them all anyway.

If you have the blank in hand already, buy the one that seems to fit the best per your sizing guage.


...........

I jus torder a size or 2 bigger than the rated specs. THis allows me to order what I need without having the blank in hald. Worst cast I build up with thread or with a light coat of finish. I haven't had a tip top NOT fit in several years.

go with the Sizer and go +/- if you like. Tip repair is a very common problem,so the extras will come in handy

Want to play around with some inexpensive tips, not quite sure of the size?

Check out of the Fuji list, litterally thousands of them. [www.ackfishing.com]

Don't pay any attention to all the directions, minimum order ,etc. I'll sell you 1 tip, or any quantity. It will be easier to order them soon, than just having the current PDF file on the site.

Kind Regards,

Peter Maltby
ACK Fishing & Tackle LLC
866-285-0673 Toll Free

Besides purchasing insurance and buying an extra size tip/ top. And if one did I would buy a size bigger so it could be used if the blank breaks very near the tip, given the smaller mfg claimed size fits. But I preferr to buy the blank and tip from the same distributor. When I call ahead to check on avialability I enquire with the distributor, or make sure there is a speacial instructions note (for the order picker) on the invoice to check the tip barrel fit for compatability with the blank. Thats why dealing with a smaller distributor operation can be benefical

There are a lot of good points here. First, that the manufacturer's specs are targets. Trust your own measurement. Second, to buy at least a second tip top that is larger in case of breakage to the rod tip. Finally, if ordering the blank and tip at the same time, ask them to make sure it fits before they ship.

Being a bit of a newbie, I went with the manufacturer's measurements and took them as gospel. I have learned my lesson. Measure first then order the tip.

I'll still probably try and pick up a used micrometer off of @#$%& to double check the measurements of the Tip Sizer. I can always use it for reloading as well.

Thanks for all the tips and suggestions. Peter, expect an order in the next few days.

-John

Waynesville, North Carolina --
Gateway to the Smokies

John:

Thats not the worst of it.....say the MFG is accurate on their products tip sizing, and it is indeed what they have represented. On the distributor end: if he does not check the exact tip to that exact blank there still can be trouble because I have recieved the wrong size barrel in the correctly labled bag that the tip came in? So the MFG of the blank and tip got it right, I ordered the correct items to build the rod, asking the distributor to check the blank tip dimensions, but somehow the tip was mislabeld..which in some cases the distributor wishes you to return the item and you may have to wait for it to return to them before they ship the correct one back to you, causing a double to and from shipping delay?

Now the time it did happen to me, and it was from one of this fine boards great sponcers, they sent me the correct tip at the same time I returned the correctly ordered but mis packed tip back to them saving half the possible shipping time such a happenstand might incurr. So eventually you will learn almost every possible way something will get screwed up and adapt a proceedure that covers every aspect, but you still will have trouble becuase mistakes will happen.

A mistake is like a crime, for any crime commited there are 50 things that can go wrong. a genious is only going to be able to think of 25 things, and adapt procedures to counteract those possibilities. We are not geneiouses so there are things we can not even envision that will trip up mere mortals, like the time a way overdue double rod tube was still late, past three backorder dates and G-loomis gave me the explaination that the boat the tube was on sank? Go figure for that.

When the blank and the tip are ordered at the same time from me, I check the fit before I ship them. As mentioned above, too many times the blank or the tip are off just enough to cause problems. I sleep better knowing that I sent components that will fit together.

For tips ordered separate from blanks, I suggest that you buy one size larger and one size smaller just to be safe. Joe

Joe Douglas