Hi people,

Been lurking for a while. I have been following various threads regarding using single foot guides as tip tops with interest. I think that this is a viable alternative to tube tops for fly rods. My problem with this approach is that to me it is not aesthetically very pleasing.

One thought I had was to epoxy or PG the foot of the guide into the tip of the blank, and then do whatever to the wrap outside to make the fitting conform to the rest of the rod. Since the guide foot will be completely hidden from view, one can scuff or even file teeth into it in order to keep it in there. The profile of the blank end will mean that the plug cannot pull out either. What do you guys think?

Another option (for blanks with very thin tips only, eg. GLoomis GLX fly) would be to wrap the rod tip on the WRONG side of the guide foot, so the guide foot sits on the othe side of the blank from the ring.

These thoughts are aimed at fly rods, and NOT for attaching the ultra small single foot guides as previously discussed. These would not work as the tip diameter would close down the ring opening.

I will be very interested to hear the thoughts from the brains on this board.

Hi Armand,
I am certainly no "brain" when it comes to the world of rodbuilding, but I just did a rebuild on a spinning rod, and used a single foot ceramic fly guide for my tip. I initially taped it on the "wrong" side of the rod, for aesthetic reasons. I didn't like the way that the line slapped the rod. Putting the tip on the "right" side eliminated the problem. I think you could use the wrong side approach, provided that the leg of the guide was long enough to keep the line off of the blank. A spinning guide, with its higher frame would probably work.
I was not crazy about the look of my tip after I finished it, but it's starting to grow on me. I appreciate the efficiency of using something that weighs less than a traditional top, and I'm amazed that I was able to get the thread wrap within 1/32 of the tip. With an 8 or 9 foot fly rod, you'll never notice it, until it's time to put the rod in the case, or you just want to show it to someone.
George

you could wrap the tip normally, epoxy then use a dremel tool to carefully sand/cut/file away the pretruding part of the blank then epoxy over.
i dont know if it would work just off the top of my head

You can definitely use a guide for a tip top. We used them in emergencies, but soon adapted them for everyday use.

Just select a single foot guide of the proper size then wrap it onto the rod tip, apply your favorite guide wrap finish, and that's it..

Another way, described by Ken Preston, is to take a double footed guide anf bend one leg back under then wrap with thread.

These ''faux' tip tops are remarkably durable.. C2

Armand,

I now use single foot guides as tip tops routinely on all my fly rods.

I prefer this 'look', as it matches the rest of the guide wraps on the rod.

It is lighter and stronger than the tubed tip tops.

None of the fly rods I've built have an opening large enough in the end of the blank to accept the guide foot. I just do as Tom suggests, I carefully grind the tiny amount of blank left exposed to nice angle, and epoxy/finish over it.

Buddy

Dear all,

Thanks for your replies.

I am going to order a tip top AND extra single foot for my build, so at least I have options.

Armand