The question about sums it up. The matte black rod is supposed to be a 4.5 tip top fit but it really does not go on. I tried all of the 4.5s I have. If I forced it, it would not need any glue. I tried a 5 tip top but that really seems too big. Of course I don't have the 5 in a REC which I would like to use. So is smoothing the rod tip a reasonable idea to fit the 4.5 or use a slightly sloppy 5?

John
God bless the troops and USA

John; I will scratch the finish off the tip area sometime to get a fit, but never get into the blank material itself. I use a Scotch Brite pad pinched around the tip to remove the finish, If that doesn't make it small enough, try a wrap of "A" thread and use the #5.

If a larger tube is not available for the desired ring size a better choice would to be to split the tip top and install! See the M&M Threads -

You don't have enough material in the thin tip area to do any real sanding. If scraping the paint off won't do it, get the next larger tiptop size.

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John ,
Don't sand the blank and don't split the tube.
If one doesn't fit, use a larger size.
If the next size up is too large, use an underwrap to fill the gap.

Sanding the blank - especially in the thin tip area will weaken the tip.
Scraping the finish off the tip is fine, but don't remove resin and graphite from the tip.


Splitting the tube, weakens the tube tip mount. I know that folks do it, but it really isn't the best thing to do.

Take care
Roger

Sometimes it is not the rod blank but the tip top tube opening. when the tube is cut the cutter will roll the edge over causing a small burr. I use a small burnishing tool with a triangle edge and work it around the inside edge and this will open the tub to its true size. I find this a lot on tube sizes from #5 on down. Joe

John
from your comment about forcing it
I would make sure you don't have any burrs on the inside of the tube & carefully scrape the finish coat off the tip and you will likely manage to get a fit.
With a really tight fit like that, you might need to use 5-min epoxy rather than a hotmelt glue, as a really tight fit is not a good situation with hotmelt glues, as they tend to scrape off in those situations ( even with heating the tube).
No big penalty if you have to use a #5 tube.

if you have any drill bits use the right size to take the burrs off and scratch the inside of the tube for good adhesion.

Bill - willierods.com

I measured the tip yesterday before I came home--.071 inches as I recall which is 4.544 64ths so just a camel hair over but enough to cause some trouble. I also did try to chamfer the hole on the tip with a bit--now that I think of it I can also try my chamferring tool for the pen tubes. I can give it another go on Tuesday. Right now probably no room for adhesive in between. I am just prejudiced against doing any splitting of the tube. Of course I could put a # 2 REC for the tip top but that to is against my grain. The only 5.0 tip top I have that I can locate is a ceramic probably alconite one.

might try lightly swaging the tube

Good Wraps Bob