Howdy, folks!

When sizing for an AFTCO roller tip guide, how far down the tip of the blank should you take your measurement? Since the tubes are so long on these guides I didn't know if their measurement reflected the size closer to the tip or farther down the tube. Thanks!

The odd thing about nearly all roller tops is that they're tapered and tapered vastly different than the tips of most rod blanks. Typically I'll measure about an inch back and use that to order the top. From there you're going to find that the top won't fully seat on the blank unless you grind/taper the first half inch or so of the blank tip. This is a pretty standard practice, although I've never liked to grind any blank tip, even the thick offshore blank types. So, you can always measure an inch back, and then order the next larger size top. This will generally get you fully seated on the blank tip but then you'll have a slight gap at the opening of the roller top. I make my trim wrap extend enough so that it will fall under the roller top opening and take up that slight gap once the top is epoxied on. Either way works, but the latter is the method I've used most often.

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Ordered these to fit all the way down the blank. Then built up the tip with1/8" wide masking tape about 1/8" inch back from the tip end so as to center the roller guide on the blank. Otherwise the roller tip will cant and look awful when viewed from the side of the rod. Attach with a generous layer of your favorite epoxy.

The blue tape is to keep epoxy off of the blank when it squeezes out.

Offshore Roller tip/blue water rods receive a lot of pressure on the tip. I do not like reducing the diameter of the blank to fit the roller guide. Just a light scuffing of the surface of the blank for a good epoxy bond.

80 pound class blank.

That's another good way to do it. But I would recommend a thread wrap instead of masking tape for the forward filler.

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Thank you very much for the info, just what I needed to know!