How do you determin what size tip top guide you need? I'm building my first rod and need a tip top guide. The rod is 6'6" ex-fast medium action. but i have no idea what the tip size is. Any ideas?

The catalog spec should get you close. Otherwise measure it. It's in 64's but you measure with calipers in mm and convert. Always order 2, one about what you need and one the next size up. If you just order one it'll always be either too large or too small. Trust me on this.

Travis
Listen to Ricky --- it will invariably be too large or too small. Ok - this is your first rod. When you are thinking about a second, third, fourth, or doing some more for friends --- do yourself a huge favor and invest in a plastic tip-top guage which will tell you what tube diameter you need - failing that --- or instead of that go to your local hardware store and buy a cheap twist drill bit guage (also measured in 64-ths). You can probably pick one up at Home Depot for about $2.00.

Rick is correct. All so you should purchase a tip top gauge. The gauge well make it much easier to measure the tip of the blank.
Good Wraps Bob

thanks guys I'll do just that!!

i've only built 2 rods so far and had my blank supplier select the right size tip for me. but thinking about this, shouldnt we measure the blank back from the tip about an inch or so to allow for the rod taper? if you measure the end of the rod and order that size tip top than it may to to small to fit on the blank properly.