I was trying to heat a tip top for removal on a Rainshadow blank. I couldn't get the thing to budge, and finally, I melted the tip of the blank itself. Anybody ever have this happen? I've never had a problem removing a tip top until this one. Can I still build on this blank is I cut the tip off? Thanks for your help. What an unbelievably dumb mistake.....

John

If you are losing only about an inch it should be ok, some still take a little off the tips of flyrods that are traveling a lot to protect the tip. If it's substantial than I think I'd send the rod to Batson for a new tip. Casting it or better yet fishing it will tell you a lot about if it's ok.

Will be a little stiffer, but you can build on it and it will be fine. I've fixed a tip or two that my friends (NEVER ME) have attempted to shorten by way of slamming the tip in a car door.

Changes the action a little, but it is fishable.

Terry

I did the same thing to trying to repair a top on my fly rod . I only lost maybe 1/4 inch . I just put my top back on and now I don't notice any difference at all .

How were you heating the tip top? I bet it was a cig. lighter> what I found is that the lighter takes to long to heat the tip and when it does it melts the rod. Usually this happens when the tip is epoxied on. What I do is use heat from my butain torch. It gets the tip hot fast. I always have a ice cold rag on the blank just below the tip top. Have plyers ready to pull off the tip when you see any sign of steam. I never heat more than 3 to 4 secounds.
Good Wraps Bob

guys,

thanks for the quick responses. Bob, yes I was using a cigarette lighter. I'll have to invest in a torch pretty soon, or just get the tip tops correct the first time every time. Thanks for the help guys.

John

Read the string below about the cloudy flex coat. I made a post about torches that may just fit this situation.

I've done the same thing. Fortunately though only on blanks I was stripping for the guides. Does the torch trick work if the tip was epoxied on vice tip glued? I had a SiC ring pop out of an expensive Japanese Shimano (300+ dollars). Was going to replace the guide, but couldn't get it to come off. Ended up heating the guide up and pushing the ring back into place with a little superglue, not sure how long this will last using powerpro though. As it is a short jig stick I don't want to make it any shorter by cutting the guide off.

Phil

since i have burned three tip tops I have come to conclussion that ONLY plastic low T glue should be used, and i do not put wraps below tip top tube either, in that case i'm 99% shure would be able to remove/ change TIPt. Also it needs to be heated very gently and TIP top should be under string of tension to come off when melt point occurs, again even couple of seconds lighter flame could damage the blank tip, needless to say never heat wraps under Tip Top guide, which could be tempting in order to remove coating !!!
alex, w my five cents