One thing nearly every rod has in common is a tip top. There are many different styles, shapes, sizes and applications but they serve an important purpose. The tip top safely guides line in and out of the rod. Also, it protects the typically very delicate blank tip.
There are two very important parts to the tip top which must be known when ordering: the tube size and loop size. The tube size refers to the inner diameter of the tube that attaches to the tip of the rod blank. REC tip top tubes, like most others available commercially, are measured in 64ths of an inch. Like with all rod building, the handy calipers will provide an accurate measurement of the blank tip. Take that measurement and convert it to 64ths of an inch (multiply the 0.000 by 64 to get your answer). Depending on the type of fishing that rod will be doing, many tip top tube sizes will fall between 3.5 and 7 64ths of an inch.
The second essential measurement on the tip top is the loop size. This is where the line will flow through. Ring sizes can vary greatly, even more so than tip top tube sizes. It is recommended to match the size of the running guides with the tip top loop measurement. Finding the measurement of a tip top is found by measuring the Outside Diameter of the tip top ring. This sizing is historically measured in Millimeters. Reference documents like REC’s Guide Specification Spreadsheet to determine the best tip top to match your running guides.
REC sells a nifty Mudhole tool called the “Rod Builder’s Gauge”. This tool can make the tube and loop measuring process a breeze. You can stick your blank tip in a number of different sized holes to determine which is best. The same goes for the loop. There are a number of protruding pegs that will help match you to the one that matches your existing tip top. I use this tool a lot.
The style of the loop is quite different between different fishing applications. This is especially evident between spinning/casting rods and fly rods. Fly rod top tops nearly always have one large loop and a relatively small tube measurement. Traditional spinning and casting rods will have a robust ring in order to better support the delicate line.
The last consideration, after tube & loops size and style is the color or finish. REC guides come in two finish options. The first in Natural Titanium and the second is Black pearl PVD. Your tip top color/finish should match the other guides as closely as possible.
Just like all other rod building techniques, there are many ways to put one on a rod. I am partial to the St. Croix specialized heat-activated powder called Piccolastic D-125 and guard the two tiny containers with their contents carefully. REC offers other more commonly used alternatives made by Flex Coat. How you finish yours is up to you. I like to use a half dozen or so wraps of metallic thread, found elsewhere on the rod. Afterwards I apply thread finish to the wraps and just over the tip of the tube. This makes me confident the tip will not rotate ever. Also, this is easy to remove should the tip top need to be replaced.
Tight wraps my friends,
Ryan