I have a tip guide with a tube diam of 1.6, and a rod blank with a tip diam. of 1.63. The tip does not fit. Do I

1) fine glass paper down the blank by 0.03mm to make tip fit, would this alter the integrity of the tip of the blank?

2) buy a 1.8mm tip guide? would the hot melt glue make a secure fit to make up the 0.2mm difference?

Or are the measurements that I am mentioning so small that either scenario would work perfectly well? If so if this was your blank what would you do?

Cheers

are those actual measurements from pieces in hand? If not, then the amounts you're talking about are far less than the variance between blanks and tips. If it is pieces in hand, can you wiggle the tip top onto the blank? Sometimes it is a high spot in the overcoat on the blank that is holding it back.

Either solution will work and I've done both. If you decide to sand, make sure you're only sanding the clearcoat/paint and not any graphite fibers. If you have a natural colored blank with minimal or no gloss coat, I'd go with a bigger tip top. Hot melt will work just fine if you go to the bigger tip.

Thanks,
Rick

Be EXTREMELY careful sanding the tip. Even the minutest damage to the carbon in that area can cause a failure. If you are using hot melt glue then you need a bit of clearance for some glue. If the fit is too tight you get a dry joint.

My advice is go with the larger bore tip. Try to support it initially after gluing so it sits straight.

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Steve Parkes

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If you have bought the 1.6 and the fit is almost but not quite and the blank has a coating you should be able to remove a little of it without hitting fibre. But first try sanding (emery paper on a toothpick) or filing the inside of the tiptop. There could be a burr blocking insertion

Taking a trusty Stanly Blade - scrape the varnish off of it !

If you slightly cock the scrape - fix the tipring on with Regular Araldite !

Best wishes

Steve Parton

Thanks everyone for your time and effort in answering my questions.
The blank is a Harrison with that non flash lacquer type finish over the bare carbon, i.e. no paint or gloss. So no real leeway in scraping /sanding stuff off.
I think I will get the size up, as Steve(Zenith') points out there will some space between inner tube and blank for the glue to get purchase.
I also remeasured the tip of the blank and it's actually 1.67mm! So that was the casting vote.

Cheers chaps