Is This Repairable

[gunsinger]

While fishing this evening, I noticed an odd sound while reeling in a jerk bait. I could see that my line was abraded so I cut off the bad section and re-tied. On the next cast, the sound was still there so I started inspecting the rod. That’s when I noted the ceramic was chipped as shown in the image below. So, can it be fixed by a novice at rod repair?  Is it worth the effort?

 

 

As you can see it’s clearly cutting the fluorocarbon line. 
 

TIA

[a1712]

Yes, just change the tip top. Lots of YouTube videos to walk you through it. Brian.

[casts_by_fly]

Yes, though it is a replacement and not a repair. That tip top is junk and you can’t fix the ceramic rings. Some heat on the tip top should loosen it up. Then some ferrule cement or epoxy for a new one.  

[MN Fisher]

Top quality replacement tip-tops are easily available. Make sure to get the right size.

https://www.jannsnetcraft.com/shop/rod-building/fishing-rod-tops/fuji-tip-tops?page=1

[throttleplate]

Broke tip off my favorite light tackle rod 3 weeks ago. Went to scheels and bought the kit with 3 different size tips and the wax-glue stick included. Cost $2.99 and works fine.

[Lead Head]

Be very careful when heating the busted tip for removal. Its easy to use too much and fry graphite. Grab the old tip with pliers and pull it while slowly adding heat. I also suggest you use tiptop glue (basically high temp hot glue) to put on your new tiptop. If you use epoxy or some other type of permanent adhesive you probably won't be able to replace again without damaging the blank. Losing just an inch or two from the tip of a rod can alter its performance, usually not in a good way. 

 

Keeping all that in mind, it should be a easy fix. The hardest part will likely be finding the correct size (tube and ring) tiptop. If its a cheaper rod and your not worried about looks grab one of those kits and stick on the tip that fits the best. 

[gunsinger]

Thanks everybody. I did watch some YouTube videos on this and it seems like finding the right size and the appropriate tools are the hardest part of the repair. Most of the videos I watched they had a torch that they used to heat the tip. I don’t have a torch but I suppose I can find one of those. 

[MickD]

Read what LeadHead said again, he has it exactly right.  

 

I do it a little differently, but same principal.  I heat the barrel of the the tiptop with the side of a cigarette lighter flame while pulling with a string through the eye to provide tension.  When the temp is right, it will slide off after only a few seconds.  If you find it stubborn, take it to a rod repairman because the original tiptop was installed with epoxy, and you have to be VERY careful and skillful to remove it properly.

[Lead Head]

A torch... Yikes! 

I'll tell you this, a simple lighter can cook the whole tip of a rod off in less than 5 seconds of constant heat. Unfortunately, I know this from experience... it was a painful lesson. 

I use a butane lighter now and wave it across the tip in about 2 second intervals so I get a slow, controlled heating process. By adding constant pull while heating, you can feel it give way and stop adding heat as soon as it starts moving. 

 

The real issue is how thin the tip is in most rods, that little twig of graphite will get hot fast if you just throw flame at it all willy-nilly. 

[MickD]

Just now, Lead Head said:

y adding constant pull while heating, you can feel it give way and stop adding heat as soon as it starts moving. 

 

Right, the constant pull prevents damage from anything but the most careless application of heat.  As I stated, I use the side of the flame.  I use so little heat that I usually take them off and put them on without even using pliers, just my bare fingers. 

[Lead Head]

Impressive that you can do it with bare fingers. I put them on like that but would almost definitely burn myself taking them off. If you're tough enough to do it that way that's pretty good because you know just how hot everything really is. 

[MAN]

We just use a bic lighter and glue another one on.  Don't overcomplicate a tip repair

[MickD]

1 hour ago, MAN said:

We just use a bic lighter and glue another one on.  Don't overcomplicate a tip repair

It is not overcomplicating it to provide details on how it's done without damaging the blank.  Many newbies don't realize how easy it is to damage a blank.  I expect most experienced builders, when they were newbies, damaged a blank doing tiptop replacement.  I confess.

[gunsinger]

I did end up using just a lighter.  Took just a few seconds for it to slid off (held with needle nose pliers.  Got my measurements and will order replacement tips today.  Thanks to all that commented.