I read the articles in the rod building section and I still don’t grasp what glue to use on the tip section. Hot glue? What kind of hot glue?
I am repairing my dads old glass rod and I have never done it before. How do I get the old tip off? How do I prep the glass rod for the new tip? What kind of glue do I use? Anything else I should know?
Thanks
Hi NderdaFilm, gently heat the tip top while the tip section is horizontal with a tea candle, an alcohol lamp or even a match…heat from about an inch and a half below the tip top, it doesn’t take long…this will melt the existing glue. Do not allow the flame to touch the fiberglass or get to close to it. Keep hte flame to the end of the tip top or a bit back from the loop. Carefully use needlenose pliers, forceps or holding tool of choice to gently slide the old tip top off the tip of the rod. The flame is out or moved aside so it won’t heat the fiberglass.
I don’t try to clean the area when I put the new one on. The glue is called tip top glue, nock glue and you should be able to get it at many sporting goods stores. I lightly heat the glue and dab a small amount on the tip of the rod then I carefully heat the new tip top while holding it with forceps or needlenose (smooth jaw tools best here) then I quickly slide it onto the tip of the rod. It will re-melt the glue and the new tip top will slide right on. Caution on all the heating…too much is a bad thing. Only heat as much as necessary to remove and replace the tip top. Hopin’ some of this helps !
Cheers,
MontanaMoose
P.S. ! If any glue squeezes out from under the opening of the new tip top you can carefully peel it away once the whole thing is cool to the touch. Careful not to put any side pressure on the delicate tip of the rod and don’t use anything metal to scrape the excess glue away.
Cheers,
MontanaMoose
You can use hot glue if that’s what you have
Careful though, the regular hot glue may loosen in a hot car
The tip top glue has a slightly higher melting point
Be careful removing the old tip top. Too much heat and they will come off at the speed of a bullet!!
The “Amber” hot melt glue is stronger than the “white” glue sold in craft store’s.
ND
Flextite is a good glue to use.It’s the glue used to attach fletching to arrows.It is a resin based glue that hold up better than plain craft store hot glue.Hot glue will work but I’ve had it loose up on hot days.Some also use epoxy. Instead of using an open flame try a heat gun if you have one too get the old tip top off.
Tom
I personally use a heat gun to remove broken tip tops, but whatever heat source you have will do. Gently heating the tip top only while holding onto it with a pair of needle nose pliers works well. As mentioned earlier, do not overheat the tip top and you should be able to slide it off of the rod. Once removed, I immediately wipe any excess old molten glue from the tip, then wipe the tip clean with a cloth dampened with rubbibg alcohol to remove any residue or impurities. Once a proper replacement has been dry fitted to assure proper fit, I then glue it onto the rod using 5 minute epoxy, wipe away any excess epoxy on or around the tip top with rubbing alcohol and check that it is aligned correctly before the epoxy sets up. As mentioned, there are many other adhesives which can be used, but I have found epoxy provides the best bond which will not work loose under strain or on a hot day as many other hot glues will. The heat from a heat gun will remove it. I have repaired many rod tips where hot melt glues had been used, but have never had a customer return because my repaired tip worked loose. Good luck with your repair! 
Repair successful. Thanks :!: