Nothing breaks more on fishing rod tips than the rod’s tips. When it happens, how do you fix it? Will glue work? And which glue should you buy? Fishing rod tips are the most-broken part of a fishing rod, and this is the best glue when fixing them. With its versatile adhesive qualities, this has a type of adhesive for whatever rod material you may have.
What is the best glue for a fishing rod tip? Epoxy is the best glue for fixing fishing rod tips, making it the popular choice for fishing equipment repairs. It is a top adhesive choice for outdoor sporting gear due to certain types because it has high moisture resistance and ability to adhere to most material types, such as wood, metal, and plastic.
To choose the best epoxy, you must first understand what epoxy is and what types work best for each material and situation. Then you can learn the steps or gluing the new tip.
The Best Glue
Epoxy is the best glue for repairing a fishing rod tip, due to its strong hold, reliability, and versatility. It is strong and capable of resisting elemental corrosion and damage, and it doesn’t cause the damage glues, like super glue, would cause. It is also more visibly appealing when it dries and can be used; however, you need to.
What is Epoxy?
Epoxy is a popular adhesive for multiple uses. There are numerous types and specific applications for each of those . Hotmelt specifies that:
“Epoxy is an organic compound. It is made up of chains of carbon linked to other elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, or nitrogen. This link occurs via a covalent bond, in which the elements share a pair of electrons to stay together.”
—Hotmelt
Some of the primary uses for epoxy include:
- Repairing broken objects, such as your broken rod tip or other fishing items. Special epoxy can also be used for electronics and other devices.
- Sealing windows, holes, cracks, and other small, open areas is a common use of epoxy. It is regularly used for pipes, windows, and even objects such as dishes.
- Hanging with epoxy is a regular occurrence due to its strength and long-lasting life. Not just pictures, but shelves and other, heavier objects, as well.
- Strengthening adhesive bonds, seals, and protection of areas and objects is also normal.
- Bonding items, wires, or otherwise connecting things is the basic idea of using epoxy.
Types of Epoxy
There are four types of epoxy.
| Polyamine Epoxy | These are not as flexible as polyamide epoxies and are more susceptible to some types of corrosion. | These are used when you need abrasion and chemical resistance. |
| Phenolic Epoxy | They are heat-cured with phenolic resin. | These are mainly used for chemically resistant containers. |
| Novolac Epoxy | These are made with acid and are very resilient. | These are for high heat and chemical resistance. These would be ideal for mechanical components. |
| Polyamide Epoxy | These are designed for use in primers and are overall resistant to outdoor elements. | These are wonderful for use on items used around water and moisture. They are also flexible and allow for more customizable adhesion. |
With these types of epoxy in mind, the best kind of epoxy to use for your fishing gear is a polyamide epoxy due to its high resistance to weather and moisture, as well as its flexibility.
Choosing the Best Polyamide Epoxy
The most crucial factor will be your work time. If you get a quick-drying epoxy, you will not have much time to put together your rod tip and have it aligned. If you choose a slow-drying epoxy, it may not be dry fast enough and that could lead to it getting knocked out of line or breaking again all together. The top suggestions for these epoxies are a 5-minute epoxy and a 15-minute epoxy. However, it is important to note that slower dying epoxies are often stronger and last longer.
Be sure to also keep in mind the materials used. Some rods are metal, others are wood, and still others fiberglass. Certain glues only work well on specific materials. For example, most epoxies come as two-part epoxies, with the hardener separate from the resin, which comes in the second container. They work when they are mixed appropriately, typically in equal parts.
Top Three 5-Minute Epoxies
Some recommended, two-part, 5-minute epoxies are:
- J-B Weld ClearWeld (link to Amazon) dries clear, works well on tile, plastic, ceramic, glass, and wood. It also comes in a resealable container so you can use it again later. It guarantees to set in 5 minutes and to cure in 1 hour.
- Gorilla 2 Part Epoxy (click to see on Amazon) boasts about its water resistance, which most polyamide epoxy will contribute, and will also work with most plastic, tile, wood, glass, and more. It claims to have a 3300 PSI (pounds per square inch).
- Loctite Heavy Duty Epoxy (Amazon link) claims a 3500 PSI and will work on plastic, wood, tile, ceramic, glass, and more.
Top Three 15-Minute Epoxies
Some recommended, two-part, 15-minute epoxies are:
- The Bob Smith Industries (link to Amazon) can bond wood, metal, foam, and even fiberglass. It boasts a 3800 PSI and claims to give non-brittle bonds.
- System Three (click to see on Amazon) is a two-part epoxy that will dry in an amber color. It will also work on wood, metal, fiberglass, and more.
- Finally, Zap Z-Poxy (click to check price on Amazon) is designed to be shock-resistant and excels at gap filling. It is good on most materials and will dry clear.
How to Use Your Rod Tip Glue
You have picked out the glue that will work best for your specific rod and tip, now comes to doing the actual gluing. Some suggested materials to have at the ready are:
- Popsicle sticks will allow you to wipe away excess glue and will give you the ability to apply glue and smooth it, should you need it. Another useful applicator would be a small paintbrush.
- A stirring stick to mix the epoxy. Note: do not whip the mix, stir it gently until it is mixed.
- A rotator, if you have one, so your rod can rotate, and the glue can evenly coat and dry. This isn’t essential, but a rotator makes spreading the glue evenly easier.
- Gloves are also suggested to keep your hand epoxy free.
- A heat source such as an alcohol burner. This will level your finish and eliminate build-up and air bubbles.
The first thing you want to do before getting started is to make sure you have all the pieces of the rod and tip clean and ready to be glued. Once you are ready, you will begin to glue.
- First, you will mix the epoxy in equal parts. If you have one-time use containers, you will release each part into a container and gently mix them to form the epoxy adhesive. You’ll mix for about 1-2 minutes until it is clear, and the bubbles are mostly gone.
- If you have a rotating device, now would be the time to have your rod in place and slowly rotating. If you don’t, be prepared to slowly rotate your rod while it sets. This can be more tedious for longer-wait times.
- Now, you will coat the tip of the rod with the epoxy, either with a popsicle stick, a paintbrush, or otherwise. Make sure there aren’t any substantial beads of epoxy on any part of the rod, and that it is evenly coated.
- Using the alcohol burner, heat the epoxy for a couple of seconds to remove air bubbles and eliminate build-up.
- Now, place a bit of glue on the new rod tip.
- Slide the new rod tip onto the rod.
- Align the tip properly with the rest of your leads.
- Use the applicator to glide on a coat of epoxy along the edge to completely seal it.
- Use the alcohol burner once more to remove build-ups and air bubbles.
- Once the set time has been reached, you can stop rotating your rod and let it rest to fully cure.
The Takeaway
Learn the type of glue you need and the materials you will be using. Then, make preparations for your repair. Once you have all you need, you can start your gluing process. Remember, take your time because the epoxy will remain for nearly a lifetime.