"Finish Wrap" on thread wraps.

[Hopper]

I may be using the wrong term here, but I'm trying to finish off the appearance of my guide wraps by changing thread colors to give it a little pizazz. I've wrapped the guides in a darker flat green and would like to put a few wraps of gold at the ends to finish it off. I can't get 3-5 wraps to hold tight enough, comes unraveled before I finish the rest of the guides. I'm just wrapping over/pulling under just like I do with the standard wraps on the guides. Evidently this doesn't work well with just a few wraps to give it tension. 8-10 wraps make the gold band way to thick, doesn't look right. Is there an easier trick?

Hopper

[icthys]

I hope I understand you right.

Before you finish off your dark green wraps lay down the gold thread so that when you finish off the green it wraps over the gold thread. When you finish the green wraps the gold is now ready to start, because you've "secured" the gold thread down with the green it should be easier to start the gold and keep some tension on it.

[Norm]

Now I have seen this done but confess I have not done it. You could find an ink or paint that has a gold flake in it or whatever and color the last few inches of thread, let dry and wrap it on to give a gold tipped apearance. I know alot of bamboo rod makers tip with black or put a black in the middle or start and finish with a black wrap an a magic marker works great. This is nice on cane due to its light color, but with graphite you might have to experiment. I don't know if paint would make the thread stiff, but you might be able to find a marker pen (scrapbook store) that will alow you to color the thread. Make sure it dries completely so it does not bleed.

Norm

[jdubya]

Hopper, when you say "finish off" do you mean up the foot to the loop, or on the blank at the "end" of the thread (which is actually the begining of the wrap, if you get my drift). If it is the latter, which I suspect it is, you have to use the main color thread to lock down the 3 or so wraps of finish. This is actually easier said than done, which is one reason why I don't mess with it.

So if you are using gold trim on green thread, you need to lay down the gold thread in 6 or so wraps, then pull the thread tight and actually peel off three wraps to uput high tension on, Then you have to start the green thread and lay it over the ed of the gold. Butt them together, and away you go. But they will unravel if you look at them wrong, so be gentle. But like I said above, a lot of pain for little gain.

[Hopper]

You are correct. I am talking about the end away from the guide, where the main wrap starts. A finish wrap looks good, but major PITA. So for I've concluded it isn't worth the time or misery, but if I could find an easier way.....

Norm's idea with the marker sounds interesting. My experience so far is that paint isn't very forgiving, have to do it right the first time. Wiping it off leaves a smear, not worth the risk. I have an old broken rod that I'll do some more playing with. If I get the technique down I'll post it.

Thanks for the ideas!

Hopper

[Jason]

The first rod I built I actually put a few gold wraps in my thread wraps. It's really not that hard. It might be a little tougher trying to do it on all of your guide wraps though. I just put a few gold wraps for accent to the ferrule wraps and down at the handle near my hook holder. What you have to do is wrap your guides like you normally would. Stop at the desired spot and tie off your wraps as normal. Then start your gold wraps just as you would normally. Make three tight wraps and finish it off. If you do it correctly the gold wraps should not come unraveled. I would also suggest putting a few more wraps of your green thread next to your gold do keep things nice and tight. I think it looks better too. In other words, go with your green wraps, then a few gold, then a few green to finish it off. I've read an article on this, i'll see if I can find it online.

[hookem_cookem]

this might be of interest, it tells you how to do a decorative wrap that you might be looking for, just a couple wraps are used.

http://www.flyfisherman.com/rodbuilding/index4.html

[cheech]

My solutoin would be to insert the thread loop when you have about 7 or 8 wraps of green left. Then start you gold with the loop already inserted so when you pull the tag end through it will pull it under the gold wraps and 8 green wraps.

You should talk to lonepalmrods about this. He does some good work, and a lot of his wraps end with gold or silver like you want.

[Cary]

There are several ways to do this. IMO, the easiest is simply tying a clove hitch with the metalic thread, and nudging up against the guide wrap. this results in a trim band three threads wide, and is fast and easy to do.

you can make a trim wrap one thread-width wide, but this involves placing tie-off loops before the guidewrap is complete, takes longer, and is easier to demostrate, rather than explain over the 'net.

[Jason]

Another option I thought of was to leave a space inbetween your green thread for the gold inlay. When you're done, then push your thread wraps together nice and snug leaving no gap. Just an idea. I found this thread which might be helpful.

http://www.rodbuilding.org/read.php?f=2&i=54804&t=54744

Also, what are you using for your 'loop'? Fine tippet or thread? Try using 5 or 6x tippet as your loop instead of thread. You'll have less friction when you pull the loop through and your gold wraps won't get all frazzled and come unraveled.

[Curtis Fry]

I just do the clove hitch that Cary mentioned (kinda like the VFS demo). It usually works great as long as I hold it tight.

[ScottT]

I do it Cheech's way - work's great. Jeez, and all this time I thought that it was all my cool idea! Great minds, blah, blah, blah,,, Remember if you use metallic thread, it is usually a bit bulkier. Also, burnishing metallic threads really blends it together - looks "solid".

I would forget the painting alternative. Besides resembling a Wal-Mart Zebco special, it's a heck of alot easier to redo a wrap than mess w/ paint.

ScottT

[Hopper]

Sounds like I've got some things to practice. Thanks guys!

Hopper

[Norm]

did'nt make it clear that the idea with the marker and thread was to change the color of the thread while its hanging waiting to go on for the last few wraps, it might be faster if one was to experiment. I don't know how much your blank costs but some of the blanks that are priced at $ 15.00 it does'nt seem like much to gamble or experiment with.

Norm

[FlyGuy]

Three words for what to use for the whip-finish loops: Gore-tex dental floss. It's VERY strong and is paper thin/flat. This may also help you keep the trim wraps tight as there's very little "extra" tread required to go over the hump from the loop.

[ScottT]

Good advice - I've used regular dental floss when wrapping salt-water jig sticks. Never tried the gore-tex, I'll have to give it a shot.
Additional note, DON'T USE WAXED.

ScottT

[newtyer]

I dont use the gudebrod metallics. I like gold colored thread but not the metallic finish. they pull apart. I like the sulky threads they work really well if you go with metallics. If I'm going to coat my thread with color preserver I wrap in my trim bands into the other color thread. If no color preserver is used the metallic thread will show up under the other thread and look poor. When I use no color preserver I wrap em just like that video link that was mentioned before. Inlays are a different thing and I always tie those in and color preserve them, if anyone knows a way to keep the tags on those from showing without color preserver let me know. Also Norm mentioned the metallic pen on the thread. It works real well as long as you put cp on over the ink.