guide thread wrapping

[fritz]

is there a preferred direction from where to start the wraps, i.e., from the guide foot to the guide ring or from the ring down along the guide foot?

[Fly Goddess]

I like from the the guide foot to the ring.

[Denny]

I agree with Fly Goddess. Wrapping up the ramp allows me to keep the wraps nice and close. If one wraps down the ramp
loose and not perfect wraps would need to be handled. I like to keep it simple.
I'd suggest obtaining a carbon fiber arrow from an archery shop. Practice, practice. Not only practice the wrapping but also whatever coating you might want to play with. After practicing one can use a razor blade and cut off all your mess until the next time you practice. Did I mention? Practice??
Works for me.

Denny

[fritz]

after taking your advice(s), what a great improvement! much thanks

[gmac209]

I agree with Fly Goddess. Wrapping up the ramp allows me to keep the wraps nice and close. If one wraps down the ramp
loose and not perfect wraps would need to be handled. I like to keep it simple.
I'd suggest obtaining a carbon fiber arrow from an archery shop. Practice, practice. Not only practice the wrapping but also whatever coating you might want to play with. After practicing one can use a razor blade and cut off all your mess until the next time you practice. Did I mention? Practice??
Works for me.

Denny

Great idea - I have an abundance of those in various stages of disrepair. One great thing is they don't bend and I will just cut down the damaged part. Now to practice.

Geoff

[kbproctor]

This will also show you the value of guide foot prep.

You might also take an arrow and wrap a couple of .5" sections of various colors on the shaft. Apply color preserver to one of each color pair. Apply finish to all of them. This will give you an idea of what happens with and without color preserver and what you can expect from a certain color of thread.

[mr. blur]

yes yes and yes

[Uncle Jesse]

How many wraps or how far from the last wrap do you insert a device for pulling the thread back under? How do you cut the thread when finished? I learned years ago to pull the thread taut and snip it with a sharp blade and it woud snap back under the top wraps, which usually works for me.

[Fly Goddess]

I do maybe 4 or 5 good wraps before cutting tags and I use the double edge razor blades...they are so thin. Just need to touch the thread.

[Denny]

After a wrap is completed, I cut the tag to about 1/4 inch, each. I do not trim off my tags until after the first coat of spar has dried. As I wrap only silk (YLI) and use Spar, 3 coats on the wrap before I dip, I prefer to tighten up all wraps just before I apply the first coat of Spar by a good brush. After drying I then shave off the tag with a #25 scalpel. I then polish the entire wrap with a Sand Turtle Gleemer. Obtained from a beauty supply. They are used for fingernails. Extremely fine polish & buff. After I get finished with this process, the wraps are perfect. I then coat one more coat of Spar with a brush, dry and then dip. I almost always dip two coats.
This may take a bit longer than some people would like to take. For me it is the perfect wrap that counts. I know it does not make the rod cast better but it sure does make me feel good. I am not fond of any coating that builds up the wrap. I think it makes them all look like a large clump of stuff, not a nicely done wrap.
Works for me.
I always practice wrap 2 to 4 wraps on an arrow before I even touch a guide on a new, to be wrapped blank. I find no mater how good I think I am, after wrapping as many rods as I have wrapped in my lifetime, I feel the fingers and mind need the practice to get back to the perfection I think I need and know I want.
I'd say, if you want good wraps for you to try different ways and techniques. What works for me may not be what works for you. Find your own method and go for it. Practice a lot!

Denny