I decided to build a wrapper BEFORE my first kit gets here. I got it cut out, fitted and stained in about 3 hours (fooled around a lot cleaning the shop so I could get to the tools), and will start the finish coats of satin polyurethane in the morning. It’s not exactly what I want, but it will be more substantial than a cardboard box. The shadowing around the pictures is to hide all the “stuff” in my basement. I want everyone to think I’m neat and organized, so you can’t see what it really looks like. I saw the sliding fit thread platform on someone else’s homemade wrapper, and liked that idea. It slides easily from side to side, but will not twist. Simple build without any plans or dimensions, out of 1x4, 1x6, Titebond glue and 1 1/4" drywall screws. Supports will be held in place with 1/4" x 2" lg. carriage bolts with fender washer and wing nut. Still have to figure out thread tensioner. I’ve seen the same one on many different wrappers, and it looks like they are a purchase item, possibly from a sewing machine. They consist of a threaded stem, washers, spring and knurled round nut. Anyone know where I can find these? I can’t seem to find them on the rod building sites.
Total cost to this point about $1.07. Aside from the carriage bolts and wing nuts, everything else was scrap laying around the shop, including the stain and sealer. I’m going to buy a couple of tip tops tomorrow for thread guides. Might also consider an overhead feed systen for the thread, but I’m not covinced it will help much. I guess I’ll be modifying this baby after/during the first rod build.
nice. good idea.
I’d like a sliding thread guide thingamajigger.
the tension device can also be assembled at minimal cost from materials found at yer local hardware store. I use a tying bobbin myself, but my mentor suggests I should use a real tension device. I’m not so sure. I’m more comfortable w/ a bobbin in my hand than w. the thread running through that thing. that said he wraps much more quickly than I do.
Unless you are racing, taking a little longer to wrap isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If you are comfortable with a bobbin, and your wraps are done well, it sounds like a good way to wrap.
I started off with a bobbin, and it does have some advantages, like letting you “back up” without losing thread tension.
I went from a bobbin, to a homemade wrapper, and then received a sulky as a gift one year. They are all effective, and have their good and bad points.
Joe,
It looks like a good homemade wrapper. There is always tweaking to be done, but it looks like you are off to a very good start.
Thanks, gents. I think I’ll make a tensioner since it’s still nasty outside. I found them on Cabelas website, but by the time I go through all that fooloing around, I can make it from one trip to the hardware store. Probably going to make a four-spool station just because I can. I’m going to also look at closet door rollers while I’m there to see how smoothly they roll. I keep hearing about staying away from felt because it gets in the windings, so it’s either going to be rollers or teflon strips.
Joe;
I have a thread in here on making a cork reamer, another tool you’ll need and one that can be made in advance.
The rod building video is in the swap box.
I just built a similar wrapper myself this week. For thread tension I went to the hardware store and bought some fender washers, a piece of 1/4" all thread, wing nuts, nylon spacers 1/4" in diameter and some springs.
I am set up for two spools at once, but I have room to add more. (I see no need at this point, but its nice to have options.) The tension is placed on the spools, which seems superior to the thread itself because there is no chance of fraying the thread with the tensioner. I also used a piece of 1/16" “music wire” as a back tension device. I would try to describe how I put it all together, but I don’t think that I can do that very efficiently. I can try to take a pic if that might help.
Basically it was one stop at the local True Value hardware store (I couldn’t find everything at the local Lowe’s or Home Depot, namely the springs and the “music wire”.) I already had the wood laying around, so that didn’t factor into the cost. All told I think I spent about $20.
Joe;
$3.75 and that’s my best offer!! Just Kidding my friend, you have been bitten by the “Bug” for which there is no cure except fishing!! I hope the DVD helps.
My home built rods are no where near the quality of deleo6446, Sermsky, et al. But they fish well for sure.
Joe That is one sweet wraping device, I wish I had a work shop or didnt live in an apartment so I could have built my own.
As for a tensioning device on my store bought wraper it has a really good one. Here is a pic I like this one because the thread dosnt rub against anything making it fray
I was able to get springs and nylon washers at Home Depot to make a similar tensioner (I made two). Mine is mounted on a 1/4" x 4" lg. carriage bolt with a wing nut on top. I’ll post a pic when I get a chance.
Got my kit in the mail yesterday, but spent last night practicing winding on an old ultralight spinning rod. It’s not too bad in the fixture. I remember wrapping a damaged guide years ago without a fixture. I used some very bad language that I’m not too proud of. He, he, he…
I have to get some narrow masking tape today to build up under the reel seat as well. Going out of town around noon today and won’t be home till late Sunday. Grrrrr…family obligations just when I wanted to start my build. Oh, well, this too will pass.
looks good Joe you have one fine wraping gig now. Is this your first rod build? If so post some pictures here when you done I love admiring other peoples work
Yes, this is my first rod. I’ve been told it will be the first of many, as this is somewhat of an addiction (but I’m strong willed, and will be able to quit whenever I want to :roll: ) I’ll post some pics as I go along.
Got the wheels at Home Depot, but are probably at Lowes as well. They are shower door replacement wheels found in the harware department. There are a couple of styles; flat and oval. I chose the oval wheel to minimize the contact surface between the rod blank and the wheels. Not sure if that makes sense to everyone, but it made sense to me. I have attached them to the support using #4 x 1" lg. wood screw, but you can also attach them to a homemade bracket made from steel or aluminum strip stock if you’re looking for more work.
Got home and started working on wrapping ferrules. Thought I’d try a little accent banding since I had a couple of colors of thread. I’m sure this will make the rod cast a LOT better! Ha, ha, ha…
Comments or critques welcome. I’m new and whatever I’m doing is coming from several websites, and I’m open to suggestions. I’m going to start on the guides now.
Hey, that looks good! I do have one suggestion. You may find some of your guides end up being really close to the end of a section. Then you can use your ferrule wrap to double as a guide wrap and save some weight on the rod.
Thanks, Greg. As it turned out, I have a guide at the top of the third section from the bottom, so I had to adjust the guides down about 1/4" to keep the wraps from inhibiting the top section from seating all the way. Glad I’ve been reading a lot, otherwise I might have come to a standstill with the guides on that section until I knew if I could adjust to fit the recommended spacing.
