I’m wanting to build and replace my
very rough looking old rod wrapper. I’m
wanting something a little easer to use
and maybe a little more pleasant to look
at. I’m a fairly skilled carpenter but I’m
having a tough time coming up with a
good design other than the standard
flex coat type. Any idea’s would be
greatly appreciated.
Texfly,
Here’s what I made for a wrapping jig. It works for me, but after seeing others since making this, it could use some kind of feature to hold thread tension if you have to get up in the middle of a wrap.
The base is a pine stair tread 1"thick cut down to 30"wide. The tread has a factory bull-nose edge (which you cant see but it’s there) the rest is red oak. All scraps I had on hand.
I used a key-hole router bit to make two “T” slots across the top wide enough to accomodate the hex heads of standard grade #5, 1/4" bolts. The base, since it’s glued up 2" strips, I painted and distressed (mainly to match my desk and material cabinet).
The front cradles and the rear thread holder adjust side to side but tighten easily with wing nuts where ever you want them. This is very helpful on tip sections where the guides are closer together and get in the way of fixed cradles.
They’re held down by 1/4" bolts 1 3/4" long with washers and wing nuts. I champfered/beveled all corners then eased with sand paper to eleiminate any sharp edges. Then stained and glued felt in the crooks of the cradles.
The thread holder has a 6"long 1/4" bolt with 6 washers, 2 springs and a wing nut. A small washer on each end, a spring and fender washer on each side of the thread spool. This is fine for holding 2 colors, but you do have to take the outer spool off to change the inner spool. Making additional spool carriers might be helpful if you’re changing thread colors much. Like having several bobbins pre loaded when fly tying.
The rear cradle are just to hold rod sections you’re not working on.
This is by no means the best wrapping jig design, but I would still use the T-slots and sliding fixtures on any future jigs I made.
By the way, If you need to buy ANY lumber for a project, look in the ‘Cull’ bin at the home center. This is the bin of scraps that are sold at fraction of the retail linear foot price. Sometimes it’s worthless scraps, sometimes you’ll find a decent useable piece.
It’s pricey yes but not having time to build my own I went ahead and bought an ecowrapper. I absolutely love mine!! Money well spent and no regrets.
I built mine. Not exactly the same, but I too love mine. Was actually a fairly simple build.
Brad
texfly:
Just sent a PM.
aged_sage