Well, courtesy of the nice people at Shoff Tackle, I took delivery today of a Forecast Power Wrapper.
Now power wrappers are about as common as horse sh*t on the freeway here in the UK and I'd never seen a power wrapper 'til I took it out of the box!
Goes together in a very logical manner - I even read the instructions (unusual for me!) and I've had a little play with it.
Problem - how do you start the wrap? Am I missing something?

Paul

By hand just like in the past. Understand it takes time to get use to a PW. Someone told me you make the same mistakes just faster.

You will find some guides near the end of the rod are easier to do by turning it by hand instead of under power.

It took me 3 or 4 rods before I got the feel and learned to work with it. At first I would have sent it back but now I wouldn't take for it. it really shines on the finishing process.

You can manually wrap by turning the large wheel behind the chuck, or attach the rubber O ring to the large wheel and the larger motor, which is attached to the foot pedal. I've done both and they work out fine, depending on what I have wrapped.

Practicemakes perfect!!! Start with a ski-pole large diameter blank. use size C or D thread and let it rip. Once you master that dang foot pedal you will be ready for fly rods and ultra lights. If yours has a rolling thread carriage it will almost wrap itself.
Good Luck

Yup, after a few rods you will be able to start the wraps under power. However, I still use it and it was of great benefit when I started to buy a rheostat control and wire it in your power cord. I bought a dimmer switch for lights. With the Clemens wrapper I had a hard time modulating the speed so I use the dimmer to do it for me. After a couple of years on the wrapper I no longer really use it, but it is there if I need it. Only concern is could shorten the life of the motor, but I have been wrapping on this for 5 years without a hitch, of course, Clemens sends it with a Dayton motor which is one of the best in the industry.
Hope that helps. IF you have questions about setting it up with the dimmer, let me know.