When wrapping the female ferrule ends, all of the photos I've seen including Tom's RodMaker article on "Ferrule Alignment Marks" wrap TOWARDS the ferrule end. The reason being I believe is wrapping on an increasing diameter helps "pack" the thread against the previous wrap. But if you want a 3-5 wrap metallic trim band at the beginning of the ferrule opening, what is the preferred procedure for wrapping?

With mild arthritis, a numb upper index finger, and poor eyesight the only way I've been able to do this is to wrap the trim band first, move it to the end of the ferrule, snug up the tags, and put a drop of CP to hold the tags where they exit the band. After it dries I trim the tags, and start wrapping next to and away from it and then constanly pack the wraps back toward the band/ferrule opening.

If I add a band to the guide wrap, I always do it last. The only other way for a ferrule wrap I can think of would still wrap the trim band first, and start the regular wrap towards the band and end the wrap right at the edge of the band - how does everyone else do it? And when wrapping next to the winding check, one would have to wrap away from it and onto a continual decreasing diameter towards the hookkeeper. Any expertise would be appreciated. Thanks.

I probably work a little harder than I should at this one but it works for me. I put a narrow band of masking tape (width of my trim band) on the end of the ferrule, begin my main wrap up against the tape while capturing my trim wrap threa under the maind, in my case, main wrap to the right, trim to the left. The trim stays on a spool and as I wrap the main the trim thread loosely wraps around the rod. When the main is done I reverse the rod turn to unravel the trim, remove the tape and wrap the trim up against the main. You could also cut a long piece of trim and capture as indicated above then wrap the trim by hand, I've tried it once but still feel more comfortable with keeping the trim on a spool.

After reading Ray's response over a few times, I understand how he does it. However, having the tag for the trim band under the begining of the main wrap, one would have to assume that CP is used on the regular wrap to keep the trim tag from showing through. Since I like wraps with no CP, this procedure is not going to work for me, but it does have it's merits. Thanks Ray.

Tim: For what it's worth, I do it your way also: wrap a stand-alone trim band, move it right up to the lip of the ferrule, apply a bit of CP with a toothpick (the metallic trim does not change with the CP), trim the tag ends, then do the main wrap, working out and packing back. The way I do the stand-alone trim, I can keep it as tight as necessary, and this is what you want to do to protect the ferrule anyway.