I have a Pac Bay power wrapper and it does a fine job,however I woul like to get away from the sewing machine type thread tensioners and find something else with a spool tention, with some kind of spring so when my thread is backed off it won't go all over the place. I have seen thes somewhere but can't remember where?
Any help where I may purchase such an asembly would be appreciated.
Thanks a lot fellas,
Stan

Stan,Check out this thread,it may be what you are looking for.
[www.rodbuilding.org]

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

I modified mine by attaching a U bracket to mine. I tooka U barcket ran a threaded rod threw it. I place a flat washer on both side of a spool a spring on each side, then place 2 more flat washers on each side between the sping and the U bracket. On the outside of the rod I place thumb screws to tighten the tension on the thread spool works graetfor me.
Good Wraps Bob

Don't know that machine, but I have a threaded rod with a hard nylon washer on first, then the thread, then another washer, spring, another washer, then a wing nut.
The surfaces of the washers are sanded with 600 wet sandpaper, the contact surface of the wing nut is also sanded. Tension is fully addjustable no problems
Also check the photo page under equipment for more ideas

Look at Cabela's catalog, they are about $5.00

Yea but tension on the spool works better then on the thread. With some thing flexible like a spring also on the thread to take up slack so you can turn back and fix boo boo's

Stan; if you decide to do-it-yourself I have a Choke cable core (spring steel wire)if you need a piece give me your Snail Mail address

At Charlotte, Pacific Bay was showing a thread tensioner similar to what you (and myself) want. They did not have it on rollers for the Rodsmith however. (When I went back for a second look it was gone) It was on rollers for something else. It would hold two spools of thread, to which tension was applied by springs to the spools. The thread was passed from the spool to a straight stiff wire guide toward the rod. From what I could see, it could be easily modified to fit the Rodsmith. They were somewhat "gray" as to purchasing this tensioner for the Rodsmith. I too have a PB Rodsmith. That sandwhich type tensioner lacks a lot to be desired. Gudebrod also has a similar tensioner on their $60. hand wrapper. I too am looking for this type of tensioner. If we can find the tensioner (or build it), it could be easily attached to the thread station of the Rodsmith. (This would require removal of the existing temsioner and thread holders/guides from the base plate) I too am looking someone who markets this tensioner for or on a PB base plate. Maybe someone on this Phorum or a sponsor markets such a tensioner.

Ed Smith

The "McGyvers" among you ought to be able to do something with Norm Norlander's adjustable fly tying bobbin....it's like a measuring tape with a clutch....the thread goes out so far, the clutch kicks in, providing tesnion at that point, and poof...it retracts back to zero, if you have to take the rod off the steadies, or back-wind to correct something.. Norm makes the Nor-Vise, and info can be found at his web page.

Not haveing the machine in front of me, and only seeing small pictures of it. There is a Base plate. What if an upright is attached to this. Square piece of acrilic maybe 1 by 2" Screwed from below. Then rods going thought this at right angles for the thread spools. A spool can be put on each end with washers and wing nuts and spring. This would need to face the builder on the other side of the machine. If possible. On the back of the upright a spring is screwed onto the upright going streight up. Couple of eye hooks for the thread to pass though. Mine the thread comes from the holder to the top of the blank. Spring is pulled down, thread goes though a shaped hook. When backing up - the spring takes up the tension.
If the base plate is too weak, make a new one.
Look at the picture of equipment willierods [www.fishingphotos.net] this is an old picture. Where the threads are

You may want to talk with Tom Brown at Pac Bay
Good Wraps Bob

I made a simple tensioner much like what Bill described. Threaded rod (or bolt), washers, spring, and wing nut. When I need to run the blank backwards I simply take one hand and turn the thread back on the spool. No unravelling on the blank.

Jay

Stan.
I have the pac bay also,I was having trouble using the thread tensioner that they use for metallic thread.So I built my own carriage that rides in the slot of the bed. I used plexiglas from home depot. The carriage base is 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 the up right is 5 1/2 x 3 glued this not quite center with crazy glue .then I cut two pieces of wood 5/16 x 5 1/2 srewed them to the top of the up right.then I orderd a table clamp rod wrapper from Mud Hole a sponsor at the left of the screen for $12.95 However they now have a differnt type out now you might want to try , just clickon Mud Hole at the left and click on new products and scroll down to table top thread tensioner for $18.95.Now For rollers I founed a set of glass shower doors in the trash dumpster at work with rollers that just attaches with a clamp type jaw that you use a screw driver.I added two more rollers from Home Depot so that the base rides at top and bottom in slot of the bed of the pac bay.
Stan, I do have an extra set of rollers if you would like to build you a carriage like decribed above give me your snail mail and I would be more than happy to send them to you. Hope I was of some help.Good luck.

<<<DON>>>
<<< AT HOBBYRODS>>>

Most of the descriptions in this thread deal with putting some sort of friction on the spool instead of on the thread itself. They all seem to work fine but do not, by themselves, maintain tension when backing off a few rod turns to correct a problem.

The addition of a long flat spring with a tip guide or roller at the end solves the second problem. The longer the spring the more travel that is available to keep tension on the thread as you unwind. I use washers and springs pressing the spool to set the tension just as most of the others do. Then, I use a spring / roller device that goes in the bottom of a patio screen door to maintain tension (bought it at ACE Hardware) It has a nifty roller and the flat spring. If you want more travel, try a section of band-saw blade. They come on various widths so provide various amounts of tension. There are probably other equally springy materials as well.

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