I completed the handle and real seat this past weekend. I've been practicing my guide wraps. I'm building a Seeker BS706S rod for spinnerbaits. The blank is dark...almost a deep green or black. I was thinking of going with a black or charcoal gray with a metallic silver trim band. Regarding the trim band, I was going to use the method on Ken Preston's DVD and I want to know if the tag ends would be visible under the black or charcoal after the finish is applied. I didn't want to have to use CP. I did some searching and I did read some posts about doing narrow trim bands. Since I'm new at this, reading those posts without seeing a visual is tough. Also, I have 1 double foot guide and the rest will probably be single foot...I am doing a spiral wrap, do you think one trim band on the end of each single foot guide would look ok as opposed to one on each end? Any help would be great.

If you use no CP, the tag ends of the trim bands will show through. It's possible, in fact easy, to tie stand-alone trim bands (3-6 turns) that can be snugged up against the main band. The method I use (there are others) is copied from an earlier post below. Single trims for the single footers will look fine.

I've homed in on a really good method for trim wraps where you tape down the pull-through loop on the blank first, wrap the trim band over that, pull through (works fine for 3 to 6 turns, or more if you want, I don't), now you have tag ends on both sides of the trim. Pull them carefully until they come together, you can then apply tension, as much as you want, at 180 degrees from each other, 45 degrees relative to the blank at both sides (these angles are important), you now have a nice and snug trim band that you can move with your thumbnail into place, tugging at the tag ends whenever necessary to keep it together. Just before you snug it up against the main wrap, cut off the tag end flush at that side (I use an Exacto blade, change blades often). Then cut the other tag end, leaving a bit a bit sticking out (scissors or nail clip), cut it snug just before you epoxy (Exacto).

Never fails for me now, almost never anyway. This was described on the board more than a year ago, don't know how to direct you to it. Hope this is clear. There are other subtle points in doing this that you will pick up as you go along.

Just tried your method......worked great

Thanks, Don