Has anyone on here used any of the holographic thread in butt or guide wraps? A friend of mine just came back from out west and saw it in a fly shop and picked me up 8 rolls. 2 each of red, blue, silver and gold. Cool looking prism effect. Strength wise I believe is stronger than an A. Size is slightly smaller than D and seems to be oval or flat. Does it hold up over time? How does it react to topcoats? Any input appreciated. Thanks in advance.
HAGO!
Joe

What brand? The stuff I've used is not strong at all, and flat. IT looks nice but you can easily overdo it. I've got Madeira Jewel thread, not good since it's treated with Silicone.

It is "Glissen Gloss / Prizm Hologram Thread / 5001(Silver)/ 164 yds". Apparently used in fly and streamers tying out west. So it should be able to hold a finish and my guess is that it would not contain silicone. Thanks.
HAGO!
Joe

Glissen Gloss is made for sewing so you have to be careful about two things, the first being whether it's treated with silicone. If it is, you might as well forget it since silicone and epoxy do not get along well. The second issue is diameter if you're planning to use it with regular rod wrapping thread.

A word of caution, just because something is used for fly tying doesn't mean it will take or hold a finish or be strong enough. What holds all the material on the hook is not any sort of adhesive, it's the tying thread. Head cement is used just to make the head more solid and is not the same stuff we put on thread wraps.

Regarding Silicone & teh stuff I use - Gerry is right, although if you soley use it for a 2-3 turn trim, or as hilight in a butt wrap - epoxy will coat it regardless of teh Silicone. If you try doing underwraps, or wrap too many of them together - silicone beomes a MAJOR issue, similar to mixing oil & water. A coat of CP whould fix teh Silicone problem, if there is one in teh first place.

If it's teh flat stuff i'm thinking of, forget wrapping a guide with it. Even doing an underwrap with flat Mylar, is a MAJOR hassle. Teh thread, since it's flat doesn't lay one next to teh other like standard wrappig thread. It will go on top, gaps, loose tension, too much tension it stretches then gets skinnier - too much more tension it breaks. Not fun, but if you are diligent and patient you can get it to work for underwraps, no doubt.

well this answered my thoughts on expermenting with holographic threads

david williams

I have used it. [www.rodbuilding.org]
The photo is with Silver

Take a look at the Sulky metallic threads which can be found at sewing centers or fabric stores. I've had good luck using them as trim wraps and while not true holographics, they give a similar appearance on trim wraps.

Jim,
Ever since a saw that photo a while back I have been itching to try some holo thread. That wrap is so simple and yet
so striking! Great Job!! But I'm sure you know that already!

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

How is the Gudebrod Electra Metallic Hologram Braid thread? I have seen it for sale but never used it.

I've got and have used all of Gudebrod's colors in size A and size D. Now these are my opinions and you should take that for what it's worth...

First off, they aren't "holographic" at all; the green, blue, and red are very pretty on guide wraps, etc.

The gold and silver I may as well toss in the garbage; they just don't have the shine of metallics.

I'll continue using the 3 colors mentioned because I do like them, but not because they're holograms.

Again, just my opinion; I've been using them for a couple of years, now.

Putter
Williston, ND

I've used that thread as an underwrap for otherwise open butt wraps. I've not had any silicon type problems with it. It is a pain to wrap with if you worry about getting each wrap to lay nicely next to the previous one. But I've found is that that is not necessary. Due to the nature of the thread overlaps here and there are not noticable, so just make sure there are no gaps and it looks great.

Dave

Dave, that's a really good point about overlapping them - wish I figured that out for myself when I used it for underwraps on 3 rods.

Not the best photo, but the underwrap is probably 3 1/2" long: [www.rodbuilding.org]

Trim & center bands: [www.rodbuilding.org]

Inside a butt wrap: [www.rodbuilding.org]