I just bought the Pac Bay single rod dryer unit. It consists of a dryer motor and a separate rod support unit (both mounted on squares of plywood). The rod support has rubber edged wheels that clamp the rod securely. The chuck has three adjustable rubber tabs that clamp the rod butt in place.

As I was using it last night, I found that the rod would slowly work itself out of the chuck and drop on the table.

After a bit of investigation, I believe I know why. It looks like the rod support wheels cause a kind of "cork screw" action that slowly pulls the rod out of the chuck.

My solution was to build up a cylinder of masking tape on the section of the rod blank that sits right in front of the wheels. It acts as a block that prevents the blank from being pulled through.

Has anyone else experienced this? The rod support is held to the plywood with a single screw. Perhaps it is just off center?


Suggestions? I have to have a table top unit. I don't have a workspace for a professional rig. I do my wrapping on the dining room table.

I have had the same problem I use a large screw hose clamp to put a little more pressure on the chuck

Yep, same problem. I hope PacBay will address this issue. I never had this problem with my PacBay Rodsmith rodwrapper when drying. It seems to be the stand alone dryer with the problem.

Just put something up against the tip top. I have a wood upright that I just clamp to the worktable so that it is lightly touches the tip top. It doesn't interfere with the turning but won't let the rod move forward. Similar to what you're doing with the tape bushing but I don't have to wind any tape. I just set it, clamp it and go!

Dan I bought the same dryer and had the same problem. I found on mine that the dryer was angled down which put the rod in a bind. So what I did was prop the front of my dryer up with one of Toms Rod Making Mags to get the angle correct. After that no more problems.

"The early bird gets the worm,.. but the second mouse gets the cheese!"

I also had the same problem and found that if I cocked the pulley set just to one side it cause this to stop. I also don't have this problem with my wrapper. and I belive that it is just an alignment issue and by cocking it to one side I get the proper alignment and stop the corkscrew affect.