Just a couple of tricks i discovered. thought someone could use them.

First, when wrapping butt wraps or cross wrapping (ie chevrons or fish), its very dificult to keep your axis straight (ie, your centerline where your thread crosses up). I've heard some people say use the reflection of the light as your guide, but i think i found something that works better. Figure out your spacing for where your line will cross and mark it (i'd use a compass, you can set the compass at whatever distance you want and scribe your marks quick and easy). now, on your first and last marks put a line along the spine of the rod. Eye down the rod to make sure they are in line. Next to get your axis perfectly in line at every intersection, take a piece of size A thread longer than the length of the butt wrap and lay it on the first and last intersections you just marked. Now just mark where the thread crosses the marks you made with your compass. Its similar to snapping a chalk line when your building something.

Second, a little trick for marking your spine on a rod. Most people tell you to find where the rod wants to settle in a natural, relaxed, "obvious" curve. Problem is that this curve is not always so obvious. So what i do is look for directly the opposite. and i mark the inside of the curve. I roll the blank back and forth until i feel it "jump". Then i look for the center of this jump. Its usually a lot smaller area then the area that is relaxed. I look for the center of this jump and mark it as my reference for my spine. Its the same effect, just doing it a different way. I was bored, just felt like speaking a little!!

Watch out Aaron. You might be accused of doing things the old fashioned way. Thanks for the tips. We never get enough of them.

Thanks for sharing Aaron.

Tight lines & smokin' drags - -

Art

Aaron, have you been watching me work? Good tips. Ralph

If at first you don't succeed, go fishing, then try, try again.

I do it the old fashion way too. Manually find the spine, mark it, install grips/reels seat. Then using a straight edge pre-marked for thin, med, or thick dia blanks select one of the three and mark the centers on the blank using the straight edge so that canters are aligned with reel seat. . I use grease pencil. Works with or without underwrap. Wrap over the grease pencil marks to hide them.

Unless it is a closed wrap I rarely if ever measure anything to lay out a wrap - I just use the marks on the pre-marked straight-edge. BTW, I also use the indexes on the rod lathe to hold the blank steady.

Lou

no problem guys! I know when i was starting out, all the things i read were difficult to understand. Just tryin to make it a little easier on the new guys! I thought it was funny when i would read, "look for the rod to form the 'natural curve'" Just to let these authors know; when you're new, you're not quite sure what is natural. lol