I think you will probably say it doesn't really matter, but I would appreciate hearing your opinions anyway.

I have a guide nearest to the female ferrule on the tip section of the blank whose foot measures 1 7/8" from the ferrule opening. The male ferrule goes into the female ferrule also 1 7/8".

My initial feeling is that I should simply make one large wrap that covers both the ferrule area as well as the guide foot.

In your opinion, are there any reasons, aesthetic or practical, to not do it this way and do two separate wraps instead?

Which do you prefer and why?

With the ferrule going into the female section 1 7/8", how much would you normally wrap, forgetting the issue of the guide?

Also, I think the ferrule wrap should come as close as possible to the end. How much space, if any, can be left unwrapped, ie, begin the wrap 1/8" from the end?

Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!

Stay close to the edge - that's the only place a split-out can start and is what your reinforcement wrap is there to prevent. I'd try to stay within 1mm if at all possible.

I'd also just make one longer wrap for the reinforcement and guide wrap. You could even move the guide back just a bit if you want the overall wrap to be shorter. A half-inch or so isn't going to make much difference in your guide lay out.

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If this is a 9' rod, or maybe even if it's an 8.5' rod, I'd consider adjusting my guide spacing slightly to put that guide right on the ferrule. Typically, even if the guide is a small guide, your guide wrap will be plenty long to satisfy the length requirement of a ferrule wrap. That way, you get the effect of two wraps and the weight of just one.

That being said, I've had occasions where the static distribution test wouldn't allow me to put the guide right on the ferrule, and so I've had to do what you're doing. In those cases, I think I've done it both ways--two wraps, and one wrap, depending on the situation. If you're planning on doing a feather inlay in the butt wrap area, consider this: Do two wraps on your ferrule--one for ferrule and another for guide--then do the same type of feather inlay in the space between those two ferrule wraps. Makes a neat effect.