Hello group
I’m having a real problem getting started wrapping the smaller guides at the tip of the rod. My fingers are getting a little stiff and I have trouble holding the thread to get the wrap started. I tried taping the end and pulling it underneath the wrap but don’t really care for the finished product. Any simpler way to get this done
Ken Blevins

Ken: That is always a problem for me also. On page two of the photo site is a neat looking "tip top support" made by Stan Gregory. I haven't made one yet, but plan to very soon, it looks like it would work quite well.
Murf

I am waiting for a company to market peel-and-stick guides.....That would solve the whole "can't grow two extra arms" problem I have wrapping small guides....esp single foot guides....on thin whippy blanks. I built 6 roller stands and (wince) glue my guides in place prior to wrapping. If I use all six stands I can get some pretty even blank support for the whippy end.

Derek

Lotsa patience!!! I hate putting on the 1st 2 or 3 guides on these lightweight Walleye rods that I make or even worse is the Ice Rods, they are even lighter on the ends. It seems that my fingers are just a litttle too fat to make that an easy feat. I usually start out real loose on the tension and then start the wrap about 1/8 inch from the foot and then make a couple of turns pull the tag end tight and push it up to the foot. I think it is a little easier that way, but still not a walk in the park.

I use Flex Coat's guide foot adhesive for those small guides on tiny tips. It's pretty easy to do and you can manipulated the guide a bit before it sets. Actually you can tweak it a bit after wrapping sometimes. Just don't burn your fingers and use lots of support when wrapping.

Just a thought based on the reply about "peel and stick guides".
You could take double sided scott's tape put it on the foot of your guide trim excess off with razer knife, and stick to rod. Should still have enough play to adjust guide after you wrap it, if needed.
Never though about it before, but might work

I do two things that seem to help. First, based on some advice from the board, I tie the guides to the blank using rubber bands. On the small ones I've used two rubber bands (on single foots), just to hold them relatively tight. After I tie the knots on the bands, I trim the tag ends off the rubber bands just to get them out of the way.

Secondly, I begin the wrap quite a distance from the guide making it gradually tighter. At some point, I then pull on the tag end, essentially unwrapping up to the point I want the wrap to start. This can be can be done rather tightly. Sometimes it takes me a few times to get this to work, but I do all of this by hand without a thread tensioner. It is slow going, but I'm in no hurry because I only build for family and friends.

Now if I could just get my eyes to work. I think I'm approaching the bifocal brigade.