Is it better to put thread wraps underneath the winding check on fly and spinning rods? I've only built 5 rods and I've glued all of the them to the top of the foregrip.
Thanks,
Bruce

Do you like it that way ??
I always put a wrap just before the foregrip then put the check over it -- if I use one.

Hi Bill! I guess what I meant was is it okay structurally to place thread wraps under the winding check. Is the winding check only a decoration or does it serve some kind of function?

The winding check function is to hide any gap resulting in a less than perfect fit between the grip and rod blank. I suspect that it started in the days of bamboo rods when the round hole in the grip needed to be transitioned to a hexagon shaped blank. If a grip isn't tapered perfectly to a round blank it also helps provide a pleasing and decorative transition. On the fly rods I build using metal winding checks I usually fit the check directly to the blank without any threaded cushion.

Stan Grace
Helena, MT
"Our best is none too good"

Hi Bruce,
The reason for a winding check is to make a nice clean transition from the foregrip to the blank with a finished look.

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

i choose my winding check so that i can put thread under it. i don't want the metal in contact with the blank to cause abrasion. i don't glue my check to the cork. i let the epoxy on the hook keeper wrap hold the winding check. right or wrong, this is how i do it.

Bruce,
My preference on fly rods is to run my thread up against the cork grip, and slide my metal winding check over the thread wrap. I use a very small application of five minute epoxy to hold the winding check against the cork, and to seal the wrap in place. This practice requires that you obtain a winding check with the proper inside diameter. This isn't always the easiest thing to do while acquiring components and don't yet have the reel seat and grip in place. I don't keep a lot of components in stock so the winding check can get expensive because it usually requires shipping or a trip to Cabelas.

My second preference (and I've done this when I have a winding check that won't fit over a thread wrap) is to mount the check without a thread wrap, up against my cork grip. I only do this, however, when the winding check is not a tight fit against the blank. Two reasons: When I wrap thread against the check, I don't want the subsequent application of epoxy to run up onto my winding check. Second reason, and in my opinion an important one - I don't want the even slight flexing of the rod in this area to cause the metal winding check to bite into the blank. This second method does require that you epoxy the winding check in a way that causes it to be centered on the blank. Since I use five minute epoxy to hold the check in place I visually center the check and hand hold it in place until the epoxy firms up.

Good luck,
Jeff Shafer

I put the winding check on first without any adhesive, then wrap from the winding check out. I just let the wrap hold the check in place. I've always done it that way and have never had any problems.