I have trouble with starting the wrap as I have to fiddle with it to get the thread securred. Also when I finish the wrap and pull the thread back through I sometimes get a little thread sticking up between the threads. Any help would be appreciated.

A tip for starting that has helped me: Assuming you are wrapping from left to right up the guide foot, use a small piece of masking tape to secure the tag end of the thread just to the right of the guide. Put a little slack in the thread and wrap down the foot unti you reach the point that you want to start. Tighten the tension and start wrapping back toward/up the guide foot. The thread from the tensioner should cross over the thread coming from the tag end. Wrap 4-5 turns over the thread coming from the taped end to lock it in. Pull off the tape, lift the tag end and cut it with your preferred method for cutting (I use a new 1/2 of a double edged razor or a single edged razon used for hair thinning for each rod). As far as the little nub, pull the standing part of the thread from the pull through up and back toward the edge of the wrap. This should open a little gap where the thead exits the wrap. Place your razor on top of the wrap and just behind the standing thread on the side toward the wrap edge. Pull the thread back against the razor (don't slice with the razor), it will cut the thread and the thread should snap back under the wrap. If you still have a little nub, turn it to the side facing you and use a lighter held away from the nub and waved quickly to burn it off.

Another technique easier to show than write.

This is a common problem but one with a very, very, very, very simple solution. When you bring the thread around and first form that locking X, before you do anything else, take the tag end and wrap it around the blank 2 or 3 turns. Now when you rotate the blank the locking X will stay put and the thread will not slip on you. But if you do not do this, the locking X will just slip around the blank and you'll have to resort to the tape that Steve mentions or something else, often requiring more than two hands.

This is just so simple to do, although it's a tad easier to see it done in person. The book I wrote for Amato went into detail on this and in fact, has step by step photos to depict what I've just written.

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I will second Tom K's advice, and will shamelessly plug his book, even though I have no financial interest in it. If his book can get me to figure out how to do a wrap -- I'm all thumbs -- then it is pretty much idiot-proof.

I have not seen that book Mr. Kirkman.........Is it still in print........

Big John
Rio Hondo, Texas
Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting

Yes, it's only a few years old at this point but is already the best selling rod building book of all time, at least according to what several book wholesalers have told me. They may be correct and they may not be. I don't really know. But Amato has done very well with it. It's actually their book, not mine - I just wrote it for them. They publish and sell it. Like Chris, I have no financial interest in it.

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Wonderful book that every new builder needs...still have my copy laying around. I do the same thing with the locking X...usually wrapping my tag around the blank 4-5 times, wrapping up those turns and trimming off. You get a good and easy lock this way.

Jay

I use the method described in Tom's book. It only took a couple minutes to figure it out.

Leon

T



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/2006 12:08AM by danny bui.

TOM,is the book call Rod-Building Guide ?i thought the name sound familar :)good books .learn alot from reading it thank Tom

Yes it is. Most of the sponsors here carry it. It's very inexpensive but contains 100 color photos.

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