First, thank you to all on this forum. With your great information, and a book by Art Scheck, I have completed my first fly rod. Forecast 8'6" 5wt.
My question is this: I have removed damaged guides from two casting rods. I cleaned up the blank as best I can. There are some blemishes that I wish to hide. I am going to mount the new guides on top of an under wrap. One is a dark blank with just a hint of brown. I used dark brown for the under wrap. Do I finish over those threads then tie on top or do I add the guides now? I plan to use a lighter shade of brown (Fenwick Brown) and gold accent wraps.
Any information is appreciated.
Thanks,
Jeff Hanlon

Maybe I was not very clear. I am looking for a two tone affect under a two foot casting guide. Do I finish over the bottom thread field or can I just go ahead and wrap the guide on and finish over the whole thing?
Thanks,
JH

if i read you right i would apply a coat of cp on underwrap.when dry add guides and cp.when this dries add finish this should preserve the integrity of both colors.thanks joe

I don't have a ton of expirience, but I like the more tanslucent looking wrap. Would it look OK if I did not use CP? Would the thread be more translucent and just transition from brown to dk brown, to very dk brown blank?
Maybe your suggestion of CP is right, Thanks, Joe
JH

Hi Jeff.
Why dont use lets say metallic gold for the underwraps then very light brown on the guidewraps?
The metallic thread will shine thrue if you put only the epoxy on, no color preserver.
It would look like the light nylonbrown was "glowing" in the sunlight.
Brown and gold looks "classic" in my opinion, I like the look very mutch
I put a very thin coat of epoxy finish or permagloss on the metallic underwrap. Makes it easier to wrap over when the thread dosen´t dig in the underwrap.
Thanks.
-Kim-

Wow, that sounds like a great idea too. Thanks, Kim.
tight lines JH

Kim has given you the "ticket" run a band of thin gold thread as an underwrap and then a medium brown (or maroon) with no CP. The metallic will hide blemishes and the top thread will indeed "sparkle"