What formula do you guys use to determine the length of your wraps (how far over the length of the foot) excluding trim bands do you use a set distance for each or is it a percent of the foot

many thanks
allen

Allen, I measure 1/2 inch beyond the guide foot (after I prep them) for each size guide I'm using. I'll mark an index card with this measurement along with the center of the underwrap, and the starting point of the guide foot overwrap (1/4 inch inside the underwrap). I also write the guide info on the index card so I can refer to it in the future without going through the whole measurement process again. As I'm wrapping the underwrap I just hold the card against the wrap to check the length as I get near the end of the wrap. This keeps my wraps uniform in comparison to the guide length. If you want shorter wraps you can go a little less than 1/2 inch. Hope this helps.

Hi Allen,

There is no set rule for the length of your guide wraps. If it's a fly rod or ultra-light keep your wraps as short as possible to keep the weight down (I do 4 wraps then onto the guides foot). On larger rod like saltwater rods for Stripers mine come close to Bruce's but that's because of the trim wraps (for looks only). Alls you really need is enough wraps on the blank to lock your thread on the blank then onto the guide foot. Most of the guides holding strenght is the thread that's on the guides foot the rest (on the blank) is for looks only. In other words if it looks good to you go with it.

Hank
On The Rocks Fishing
Wells, ME.

There is a bit of an optical illusion in effect as you move to smaller and smaller areas of the blank. Therefore if you want all the wraps to appear to be about the same length, they must get shorter and shorter as you move to smaller diameter areas. You could do something like this - on the tip-most guides, start the wrap 1mm past the end of the guide foot. On the next guide, start it at 2mm. On the next, 3mm and so on and so forth. That's about the simplest "system" I can think to offer you.

Over the years I've stopped doing that sort of thing, however, and now just start my thread wraps 1 thread revolution past the guide foot, regardless of the size guide or where it's located.
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To keep weight down, I do more or less the last thing Tom suggested, except I do three complete revolutions before the guide foot to give the wrap a bit of "staying power" before I start winding up onto the guide foot.

I put the fifth wrap of thread on the foot of the butt guide and four on the guides between the butt & the choke guide. The small running guides getthree, as do all guides on fly rods. On repairs & restorations I copy the old wraps. Ralph

If at first you don't succeed, go fishing, then try, try again.