Hello to all,

I have seen a rod with clear thread and coating so that you were able to see the guide foot very well. I would like to do the same on a current project.

Usually I use regular 2-K Epoxy coatings with good results, maybe that would be okay but what is the secret of the thread? Any tips?

RGDS,
Ole

The secret is to use a nylon thread with no color preserver, and it will make the translucent look you are looking for.





Sean Endres
North East Rod Builders
New London, CT

If you want it to look like there is no thread at all you can use white silk thread. Do not use CP. When finish is applied the thread dissappears and the guide looks like it is just sitting on the blank.

It's not as easy as just using white silk thread... You must be meticulous with your thread packing, you have to use the right kind of finish, and you have to use enough finish to completely penetrate the wraps AND have a think coating of finish above the wraps. I've played around with this a lot, and it's very tricky to get a wrap to be completely transparent.

Hello Mike,

is flexcoat 2-K okay? How many coatings?

RGDS,
Ole

Berkley Trilene 4# test monofilament. :) 2# test, if you are brave.

Mike is dead on. It just ain't that easy. You have to do everything he says as well as have a very low viscosity finish for the first coat. The one guy that I know that does it often, thins his finish by 50% with acetone for the first coat. This is not recommended by manufacturers. There is also an issue with getting rid of microscopic bubbles next to the guide feet.
I to have been playing with this but have not mastered it yet.

I was quite serious re the use of monofilament....it's water clear, cheap, uniform diameter, and it works.
In the last century, many rods made in the USA at the lower end price points featured mono instead of thread. Grab a tramp rod, and try it. You may like it. Works for me... your milage may vary.

It really isn't all that hard to do; it also isn't as simple as just using white silk and no color preserver. But with enough practice and patience, it can be done consistently.

Please forgive me Tom, for I am about to sin .......... the real trick is to use a very light hand on the 1st coat with finish that has been diluted ~50% with alcohol. Normally, I don't do any diluting or heating or any of the other things some folks swear by beyond using a 50/50 ratio, but in this one case, diluting really does help.

Step-by-Step tutorial on one way to do transparent wraps