Hi - Building my first rod - a 8 1/2 ft. fly. Got the HW1 wrapper and assembled it today. There are 2 thread tensioners. I am using traditional guides. My question is - Does it make any difference which tensioner I use? - one for one side of the guide? I am quessing that it doesn't make any difference and there are 2 tensioners for different color threads and / or fancy wraps. Thanks, Richard

They give you two tensioners so you can keep two thread colors on the machine at all times, if you wish. Just a little time saver. You can wrap with either one equally well.

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Thanks for the fast reply.

Richard, I have two of the HW1 wrappers that I use, they work very well. Just a word of caution, when using metallic thread for under wraps or anything else, make sure to reduce the tension significantly, because the way the tensioners are set up, if the tension is too tight,it will take off the metallic outer layer very easily. Just a word of common sense. But overall I like the cost, the simplicity, and probably will always use this type of device, simply for the cost and ease of use, and if you are not in a hurry, the HW1 will do every thing that you need. Galen Briese.

Thanks for the posts. Just finished wrapping the rod yesterday. It worked great - took a couple of trial and errors, but, I was able to get good wraps in short order. Just another question - How much tension should I be using - not much, alot, or something in between? Thanks, Rich

If you can push the guide around with say...a single finger, then you aren't using enough tension. If you can't budge the guide using your whole hand, then you are using too much tension and could actually break your blank. You want to be able to 'persuade' the guide around a bit after wrapping. If you can do that, you will be alright.

Jay