What do you do to get a nice even finish at the end of the wraps? I seem to remember someone saying that they tape near the ends of the wraps to get an even finish. If so will water get under the wraps after the tape is removed?
Bill

There are many ways, one of the easiest is to take a toothpick, dip a small amount of finish on the tip and using the wrap's thread edge, circle the blank with the finish. You can also fill the guide foot/ thread tunnel with finish with the toothpick tip.

I get straight and uniform amount of epoxy on the blank, by using two thin coats of flexcoat lite. The 1st coat I just cover the threads but do not go beyond them onto the blank itself. This takes a steady/steadied hand, but I do throughly saturate them after which I knock down any burrs with an exacto knife, after the 1st coat cures. On the second coat I apply the epoxy over the threads sealing them to the blanks. I use a bodkin (larger metal pin with a handle) to apply/trail just the right amount of thread epoxy down onto the blank as the bodkin tip traces the edge of the threads while on the blank.

As long as there is space between the tape and wrap for the finish to flow into, it will be seales. Many put the first coat on just up to the edge of the wrap and then on the second coat, pull the finish just over the edge with thread or dental floss. You can also fold a coffe filter with alcohol on it in half to get a nice straight edge and hold that close to the wrap while turning the rod to get a nice clean edge. JUst takes practice to find what works best for you.

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

That coffee filter trick really works for me! I have a most unsteady hand and tend
to be a bit sloppy but now my finish ends has that professional look!

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..