There has been a lot of talk recently about these brands of threads and that one can go into their local sewing/fabric store to buy them. My question is, which ones work well for wrapping guides? Can you just go pick one of the shelf and use it? Or do each one of these brands have specific products that will work for rod building? Thanks for the help.

Sulky metallics for guides, sliver and holoshimmer for thread art, rayon for nothing. Don't know about madeira.

With Madeira, you want the Polyneon #40 or metallic only. You need to use CP with the Polyneon. Wiyh Sulky, I believe that metallics and possibly polyestor are used. I would stay away from rayon, cotten, etc.

I would highly recommend that you purchase from sponsors on the left as, not only do they help make this board possible, but if it's not suitable for rod building, they don't sell it!.
@#$%& sells Madeira and Mudhole.com sells Sulky. Both excellant companies. If you have any questions about a thread, I would ask here BEFORE using it on a rod (most likely, someone has already tried it). Might save you some problems

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!!

While Sulky makes a metallic thread that is available in many colors and is not prone to unravelling you should know that it provides approximately 1/2 the strength of Gudebrod nylon. My trigger pull scale will break a loop of Sulky metallic at approximately 2 lbs. It takes 4 lbs of effort to break a loop of Gudebrod nylon and about 5 lbs of effort to break Gudebrod HT metallic. Knowing this I still have finished many lighter rods using Sulky metallic to wrap the guides with good result as it still provides enough strength to secure guides on most freshwater rods in my opinion.

Stan Grace
Helena, MT
"Our best is none too good"

From a wrapping standpoint I have only used Madeira and Robinson-Anton Metallics. Both have suited me well for crosswraps and weaves. I have used Madeira a couple times for guide work and it required a little extra attention to pack right but was worth the work to get the colors. The colors are very vibrant and so far fading is not an issue. I believe there are some examples on the photo page. If you use Madeira I do recommend using CP to avoid fish eyes as mentioned above. I know nothing about sulky by have heard it also works well in rod building like the Madeira.

It's gotten to the point where just about the only thread I use anymore is Coats and Clark 40 wt Trilobal. So far, out of about a dozen spools, I have never had any problems, so I don't believe it is coated with anything.
I tried it originally because it takes so long to get "official" thread - there are no suppliers anywhere around where I live. Now I have really gotten to like it. When I do go back to nylon, I don't like it as much as the polyester. The nylon fuzzes a lot more.
btw, I also use Sulky Holoshimmer, mostly on buttwraps but also for inlays and tags in guide wraps. I don't think there is a strengh issue with just this limited use.
Steve Broadwell