I would like to pose a question. How many rod builders use a power wrapper to wrap guides on a blank? I can see using one for an underwrap because it would save alot of time. I use it to wrap guides on also but I do see that I get alot of gaps when doing it this way. Could the speed that I am turning rod be the problem? I try to burnish the threads as much as possible but still gaps. I guess I am a perfectionist when it comes to this. I feel that if a customer is paying high dollar for a rod then it should be perfect. Any Ideas would be appreciated. Thanks

Madfish Rods

Proper guide prep and practice, practice,practice, grasshopper. You'll have a guide finished in under a minute

Typically takes me about 1/2 hour to wrap, pack, put in an inlay and trim band on your typical 7 rod with 7 guides doing it by hand.

I'll use the wrapper for guides. It may be your thread carriage is not tracking smoothly as you wrap or your speed isn't constant. Stopping and starting, or slowing down will cause gaps, stopping to correct an overrun will also do it. Sometimes using a burnishing tool to help guide the wraps against each as you turn helps.

Also make sure you have the thread angled back against the direction you are wrapping. This will help keep the threads packed just from the wrapping process. Only time I have to really wacth things is when the thread first comes to the guide foot. Once it starts up ok, the I can continue wrapping without a problem most of the time. I mainly like the power wrapping of anything since I do have the startings of carple tunnel.