So I'm just now getting the hang of closed wraps, they are comming out real nice on my practice dowels.
My concern is weather I should tape the threads down over the handle or just on the blank next to the winding check or should I put tape on both areas?
How do you get the tape off without messing the cork up?
Thanks.

Wrap a paper towel over the grip and secure it with masking tape before adding your double sided or reversed masking tape.

Regards
Dave

Fishing is Life the rest is just Details

Jason,if you can secure the threads before the handle it is a little easier so the threads dont have to go down a ramp to to reach the blank.Makes the tie off easier but may be too long.I wrap the dec first and the put on the grips.

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

The paper towel idea is a good one. Just make sure that you tape it down far enough into the reel seat so it won't pull back up with the thread tension. If you worry about cutting into your grip when removing the tape, place a popsicle stick, a piece of wooden skewer or a wooden match stick on the towel and tape over it, it gives you something to cut against or along when the wrap is finished.

Decorative Wraps

Thanks everyone for the great ideas.

Jason, Here is wha I do. On Butt wraps, start by spiraling a layer of tape on the foregrip (1 layer). At the upper end, place about 10 wraps of thread on top of each other to form a dam. Start making your wraps from the foregrip and go up the rod over the dam. Either tape off and go back and do next thread, or if doing diamonds, turs ang go back down the blank. When complete, here comes the good part. Start at the bottom of the wrap and about 1/2 to 3/4 inches onto the blank. Put tie off and work back to the hosel. When you are going back, you will notice that the threads are suspended above the blank by the hosel/blank or grip blank transition. Get about 1/4 inch from the transition point and startcutting threads.(Verry imporortant: do not cut all threads at once as it will cause wrap to loosen. Cut 2-5 threads at a time). Finish tying off and go to top of the wrap. Since you have the dam, threads will also be suspended above the blank. Start tying off and again about 1/4 inch from dam, start snipping threads. Do that until all are complete. Once all threads are trimmed, finish wrap. I always do 2 layers of tie off thread wraps. This will make it look smoother.

Good luck.
Kevin