I currently have a Pac Bay power wrapper, and have been very happy with it.
I was wondering if any of the other models are quicker to adjust for different rods?
Looks like the Flex Coat model uses v-type supports on a keyed base that would be really quick to adjust.

Are there any other models or features that are helpful?

Thanks,
Marc

In 1979 I bought a Flex Coat DL713 wrapper. At that time the model came with an 8 foot board. It sold for $135. I walked into a sporting goods store and I saw a fellow wrapping a rod with one. It turned out it was Roger Seiders the owner of Flex Coat. He did a sales job on me and I walked out of that store with one. I was doing rod repairs at the time and I paid for it within a week. Roger invited me to his house and we had a long conversation on making rods. I picked up some tips from him, got a business license and went to selling rods. I still have that wrapper; I have replaced the motor once since then. Although retired, I still build a couple of rods a month and have not seen the need to replace the wrapper. I have added another thread tension device, epoxied some short pieces of dowel rods to the V uprights to which I wrap pieces of velcro strips over the rod blanks to keep them from jumping while I am power wrapping. I see no reason to change. A friend of mine suggested that I stick with this tool and same my money for other items.

We have a Pac Bay wrapper that we upgraded to the "Super Chuck". It has a couple of "quirks" that I'm sure you're familiar with:

1) The chuck works loose from the handle or whatever you have in it after a bit. It's been explained to me that the reason is because the chuck opens in the same direction as it spins. I've heard a number of fixes for it but the simples and cheapest it to simply wrap the jaws with a piece of masking or blue tape, nice and tight. This keeps them closed. The same thing is true of their drying motor, or you can replace the jaws with one of the "soft cup" style chucks.

2) The thread carriage (either design) won't move smoothly unless the rail area is really, really clean. We use denatured alcohol to wipe the channel down about once a week. We also oiled the little wheels on the bottom of the carriage. But when it works right it's really slick, expecially for doing underwraps). BTW, the tension device on the older carriage was said to fuzz up the threads but I never noticed it (I guess we didn't use that much pressure) and it's exactly the same tension device as was on the old Clemens manual wrapper I had for over thirt years) (and still have).

OK, enough of that. This wrapper hasa been our primary lathe for the past two years and it has several features I particularly like:

A) The foot control is really smooth, and coupled with the speed control on the motor, is really easy to adjust for the exact speed you want.

B) The drying feature is excellent. Some would tell you that the rotation is slow, but it's generally just right for my purposes. BTW, you can adjust the winding speed to be constant by "clamping" the foot control and leaving it on for as long as you need, thus providing a fater drying speed if you think you need it.

C) The supports are easy to move, and easy to adjust to get the rod level. I'd recommend buying an extra support unit to provide a stiffer support system for rods 7' or so. They do provide a smooth rotation at almost any speed and adjusted properly, they protect the tip at high speeds. ANd the thing can be made to go in either direction. Some other units don't have either the drying feature or the reversing feature.

What else would I like to see? Well, I'd like to see Pac Bay fix the chuck problem, and I'd like to see really big wheels on the rod supports. But that would be about it. I'd like to have some sort of "stuff" catcher (cork shavings, for example) or a shavings ttrap that I could hook a vacuum to but that's really something i should do myself and I don't think any other units have it either.

BTW, Pac Bay support for this unit is just great! They helped us with a bad batch of rubber bands, a free upgrade for the carriage, and a lot of questions. To Bonnie and the crew - many, many thanks!

Uncle Russ
Calico Creek Rods

We have a Pac Bay wrapper that we upgraded to the "Super Chuck". It has a couple of "quirks" that I'm sure you're familiar with:

1) The chuck works loose from the handle or whatever you have in it after a bit. It's been explained to me that the reason is because the chuck opens in the same direction as it spins. I've heard a number of fixes for it but the simples and cheapest it to simply wrap the jaws with a piece of masking or blue tape, nice and tight. This keeps them closed. The same thing is true of their drying motor, or you can replace the jaws with one of the "soft cup" style chucks.

2) The thread carriage (either design) won't move smoothly unless the rail area is really, really clean. We use denatured alcohol to wipe the channel down about once a week. We also oiled the little wheels on the bottom of the carriage. But when it works right it's really slick, expecially for doing underwraps). BTW, the tension device on the older carriage was said to fuzz up the threads but I never noticed it (I guess we didn't use that much pressure) and it's exactly the same tension device as was on the old Clemens manual wrapper I had for over thirt years) (and still have).

OK, enough of that. This wrapper hasa been our primary lathe for the past two years and it has several features I particularly like:

A) The foot control is really smooth, and coupled with the speed control on the motor, is really easy to adjust for the exact speed you want.

B) The drying feature is excellent. Some would tell you that the rotation is slow, but it's generally just right for my purposes. BTW, you can adjust the winding speed to be constant by "clamping" the foot control and leaving it on for as long as you need, thus providing a fater drying speed if you think you need it.

C) The supports are easy to move, and easy to adjust to get the rod level. I'd recommend buying an extra support unit to provide a stiffer support system for rods 7' or so. They do provide a smooth rotation at almost any speed and adjusted properly, they protect the tip at high speeds. ANd the thing can be made to go in either direction. Some other units don't have either the drying feature or the reversing feature.

What else would I like to see? Well, I'd like to see Pac Bay fix the chuck problem, and I'd like to see really big wheels on the rod supports. But that would be about it. I'd like to have some sort of "stuff" catcher (cork shavings, for example) or a shavings ttrap that I could hook a vacuum to but that's really something i should do myself and I don't think any other units have it either.

BTW, Pac Bay support for this unit is just great! They helped us with a bad batch of rubber bands, a free upgrade for the carriage, and a lot of questions. To Bonnie and the crew - many, many thanks!

Uncle Russ
Calico Creek Rods

Flexcoat DL747call the number below and I will tell you why and the price . My opinion it is the most user friendly wrapper on the market .

Robert

Thread entry:

The Pac Bay wrapper is pretty quick for changing support locations. Some of the older supports are spring loaded, and some are the "drop down" style. I prefer the spring loaded for quick movement, but they don't hold the rod as well if you are doing long underwraps or any turning.

Thread carraige features:
Needs to accommodate large spools and at least 4 colors. The standard thread carraige is a little weak in this area. Smooth sliding on the base is important. Shouldn't get stuck or jump at the base section connections.

Chuck has been mentioned, but I have little trouble with mine. I always hold the jaws closed with one hand and tighten with the other. I've never had one come loose since I started this.

Reverse feature on the foot pedal.
The entry level power wrappers don't have this. It would be nice if you could do this, especially when you are out on the tip, 10' away from the motor.

Terry