Hi Guys,
I thought I would throw this problem out there-I am havng big problems with the Gudebrod "A" thread that I am using whilest doing a diamond wrap, twisting up very badly straight off the spools ! This is most frustrating and is making the simultaneous use of 3 or more threads a major chore.
I have not built any rods for a few years now, but took it up again recently. I dont remember this problem being so bad before. All the spools I recently bought in diferrent colors are just as bad. Normally I would use a comb to untwist the threads under some tension, and wind on, however, now I am finding that the threads will twist again behind the comb even without letting the tension go or removing my grip on the threads.
Any one any suggestions ?

Oh yes, that's par for the course. Here's what I do...

Determine about how long a strand you need to make one pass (or one up and down, if you do it that way) and cut there. Cut as many as you need for each pass. Hold them all in one hand and stroke the strands a few times which will remove most of the inherent twist. As you wrap them, if they tend to twist, just run your fingers down them a few times and the twist will come out.

I won't kid you - you get about 8 threads going at a time and twist will enter the picture. But if all the ends are cut so you're working with single strands of thread, this technique will really make a difference. Remember, the ends have to be free, or the twist can't come out. If the thread is on the spool, you're not going to get the twist out.


..........

If the thread twist were allowed to go onto the rod as you're wrapping the twisted mess would not materialize. I regularly pull a band of 6-8 threads on a regular basis and sometime even more up to 10-12 threads at once. I was having trouble keeping all those threads from tangling as they went through my hands and fingers. I then tried using a 1" square piece of hook & pile velcro to keep the threads separated as they pass through my hand. I first lay the the threads spread out on the hook side of the velcro and then lay the pile side on top to keep them there. No more tangles! Another thing I did is to keep the distance between the spools and the rod as long as possible.

Lou

Good advice Lou
Good Wraps Bob

Thanks guys,
You have not let me down, I knew there was an answer and you gave it to me.. If the problem is really so bad that I cant get anywhere without twisting then I shall opt for Toms solution as it is absolute-however there is some labor in cutting the threads. I will certainly give Lou's solution a go first-it makes a @#$%& of alot of sense to me 1 Thanks guys, Thank you so much.
Earl.

Hi Tom.
I have just been trying your solution of cutting the threads to the length required to make a pass on the wrap. I found I need about 3 feet for up and down, using 3 threads-nought but twisted tangles. the more you try to stroke out the twist the worse it gets and 30 minutes to make two passes. The ends of the thread need tension. even 6 inches twist up. I never remember Gudebrod being this bad, but I do remember some other brands being bad, such as Seed thread that I had a batch of years ago. It was ok for straight forward guide wraps etc, but not for patterns that are worked by hand. I do wonder if its possible that Gudebrod has been "pirated". I bought them, 1oz and 4oz bobbins in Singapore. Thay are in what looks like gudebrod packaging though. Living in the Philippines where everything from Colgate, to Cornflakes is known to be pirated makes you suspicious of anything-even pirated jigs are pirated here. However cutting the threads did not live up to the solution it promised to be. I haven't tried Lous suggestion yet as I dont have a piece of Velcro, but I think it may be the answere as I can keep tension on the threads behind my hand at the same time keeping the tthreads seperated.
Earl