I've been using Tom's "nail knot" to do my trim bands. When I tie this knot on a 1" wood dowel with a piece of 1/4" rope, I don't see any winds laying on top of any others. However, when I do it with metallic thread, I always have one that's laying on top of all of them. I can't get that thing out for the life of me. If I chase it around the blank it just starts over. I can't see it even with my magnifier. Do any of you have this problem? It's a really quick and easy way to tie a trim band but I sure wish I could get it to look as clean as that rope.

First off, I didn't invent the nail knot. But I'm sure you know that.

Correctly tied, you will have both tag ends running complete under the winds (in opposite directions, of course). That's the nature of the beast.

The one thing that happens once in a while, is that one of the regular winds of thread will manage to get over the top of another. I'll assume that's what you're talking about. The only thing I can recommend is that while wrapping it you keep more space between each wind of thread. When you snug it down, so so slowly and try to watch that the winds don't get over the top of each other. Once you get the winds pulled down onto the blank you can usually snug things up without further worry of this happening.

Wrapping tiny thread around your finger is harder than winding rope around a large wood dowel. Hang in there and just keep at it. Perfection comes with repetition.

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Isn't it in one of the Rodmakers magazine issues?? If so, which one? (going from memory here,, and that can be dangerous)

Check the thread a few posts above this one!!

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!!