On the Forhan Locking Wrap, the instructions I've seen say to wrap three times around the upright of the guide and then to finish the wrap with three more wraps after the three locking wraps (hope that makes sense). Well, the question I've got is: are the three wraps after the locking wraps functional? Do they add more/needed strength? Or do the three locking wraps around the upright add the structure?

What I'm wanting to do is use a guide for the tip top of the rod. I know that I need to do a locking wrap. But if I add the three additional wraps, it seems to me that the tip is going to look all hoopty (not right).

Experiences? Insight?

Thanks a lot!

AC
FishinFreaks
Rogers, MN

When you use a guide for the tip end with the 3 locking wraps. If you try to add any more wraps after the locking wraps they will just slide off of the end of the blank. The other great tip when using a guide for a tip is to apply a thin coat of finish then use a dremal to trim off any bit of the blank that is still showing after the wrap. Then apply another coat to finish the wrap and seal the end of the blank. Here is a LSG3.5 used as a tip which I didn’t trim off the end of the blank, it looks OK but it looks better if you trim off the end after the thread. [www.rodbuilding.org]

Thanks, Mike. That's what I was thinking, but I just didn't want to make a mistake. Good tip on trimming the end. I was wondering about that, too. Probably would have posted that question later.

Thanks again.

AC
FishinFreaks
Rogers, MN

Rich did a lot of experimenting with this wrap. He tried different combinations and found that the number of blocking and locking wraps give the maximum amount of strength. With less, you lose strength, with more, you do not gain any additional strength.

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Aaron The way I understand the procedure is , 1 wrap around the blank, 3 wraps around the guide leg and 2 more around the blank.
That's the way I have been doing it. Someone please correct me if I am wrong. I would like to do this locking wrap exactly like Rich designed it.

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

The way I had understood this is one wrap before climbing the guide foot you do one wrap behind the guide(blocking wrap). Then you do 3 locking wraps. One locking wraps consists of a wrap around the guide foot and then the rod before starting another wrap around the guide foot. Then 2 or 3 more blocking wraps. I have seen people just wrap the guide foot 3 before making another wrap around the blank. When wrapping around the guide foot you want to make sure you go behind it then come in front then behind the foot again.

Mike P.

Aaron, Mike P. has it right. If you're using the locking wrap for the tip guide - use the 3 locking wraps and add just one blocking wrap - if you have room - if not - do without the blocking wrap at the end.

The Library above has Rich's articlwewith good illustrations of the Forhan Wrap.

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!!