I tried my first tiger wrap, gold metalic, and black size A underwrap, a thick coat of high build epoxy, must have used enough to coat a whole rod for a 4 inch wrap.
When I did the top wrap, black size A, 24 hours later I had a hard time getting the thread to wrap even, because it stuck and created a grouve in the epoxy I could not burnish it into better shape.
So I suspect, I might have made the epoxy not uniform enough, despite it looking good. Might let the epoxy dry more so the thread will move around on it . Or my thread tension was to tight. Or any tips from the forum as to hepl make the top wrap better.
The thread did cut into the epoxy enough that when I took off the top threads, both of them, the tiger effect was very good without the thread.
Cheers Ron.

What type finish did you you use, and was it properly mixed? Some epoxies take longer to cure hard than others.

Bill in WV

I'd give it a bit more time to harden up. A couple days at least.

.............

Double post, sorry!!!

Bill in WV



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/10/2008 02:45PM by William Bartlett.

Maybe too much finish? A level finish over the bottom wrap really makes life much easier when wrapping up top. I've found multiple light coats of finish works well in the end. For freshwater rods, bottom threads, I like to use two coats of TM - the first just enough to wet the threads (wicking excess away), a second "normal" TM coat, then one coat of TM Lite. Top layer usually ends up with one coat of each - TM and TM Lite. Just my madness, there's probably 101 other ways to get a great finish!

Ron Petley Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The thread did cut into the epoxy enough that
> when I took off the top threads, both of them, the
> tiger effect was very good without the thread.

This almost sounds like you were taking off both threads? Maybe I am misunderstanding, but you leave one top thread and pullout the other.

I used Diamond2 on the first tiger wrap I did on a rod for a customer. From my practice sessions I figured out, for me anyway, that if I leave it three to four days the wrap comes out a lot better. I sure hope so becuase I have one curing now...........Have a good days guys and gals......

Big John
Rio Hondo, Texas
Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting

Thank you all for your help/input. I think it was, as listed above, too thick a coat of epoxy all at one go I really gloped it on and as a result it was not all that even. It is still cold in my basement, here in the frozen north, so this must have slowed the cure of the eopxy.
I am useing American Tackle high build, mostly because that is what I have to use right now.
I did not take off both threade until I decided it was a bust, but when I had them both off it did retain the effect, I think the thread cut quite deep into the finish.
With youe above help I will venture forth and try again, thanks.
Cheers Ron.