Is it advisable to paint a Forecast matte clear (grey) blank in the underwrap areas before wrapping with a light-colored Madeira Poly Neon #40? If so, is there a recommended paint? I'm about to do a bunch of (13) rods, and this may save me some agony. Thanks

I would wrap size 00 silk, 00 white, or 60wt Polyneon & coat with CP instead of painting the blank. Every time I painted the blank it ended up a disaster, especially when I wasn unable to get straight lines at each end.

For weight freaks, thread is definitely lighter than paint, and 00 or 60 wt thread is definitely lighter than A or 40wt. YOu will be able ot wrap teh 40wt right onver the smaller thread, the way people wrap D over A on larger rods, so you won't have to worry abotu putting a coat of finish on the underwrap which will also keep the weight down.

lol.

i used kilz primer under chartruse maderia

White Krylon really makes the light colors pop on a dark blank, for me.

Billy, probably you'll get straight lines at each end with masking tape. Good results are with silver or gold paint, depends from yours thread.

With the masking tape, it seems teh paint seeps under, or when I peel it off the straight line goes crooked. I tried several times before I stuck with what I'm good at...thread. lol.

On a dark colored rod using light colored thread I've used masking tape and spray painted where all of the guides were supposed to go. What a pain in the butt. The trouble with painting is when I would start wrapping and packing thread I would scratch the paint and have to take a brush and paint the scuff or scratches, then let it dry and go back to wrapping and packing again. If you don't do a touch up on the scratches then the dark color of the rod will bleed through and however big or small the scratches are they stand out pretty good. Then you start all over again.Tthe reason the paint scratches so easily when packing is it can't adhere to the slick surface of the rod. I did think about using spray epoxy paint to see if it would adhere better but I'm trying to stay away from dark rods and light thread. The rod that I did turned out pretty nice but it was a lot of extra effort and patience. I'm sure if you have all those rod to do you're going to find out a method to what works. Let us know.

Billy, when using masking tape use the edge of your spatula to make sure the tape is packed down around the edges. Pack the tape down really hard along the crease before folding the tape over that will keep the paint or epoxy from seeping.

I've had good luck with gloss white Krylon and masking tape. Trim bands usually cover up any leakage.

i just picked up some metalic gold and metalic silver mylar tape. very thin. my first use was 1/4" tape under 340 gold on a very dark brown blank.
worked very well. the gold undercoat makes the gold thread look, er gold even with varnish as a finish. the use of it has its issues though. you have to be very precise with the placement of the seam. i make sure the seam is right under the guide foot. wrapping up to the edge is tricky as well but can be mastered. here is a link to the tape depot. [www.thetapedepot.com]. the tape is available in 1\4" and 3\8" widths.