Well it's time to upgrade - In need some help here -
Looking at RodSmith Tubular Power Wrapper RW-XL, and the ever so expensive Renzetti complete. Big difference in $$ - Pro's/Cons? I know if I go w/ the Renzetti - it will hopefully be the last wrapper/Lathe I will hopefully ever have to buy. I have hand wrapped for a while and have owned other rodsmith (power wrapper) and Flex-coat wrappers and wondering if by chance the RW-XL is any better or should I just bite the bullet and shell out the $$. Flex coat has treated me well over the years - the rodsmith chuck "Upgrade" was alright - the motors tend to jump and the pedal had been changed out a couple times and some other issues - The get a lot of use - I build mainly Surf rods and 13' + can be a challange for any wrapper - The Latest Rodsmith, can the RW-XL be extended past the 8' mark? It is 3 piece but I haven’t found anyone selling extensions or the rod guides for that unit. Anyone have any knowledge on this? Lastly - anyone own a renzetti - is it as good as they say it to be - laser for aligning guides and what not? Just sems you have to but a lot more to get a "Complete" system - is it worth it?? Any other suggestions on Wrappers/Lathe out there you might suggest I look at? Thank you all for your time - much appreciated. Thank you!

The Custom Power Wrapper at Angler's Workshop is another option, not as nice as the Renzetti, but much nicer than the other wrappers you mentioned. Mine has held up very well over the years. Enough power to turn cork and shape grips and have done quite a few long sturgeon rods on mine over the years.

I have two Renzettis. One for wrapping and the other for turning cork handles. If I had it to do all over again I would still have a Renzetti and a bigger jet lathe so I could turn not only cork handles but other stuff too. As far as the laser for aligning is concerned save your money. It might help some but it didn't do anything for me. I never have owned anything else so all I can tell you is you won't go wrong with a Renzetti. You are the one that has to justify the cost but it will be the last one you'll have to buy.

Thanks for all the feedback - I just have to weigh out the pros/cons. I checked out the CPW's - nice setup for sure - If I am gonna drop that I might as well drop a fe more for the renzetti I suppose. Can you add to the CPW to make it 12' ? How are the rod stands - they look like they are closed type - have to feed the rod through it? What I am finding is alot of wrappers are only 8', I would like to have one that can be at least 12' so I can turn/wrap the rod together instead of breakdowns - Let me know your thoughts - Thanks!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/2008 08:57AM by Christian Kessler.

You can buy additional bed sections for either the CPW or the Renzetti.

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Christian -

It sounds like you already know the answer to your own question. Yes, it is going to be tough to cough up over $1,000 for the Renzetti and all the options you will need (extra beds, extra rod stands).

I highly doubt you will find the PB XL any better than the wrappers you already have and you most likely end up spending money you could have put toward the Renzetti.

While there isn't a thing "wrong" with the PB wrappers, IMO they aren't in the same class as the Renzetti in respect to engineering design. What they are is a good value for most builders. While there is nothing bad about that, it sounds like you are ready to move beyond focusing on initial cost.

Jim -

Maybe you and Terry should do business and buy one of his renzetti's . You get a great machine at a discount for being used and he can take his capital and buy his Jet lathe....everyone happy cos both machines are built to last a life time...Just my .02

Jason Kesckes. Aint no fish'n like bass fish'n

Jason, To late. I already bought a Jet. I'm going to use the second Renzettii that I use for cork turning to make my other lathe bed 12 ft. I will have a turning motor and some other accessories that I won't need.

A nice way to go is to build your own.
Pick up a piece of aluminum channel in the length that you want.
Mount as many rod rests on the channel as you need.
Then, build up a wrapper motor for your lathe.

I prefer either the Dayton - right angle gear drive - reversible - 110volt motor that is set up for 500 rpm. The beauty of this rig is that it has excellent control - plenty of power, - good speed variation. With this motor - I use one of the electronic fool pedals from Line Master. The only down side to this motor is that the gears are a bit noisy. However, with the right angle drive and the 1/2 inch output shaft - it will turn anything that you need.

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Although, I still have the dayton right angle motor and speed control, my drive of choice now, is a motor drive arrangement using a 24 volt dc gear motor. I power this with a 0-24 volt power supply, that is foot pedal controlled with a 1 K pot in a linemaster foot pedal.
I then, use a cogged timing belt to drive a 1/2 inch industrial keyless chuck.

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In addition, I use a nice mini lathe to take care of my handle turning needs.

Finally, I have a rod turning lathe to turn cork on a complete rod on a 10 foot bed. This motor is a 1/2 hp - 3600 rpm - fixed speed ac motor - that was formerly a buffer motor with extended shafts. I have a 1/2 inch industrial keyless chuck on the end of the motor to house a rod that I insert into the butt of the blank to turn handles.

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If I need to touch up the handle of a fully built rod - I found a 1/2 hp dc - variable speed - 110volt ac powered that can vary the speed from 0-2500 rpm. I have this motor driving a jack shaft on which is mounted an industrial 4 inch machinest chuck. For those rods that are complete but need some handle work - I simply chuck the rod in the chuck with a couple of steady rests down the length of the rod. I turn up the speed until the rod starts to shake too much, I tourn the speed down a touch, until it stops shaking. Then, I proceed to clean up the handle as needed.

So - you don't need to spend $$$$$$$$$$ huge - to get some very nice gear that will do an excellent job on rods.

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Note:
For any cork turning, or handle turning - I really prefer to have a motor that is rated at least 1/2 hp. For the lathes that use the small 1/10th hp sewing machine motors are really a bit small for good long term use.

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Lots of different things available and lots of different ideas.
If you want more information, just drom me a line at

hflier@comcast.net

Take care
Roger

Terry, If you are thinking of selling your leftover Renzetti items please E-MAIL me , I need them for the same reason you had used them for. Thank you, Dennis J. Danku

We use a PacBay with a 9' bed (3 sections) and a Jet Mini-Lathe. We do basic handle finish work on the PB, including cork, wood, and foam. We used to do complete shaping on the PB (although not the wood) using some pretty tough files for the basic work, but it's so much faster on the Jet that we do it there now.

The choice is simple - around $300 for a complete PB setup, including the "Super Chuck", or well over $1,000 for the Renzetti. If you add a fourth or fifth rod support to the PB, or upgrade the supports, you'll move toward $400, which is still a long way from the Renzetti price.

They both do basically the same things, although the Renzetti thread carriage is a much better solution than most. Remember that the Renzetti doesn't come with a reversable drying-motor option as-delivered.

Uncle Russ
Calico Creek Rods

Thanks for the FYI Russ on the Renzetti.
Ok, Minus the Renzetti and it's bells and whistles. What wrapper would you buy - what do you like about it - must have good solid components - pros/cons ... Let me know.
I really did like my RW-XL - served the purpose for sure - just with it was built better - maybe they are now - its going on 4 yrs now - unlike my flex-coat which is 9+ - CPW would be an option but once again back up in $$..

Thanks again

Christian