I'm rebuilding 3 rods for a guy and I pretty much have free reign to do whatever I think will look good for the guide wraps. I'm trying to come up with something a little different that'll be simple to do. My question is would wrapping a guide with metallic and then going back over it with a lighter color nylon thread be strong enough? I did one on a dowl rod with silver underneath medium gray and it looked pretty good. It's a loomis gl3 that'll be used for bass fishing.

David Page
E-town, KY.

weight would be my concern on a light rod,especially out near the tip

I do a lot of my wraps that way on fly rods. I have not had a problem yet. What I do to keep weight down on ultralights is use 6/0 oval metalic fly tying thread on bottom and #100 silk on top. On bigger fly rods I use size A threads. I do use CP on the metallic thread before wrapping the second layer.

I don't build bass rods but I wouldn't think it would be a problem there either.

Ray

I would hesitate to make a double overwrap on rods like those. I think they'll perform and feel better, and certainly be more "sensitive" without the additional weight, slight though it may be.

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I wrap many bass rods with metallics with out going over them with any additional wraps for security; I have yet to have a metallic wrap fail.

From the sound of your question, you must think metallics are not strong enough for guide wraps. IF this is the case, you are mistaken. Like Steve mentioned, it is NOT a problem at all. I build a TON of rods using metallic for primary wraps and they don't come back. Heck, I build almost every single Loomis GL3 Mahogany using Gudebrod HT Metallic red bronze and have been doing it that way since they released that whack color finish.

another option is to underwrap with the metallic, then place the guide on top of it, and wrap with your lighter thread. same candy apple effect you just will be able to see the guidefeet through, which can be cool. a little more weight but if you keep your wraps short it is minimal

I feel your pain. Sometimes when you get one these opened-ended: "Just make soemthing that looks nice" it can be difficult and that's why I press hard for something a little more difinitive. I frequently suggest marbelizing as the finish especially on bass rods. It's easy to do, it's unique and a bit visually edgey but not so much that it doesn't appeal to almost everyone if you use the right colors. The customer gets out of the deal what he wanted - a custom rod that he helped desgign and one which is totally unique and which can never be duplicated pecislely. You get a happy customer who may bring back a referral. You also don't have a lot of time invested in planning and gathering up materials ands tools Marbelizing is a great alternative to the time consuming and intricate thread threat art.

I've got one regular, avid tournament bass fishermen that I think is abut to come over to the dark side. He amits that he is very conservative and that his tastes run to the traditional (so do mine). Finally got him to accept the concept and benefits of light weight, single foot guides and to understand that when securely wrapped they'll get the job done. He's come around on the cut-away (Castaway) reel seats, micro guides, and he even likes the marble wraps. I just haven't got him to commmit to a spiral wrapped rod even though I let him cast one and he liked it and admitted that he could cast as well or better that with conventionally wrappped rods. I'll bet he orders a spiral wrap before the holidays.

If you want to keep the weight down, try marking where the wrap will be, and mask off then spray with a metallic, AUTO LAQUER say silver or gold. Then wrap the guide with out CP. Try some colors on some scrap..

David,
If you're just trying to give the overwrap a little dimension and keep the color, you can use mylar tape under the wrap. It lets the wrap stay translucent and gives it a little "flash" without adding much in the weight dept. Kip