1st question. when doing decorative wraps how much thread tension or should I say how tight should I be pulling the thread when I go up and down the rod?

2nd question. I have a rod which has a circumference of 95mm large blank. is this blank to big for the butt alignment tool for marking the axis. I will be building heavy surf rods and wanted to purchase a butt alignment tool but dont know if the tool is for smaller rods or it will mark big rods also.

thanks

I'll take the second question first - depends on the alignment tool you're thinking of buying. You might want to contact some of the sponsors to the left and ask them directly on the phone what they have that will fit.

Now for the first question: You want to use enough tension so that the threads can be moved with the point of a burnishing/thread tool, like my Squzzle Sticks, the Gudebrod plastic tool, or something similar, but can't be moved easily without the tool. Since threads vary widely in stretch, not only from manufacturer to manufacturer but also from size to size (A to D) and even from spool to spool, the only way to answer the question is to actually try to wrap a few patterns. Keep them simple. You have no intention of actually finishing them with epoxy, all you're trying to do is get used to the tension you need to build a nice tight wrap. Your "feel" for tension is different from anyone else's and unfortunately there are no guages or meters on the tension devices that'll help with this. It's a matter of practice.

Uncle Russ
Calico Creek Rods



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/24/2008 09:07PM by Russ Pollack.

Marnie, (1) When I do a decorative butt wrap, I pull the thread fairly tight, enough to stretch the thread. Be careful not to pull it loose from the tape at either end, though. (2) If you are talking about the marking tool used to draw parallel lines on the blank for laying out the pattern for your wrap, the commercially available ones should do, or do as I did, get an aluminum angle with one side longer that the other, maybe 1" X 2". If you have access to a router, you can route 2 "V" grooves down the length, making one deeper and wider than the other so larger and smaller rods can be marked. Lay out the groove lines to coincide with the length of the legs on the aluminum angle. After routed, add a fence to the side of the V-board to put the angle against to mark your blanks.