can someone tell me the difference between fly tying thread and rod wrapping thread, other than the size difference they seem the same. thanks GOD BLESS AMERICA

I don't think fly tying thread has the tight twist that rod building thread has. Also, fly tying thread is commonly waxed. I would think that would be disastrious to a builder when he put on his epoxy rod finish!

Finally back On-line. I never used Fly Tying thread on my rods, but I think with careful choices, you can find a suitable alternative. A couple of years ago, Chris Helm from Whitetail Supplies in Ohio, ran an extensive test on different types of thread used in Fly Tying which was printed in a Fly Tyer magazine. The diameter, strength, type of twist are all listed.

Billy

Bill,

As a fly tier, I frequently use rod wrapping thread for certain applications in building flys and lures. I've not tried the reverse, however.

The ONLY problem I can see with using 'regular' fly tying thread (rather than the 'flat' stuff, which is untwisted and would be VERY hard to wrap evenly) for wrapping guides is the wax that's on most tying threads. This 'may' cause trouble with the finish on the wraps (I'm not sure it will, however. I've used epoxy for a durable head cement or to seal the thread wraps on bass bugs and other baits that I want to stand up to heavy abuse, and it works just fine).

I'm curious as to why you'd want to do this in the first place? Rod wrapping thread is usually much cheaper than fly tying thread, is available in many more colors, and comes in larger amounts.

The only advantage I can see is that you can get fly tying thread in very fine diameters. There may be applications where that might have an appeal, such as a very light fly rod or microlight spinning rod, but you can get fine diameter rod threads that will work just fine and the 'difference' would be slight in the finished product.

Still, to each his own. You can get unwaxed fly tying thread, so if you really want to, that would seem to solve any finish application troubles.

Good Luck!

I have used unwaxed tying thread for very fine trim bands. It is smaller in dia. than the rodbuilding thread and provides a nice taper of the rod thread to the blank. I helped me get a better result when doing rods with as little finish as possible and stopping the finish just beyond to wrap (essentially at the wrap). BUT>>>with practice with the finish I have learned to get nice tapers out of the finish and not the thread. Never have used it for primary wraps though. Don't have much reason to use it anymore. FWIW
Elrod