Hello everyone, I have been doing this for 5 months now and built 19 rods, getting better but still have some problems, I am trying to use guderod regular nylon thread with bright colors on black blanks with CP, on the larger size guides like 12 and up I cant seem to get the thread tight enough to stop that shadow from showing thru between the blank and guide legs, I am packing the thread all the way up the legs but still having trouble on the larger guide, any help would be appericated, also willNCP thread give me this same problem or not. thanks scotty.

Putting light colored thread over a dark colored blank creates a situation not at all unlike trying to paint a black wall with bright colored paint - you can't expect a miracle and color preserver isn't going to help you here.

If you must use a very light colored thread over a very dark colored blank, use NCP, with color preserver.


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I try to avoid that problem by using black wraps whenever possible. I call them Johnny Cash (man in black) rods. If you use blabk guides and black wraps the guides "appear" to just come out of the blank. Purple with some silver inlays look great as well.
But for your problem, I'd go with Tom's suggestion. NCP thread and CP. It won't solve it 100% but it should help.

Would you consider using metallic threads? In my limited experience there are just too many problems with light colored threads and CP.

You can also mark the wraps and paint the blank with a light color. I think regular nylon has a lot nicer color then NCP. I use at least two wet coats of CP letting each set well.

Bill - willierods.com

Or use a silver tape under the wraps. White would work also.

Bill in WV

Was thinking of buying the Flex Coat Finishing Motor & Hand Rod Wrapper... Dont know if i will like the power wrapper as a newbie in building rods... I think the idea of doing this by hand using the thread tensioner will work just fine... Will I need anything else to get me started... And any suggestions...