I applied gold metallic underwrap followed by sections of black overwrap on top of the gold. On a few of the black applications, it was very difficult for me to completely cover over the gold with the single course of black - the black thread would occasionally not fit snugly together, resulting in slight gaps where I could see the gold thread underneath. I think my problem may relate to thread size, or tightness of the wrap, or simple inexperience. My questions is this: Is it acceptable to simply revese the overwrap course and go back over the first course, thereby applying a second or even a third course of the overwrap thread so that the underwrap layer can be completely covered?

Having had this problem a few times, I have found two things that work for me. I'm sure there are better solutions.

1. I use D-weight thread to overwrap the metallic thread.
2. I sometimes resort to a thin coat of rod finish over the metallic thread befoe doing the overwrap: it's easier to wrap thread evenly on epoxy finish than over metallic thread.

Wrap the overwrap in the opposite direction of the underwrap. For instance underwrap left to right, overwrap right to left. You can also put a lighy coat of finish over the underwrap.

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Mike, that only works with single foot guides unless you do a two way underwrap toward or away from the center. What I have found is a light coat of finish as suggested a few times above and making sure that the underwrap size is A and anything over it is C or D.

If you already have finish on it and this wont kill the blank (this will be a heavier type blank) you can get away with using size A black to cover gaps. This is NOT the recommended solution however.

Oops! Didn't think of that!! Brain Freeze (I never do underwraps)

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Jim

A trick that us outwrappers use is to take a black sharpie and mark right over the black thread and color the gold thread in the gap. It only works with black thread and once the finish is on it's hard to see. I would never use this on rods for myself but when you are wrapping 25 or more rods a day it's faster then taking the guide off grinding it and rewrapping.

Thomas F. Thornhill

Another option is to doublewrap the black. It does not materially bulk up the wrap, and the effect is nice. I do it all the time.

Whit