Can anyone tell me how to start and finish tying the thread to the rod neatly, with out leaving little of cuts hanging out ?.

An excellent article on this very subject in the Rodmaker Magazine. The info provided in the magazine is a ton more valuable than the cost of the subscription. Step by step photos along with the text on most every subject covered eliminates any guesswork or misinterpretation. One of the board sponsors - Mudhole - had a 101 type video posted on their site. Any local builders you can ask for a show and tell? This would be easy for me to show, but difficult to explain in text alone.

[rodbuildingtutorials.com]

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!!

Barry,
One of the best tips that was given to me was to use a pair of fly tying scissors.
Before that, I used to use fresh straight edged razor blades, which worked fine, but from time to time, I would nick a thread and have to retie the guide.
After hundreds of guide wraps, I am still using the same pair of scissors with no need for sharpening and it still does an excellent job of trimming the tag end of the thread.

But with a pair of very fine tipped scissors, and laying at least 5 threads over the tag end, it is easy to put considerable pressure on the tag end as the thread is cut with the scissors right next to the wraps. Then, a quick burnish with a burnishing tool and the tag end completely disappears.

You can do the same thing with a very sharp razor, but it is so easy to nick a thread if you get it as close as you would like to the threads.

Take care
Roger

When I first started building rods, I bought a book that explained a method for finishing off a wrap without cutting the tag of the thread. I use a loop of small diameter braided line and wrap over it to finish. When all wraps are completed, I insert the tag end of the thread into the loop, and pull the loop halfway under the wraps, I then pull both thread and the loop with equal force. The thread will break at the loop and remain completely underneath the wraps. I've been using this method since I started with great results every time. No short tag end sticking out when using scissors, no cutting the wraps by mistake with a blade, and never any fuzzies. Am I the only one that uses this method?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/02/2009 10:25AM by Tom Ciannilli.

That method or something very similar was also in Rodmaker Mag not so long ago.

There is a lot of good stuff on Mikes site.

Bill - willierods.com

That is Raymond Adams site, not mine, but you're right a LOT of good stuff

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!!

OOOOPS

Bill - willierods.com