I am building a rod for my wife, and the thread colors are white and Kentucky blue. I am concerned about the white showing up ok, so I am considering using Krylon Fusion for plastic under the wraps and the decorative wrap I am doing. I have the guides placed and I plan to mark where I want my wraps to end, mask everything, and paint. My question is, will it be difficult to determine where to stop the wraps? Seems that either I will be able to see paint, or I will have to go a strand or two past the paint, and then the thread color will appear different. Maybe I'm over thinking this, but if someone could weigh in that has used this method, I'd appreciate it.

Darren Kern
aka "Hydrilla"
Elon, NC

Going :over: by a strand or two appears to me to be the best option, no paint showing and the "over thread" starts to blend more with the rod blank. If in doubt, do a test on the blank on thew portion that will eventually be under the grip or handle.

Darren,
An option is to start & stop the wraps beyond the paint, and camouflage the transition with a trim wrap.

"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble.It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." Mark Twain
John in Wethersfield, CT

I've used that technique and it works very well. I maintains the thread color and gives a translucent look rather than the flat look of color preserver. I use a dark thread at the transition, it tend to hide the edge. I have also hid the edge with a metalic trim wrap and indicated above.

Have white for underwraps. As you have described use blue painters tape leaves a clean edge. Lite coats for smooth finish. Just a suggestion to put a coat of color preserver on white so when you pull thru at end it doesn't pull the paint off. I would do a test on scrap for practice. Start as close to end and finish as close as possible. Most times a small 3-4 tread trim band may be needed.

When you do that, don't forget the guide feet also as they will show up under white or light colored thread.

Thanks for the great tips folks. I would've never thought about doing the guide feet as well, that's good stuff.

Chrome or stainless guides will also show up under wraps, depending on the color. I've used nail polish, black, silver, any color that will hide under the wraps.

"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble.It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." Mark Twain
John in Wethersfield, CT

I always under paint and have two or three wraps of thread over the paint It will not be that noticeable.

Bill - willierods.com