I am having some difficulty with doing an accent wrap using metallic silver. What I have been doing is setting up the accent wrap at the get-go. I lay the silver out and tape it to the rod. I then lay out the pull through loop and tape it to the rod. I then start the guide wrap and complete it. I return to to the accent silver and undo the tape and make three turns around the rod and through the loop. In pulling the silver thread through the loop, there is some resistance from the thread and sometimes the silver, which is twisted around a fabric core, comes undone. Sometimes, in pulling the silver back to cut it with a razor blade, which does not cut it well after awhile, it comes undone and because the thread is wirey, it is useless and I have to do the entire wrap all over again. There must be an easier way to do this....any thoughts?

Clinton

If you are not using Fish-Hawk threads I would suggest switching to their brand, doing such has cured most of my complaints when working with metallic threads.

You might also try backing down on you tension just a tad.

No pull loop is needed.

What I do is take a small section of the silver, wrap it around the blank going over itself where you want it as many turns as you want. I do my wraps left to right.
Then I tape the ends to the right onto the blank

Start the main wrap to the right as close as you can get to the silver , wrap about 4-5 turns and lock it in. Trim end.

Then I take each of the silver ends and pull in the direction of the wrap-like tying a knot- pack the silver when I like it I cut the ends off and finish the wrap.

Adjust the position if necessary.

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/12/2010 10:02AM by bill boettcher.

On the pull through loop, try only wrapping over three times.....five at the most. Keep the tag end short, just long enough to grab it to cut it off.

I normally use full underwraps and just make them a little longer to get the same effect.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

I do everything just like you do, except when I am done with the trim wrap I pull it up tight and before I pull the tag end under I trim it off as close to the pull loop as possible. That way you don’t have any tag ends coming through the thread at all. BTW you can use the same piece of thread to put a trim wrap on the other end of the wrap too, this looks especially good with Forhan wraps where you have some thread on the opposite side of the guide.

Bill, thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, I cannot visualize this. Are there any visuals somewhere. I would like to experiment with this.

Clinton

Clinton,

Check Bill Wordens single trim band tutorial [www.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!!

I had the same problem with metallics on trim bands .......a little less tension help solve it for me. You also may want to be sure you use a new piece of thread for each pull loop as the nylon can get a "memory" and get a twist in it after a few pulls....this causes a bunch where it passes under the wrap and makes it harder to pull. I also started using smaller diameter threads to pull metallics.....size D nylon was tough to pull through a size A metallic underwrap.

About cutting the tags......there is no substitute for sharp tools and the metallics will dull a single edge blade pretty quick.. As soon as my blade stops cutting without any "sawing" motion....I toss it. They are pretty inexpensive.

Good Luck....Joe

I use an entirely different process, which may not be for everybody and takes a little practice but works for me. I learned it from LA Garcia's book "Handcrafting a Graphite Fly Rod" and he calls it a "continuous wrap." I have never seen it mentioned on this forum or anywhere else other than Garcia's book, possibly because it is a bit complicated, and without photos and such, it is going to be hard to visualize. My best recommendation if you want to try it is to pick up a copy of the book from one of the sponsors on the left, but I will attempt to describe it. As I said, it works very well for me, and I can do as few as 2 turns of the trim thread using this wrap.

If you wrap left to right, put the trim color on the right and the base color on the left on your thread holder. Begin your wrap with the trim color just as you would any wrap, leaving the tag end un-trimmed for the time being. Wrap the number of turns that you want for your trim band and stop. Pull your base color thread up and over the top of the trim thread, making a "V", pull the new thread tag through the "V" and start the base color wrap, pinning down the running and tag thread of the trim. This is the part that will take some practice, and you have to hold pressure on it with your thumb to get it started. After a turn or 2 you can cut the spool end of the trim band color, make a couple more turns, and pull everything tight if it isn't already. Then you can cut off all 3 tags and continue wrapping as before.

It sounds tricky, but for me it is easy, probably because it is the only way I knew how to do it for a long time. My directions aren't very good. Probably buying that book would be best.

Matt Smith
Greensboro, NC

Check this out in the Library section up on the top of the page.[www.rodbuilding.org]

Steve Bro
(BroCo Custom Rods)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/12/2010 02:01PM by Steve Bro.

Best thing ever found![www.rodbuilding.org] Lifetime guarantee and free sharpening. I have two and alternate sending them in for sharpening every year or two, Less than $20 at Walgreen's Bill Stevens showed them to me at the big show a few years ago. I consider them indispensable

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!!

Good Morning Clinton,
I do my trims in the same manner, but I don't put the trim tie off loop at the end of the wrap. Instead I put in the trim thread and the tie off loop and then I begin my wrap. When my wrap thread reaches about half of the total wrap, I lift the trim Tie off loop and continue the guide wrap. I tie off the guide wrap and then I wrap the trim (1-4 wraps) and then insert the trim thread through the loop and snug it tight against the wrap. I slowly pull the loop until the trim thread is just pulled under the trim wrap. At this point, I carefully cut the trim thread and pull on the tie off loop. This will pull enough of the trim thread under the guide wrap to hold it in place and there will be nub to cut off. If there is any space where the trim tie off loop was, it is easily closed when you pack and burnish the wrap prior to applying finish. I do the same or my guide wraps. Since I started doing my wraps this way, I no longer have any nubs or fuzzies to worry about. I hope this helps.

Mike Blomme

I do the trim bands after the main wrap. Tom did an article in RM on trim bands ( I don't remember the issue it was in). I tried it and been doing it like he described ever since, it's easy.
Maybe Tom can remember which issue it was in.

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

Thanks Mike, That was pretty neat. I will definitely be able to use that. However, it probably would not work for making two or three wraps around the rod. Right?

Clinton

Thanks Tom. I hope Tom is reading this and is able to respond. Clinton

Mike B:

I remember talking to you in Charlotte "centuries ago" while we were playing around with the green milk crate.

I remember seeing your eyes light up when you saw the knippers!

Travel back in time courtesy of the Photo Board!

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Take a look at the ones you saw! Center Bottom with the blue vinyl grips.

Them pills we swallow must be working!

Hood A Thunk We Wood Still B Aroun!!

This forum is still answering the same questions to the ones starting down the road!

Swampland will send the first person a gift straight from ICAST (Vegas) that can identily the long slender green thing standing in the center of the picture and what it is used for! (Mike you are not allowed to enter)



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/12/2010 06:16PM by Bill Stevens.

Bill
The long round green thing is called a 'round tuit'.
When your wife asks you when are you going to do some chore she asked you to do and you say 'when I get a round tuit'.
She will hand you one of those and kick you in the butt!!! LOL

Regards
Dave

Fishing is Life the rest is just Details

That was my first show, Bill and I haven't missed on since, That tip you gave on the nippers is the best one yet!!!!!!

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!!

Hello Bill
Is that one of those cat-nip thingies with a suction cup on one end and the loop on the other to tie the fake mouse stuffed with cat-nip?

Thanks.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

Green Thang Clue -

That "green gizmo" is a professional level medical extraction device which is related to the title of this thread -

Replaces the Pro Finger used by the Bad To The Bone Master!

Keep on trying - the prize will be a good one!

Lance will stalk the ICAST floor selecting the best one he can find!