Since the show this year my wife Lana has been thinking about and prototyping something "different" for enhancing decorative thread wraps. I've posted a couple of photos under "thread wraps". Understand that this is still a work in progress and the approach could change.

those are very nice. i like the idea. sometimes it takes someone new to bring new thoughts to our processes. tell lana nice job and i look forward to seeing other things from her

I saw something like that a long time ago when a young lady rod builder out here just put one bead directly in the center of a Diamond wrap. Really opens things up for many options. Tell her to keep working outside the box. Looks fun

Very Unique!!! Is she giving you lessons yet? I hope she's going to bring some of her work to High Point

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!!

Great looking wrap!!! Keep um coming, Ken and Lana!!!

That would be "keep em coming Lana". My participation is, at best, limited - you might even say: NOT wanted. She saw wraps at the show in High Point, got some very helpful pointers from Billy and decided she needed something of her own, something unique. A 'signature'.

I like it. It's different. Has she arrived at a system for coating the wraps and keeping the extra decoration the way she wants it?

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Lana Custom Rods.............. I can see it now, Boot Ken and take over!!!! GO LANA!!!!!!!!!

I love ya Ken, but I couldnt resist

Novel approach & execution. Brings "Bling" to a whole new level. I see pearls coming!

Way to go Lana!

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

This was her second attempt at this approach. The first prototype was done with beads to the outside boxes of a four color solid pattern wrap. It turned out good but it was difficult to do because the crossover of the threads between the rows of beads kept separating the threads. She figured out how to overcome that problem but the beads in the center worked out much better - easier to keep threads aligned. Two coats of regular rod epoxy over color preserver covered the wraps and beads sufficiently. The only problem was with micro bubbles. I think I'll try the bubble buster solution from Mud Hole to see if that will help.