I'm working on my first butt wrap. It is on a rod that was already built. Mistake number one I now know. Anyhow it was time for the tie off wrap and to cut all the threads and remove all that tape. I got that done okay but I have a problem.

The threads deformed the end of the EVA fore grip pretty badly. It will take a lot of sanding I fear. Bad as that is I had laid down a couple of bamboo skewers under the tape to make it easier to cut everything off and those left imbedded marks several inches up the foregrip.

So, how do I avoid having this happen again? Any ideas on how to deal with what I have now is appreciated as well. Perhaps a little time will allow it to return to normal?

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

I just put 2 1/2" blue light tack tape on the grip and that keeps it from denting the grip.

Billy Vivona is the expert on this and can probably offer a better suggestion.

Kevin

I used blue tape. I didn't think I wrapped the addtional tape all that tight but I guess I did. I think Billy wraps from the tip down and doesn't take the thread over the foregrip. It was a spiral wrapped rod with a long foregrip and the stripper guide was pretty close so I didn't have enough room to go that route.

I'll figure it out. Next time I'll use drinking straws and a wrap of paper towel.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

Bind down in front of the grip, rather than on it. You should still be able to do this and not require more than a 3/4 inch tie-off wrap at the butt.

If you have a copy of the book I did for Amato, refer to the step by step decorative wrapping instructions for the tie-off procedure. I think it will solve your problem.

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If you have to go up the grip use tongue depressors instead of skewers. The wider area will disperse the pressure more. I split them down the middle to make them wrap around the grip. Best bet is to wrap from the tip and do a turn around in front of the grip though if possible.

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

I use the widest popsicle sticks I can find on 4 axes to distribute the pressure over the 4 rather than 2 180 degrees from each other. I rarely have an issue anymore since doing that.

A little steam on the foregrips should bring them back if they are not too bad. In the future either wrap from the tip down or a couple of wraps of tape over the foregrip and no skewers should work

Fold up a paper towel and tape it down tight over the grip, fold it several layers thick. Use a popsicle stick over the towel as a base to cut the tag ends. I'll wrap a few turns of blue tape around the towel and use double sticky on top of that.

Thanks guys. I knew y'all would have some good suggestions. I'm still amazed at how many yards of thread I went through!

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

Russell, anytime you use a smaller item, I.E. skewer, straw, etc, you are actually creating more pressure per square inch under those items than if you used nothing at all. My preferance if I have to run the threads up over the forward end of the foregrip is to first use plumbers teflon pipe tape. This tape has no residue or adhesive to stick to the grip. Just wrap it with a light pressure to stretch it slightly. Then, carefully (read lightly) wrap the foregrip with masking tape for up to 4 to 5 layers thick. Then wrap with whatever double sided tape you use to hold your threads. The important thing here is to not wrap anything with enough pressure to deform the EVA material in the first place.