I am going to be building two rods for Alaska. they will be Batson Forecast blanks in Dark Blue Gloss. What color thread would look good for the rod guides? This is my first rod build so i dont want to get too fancy but i have no sense of what color goes good with dark blue. Like my wife says i am very color challenged. Thanks for your help!!
Kevin Gross

My personal favorite ... red, white and blue. My least favorite ... orange and blue.

Kevin,
Great colors that go with darb blue are other shades of blue, as well as blue metallic.
For trim - silver makes a wonderful contrast.

Also, white is a nice contrasting color.

Generally speaking, when I make a rod like this, I will use a dark blue thread, that is NOT NCP and use no color preserver. That way, the thread blends into and matches the blank.
Then I will use a lighter shade of blue metallic, along with silver for trim.

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when I check for color match on threads against a blank, I will take and put a dozen wraps on the blank. Then, I will wet it down well with Alchol. The color that you get on a non CP thread, or non NCP thread will be about the color that you get on a wrapped thread that has been well wetted with Alchol.

Good luck
Roger

take a look at the photo page to see what you may like.

Then you can try some colors on the butt of the blank and see how they look.

Regular nylon without CP looks good. The guide feet will show.

Bill - willierods.com

I have built a few Forecast fly rods. Blue thread with or without color preserver looks good.

I have tried to look at the photo's but it tells me i have to register. I am logged in and still cant see the photo's

Kevin Gross
Many men will spend their whole life wondering if they made a difference. Marines dont have that problem - Ronald Regan

Kevin,

The photoboard is separate from the forum. You need to register on that board too.

Joe

I just found that out. I am now good to go!

Kevin Gross
Many men will spend their whole life wondering if they made a difference. Marines dont have that problem - Ronald Regan

Kevin,
Often, when you are trying to figure out a color combination, just go out and look at automobiles in the color that you are trying to figure out.
See how the cars are painted. See what the colors of the interior are in the car. See what sort of contrasting trim might be on the vehicle.

Essentially use the cars as a big color pallate. Easy to see and visualize the color matches and contrasts.

Take care
Roger

Another simple thing which can be done and continue to use is to go and buy a color wheel. They make them small and rotatable. The only hard part if figuring out what the finished thread will look like.
Good Luck

Blue is a "cool" color and silver is also, so they can go together quite well.

I would go with a slightly different shade of blue than the blank and silver, you can't miss with that color combo.

Below is a link to a color scheme design location. While it is primarily used for web page color layout, it use the basic color wheel concept to arrange color compatibility.

www.colorschemedesigner.com/

As some others have suggested, I would use some shade of blue for the main wrap color. Then I would add very narrow trim bands of white thread.

I'd say it all depends on what YOU want. I think that on a blue blank your best bets are going to be oranges, yellows, silvers and light grays or whites. You can also go with the overused Red, white and Blue or go with different shades of blue, but the reason you are going with a custom is to make it how YOU want it so pick your favorite color.

I know if it were my rod I'd go with a burnt orange or subdued yellow to make the wraps stand out. I know I have plans to be making one for a friend in Buffalo Sabres colors which are blue, yellow and white...

And if nothing else, ask your wife to choose the colors... then she can take the blame if they turn out wrong ;-)