I believe I read somewhere white silk becomes fairly invisible when finish is applied. True? I am also thinking of putting a base warp down then wrapping the guide with the silk to have the base wrap give color on the blank but still see the guide foot. Any recommendations?

Check out this excellent example.
[www.rodbuilding.org]

Thanks,
Chad Huderle

Huderle Custom Rods
Prior Lake, MN

You didn't say what size/type of fishing rod you are building. If it is light duty / light action you can probably do away with the silk over wrap and go with a straight wrap over the guide foot. this will give you a hint of color in the wraps with the guide foot visible - also tinted but less so than the rest of the rod blank. Do a simple test wrap; apply a solvent or a drop of epoxy resin and see how you like it.

I would be on a 3 or 4 wt fly rod. Thanks for the info so far!

You can use silk or if you can live with a little tint of white, straight nylon white.
I just wrapped a white MHX casting rod with white nylon and it came out pretty nice.

Suggestion- to check color of thread when finished, just dampen with Alcohol.
Easy to remove and try another color.

Best wishes,
Ron Schneider
Schneider's Rod Shop
Mountain Home, Arkansas
[www.schneidersrods.com]
mtnron40@yahoo.com
870-424-3381

I like my 3 - 4 wts to have the lightest guides and shortest wraps possible for the least amount of weight

Double wraps will add weight

Bill - willierods.com

If you are going to over wrap with silk and you want absolute clarity in the silk, you should use the Gossomer 00 white silk and thin the first coat of epoxy so as to get through penetration. As the 00 is extremely fine diameter you will have problems wrapping it over a larger diameter thread base, it will want to slip in between the base threads. A coat of epoxy on the base wrap could help with that problem, but keep in mind you are adding weight where most would suggest you don't!

If you don't care if your transparent wrap is a little hazy, you can use either heavier silk or white nylon.

Phil,
I agree that I will not base wrap for weight and other issues. Is there anything specific I should use to thin the epoxy that would give better clarity over another?
Thanks

I use denatured alcohol and thin the epoxy to an almost water like consistency Thinned this way it penetrates and seals, but takes longer to cure, I allow 72 hours before the final coat...un-thinned.. Doing it this way it should come our water clear with the guide feet and blank showing through as though there is no thread warp.

I was going to email you direct,but your email is hidden.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/29/2011 06:39PM by Phil Erickson.

I tried something similar once. I used OO Gossomer to tie one the hook keeper over black under wrap and it wasn't completely transparent. You could see grey bands. It was close to transparent, enough to were I didn't re-wrap, but not what I was hoping for. Others may have had better luck.