Hi All,

I am trying my first sample tiger wrap, but something strange is happening.

My base wrap is dark blue and silver (not metallic), with 2 coats of CP and 3 coats of lite build.

The top layer is Aqua to match the rod, which I have put 2 coats of CP, but no epoxy yet.

The confusion is that, I can't see the pattern or anything come through the top thread, but when I peeled off about an inch of the top thread, I could see the pattern.

Here is the photo I took with my phone. The image isn't the best, but you get the idea. [www.rodbuilding.org]

Why can't I see the pattern?

I re-wrapped the exposed section, and I could just see the pattern through the top thread.

Should I not have put CP on the top coat? I re-read the tutorials, and there is no reference to CP on the top layer, so I just assumed to apply it as per normal with this thread.

I know that the best thread is black and NCP white, but I was trying to get a blue and silver look, just like some of the great wraps in the photos.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Richard

Richard,

You need to wrap two threads on top. Use your aqua and any other color you choose. The other color gets removed. It's job is to serve as a spacer for your top thread. When it's removed, you can see the pattern below between the threads on top.

Joe

Did you use a sacrificial thread on the top? Also, Dark Blue and Silver are not strongly oppositional colors. You want that base wrap to be very contrasting colors.

Yep, what Joe said. Reread the instructions on how to do a tiger wrap.

The reason you are seeing a pattern when you remove the thread is because it has caused grooves in the epoxy. If you were to epoxy over the grooves, they would disappear along with the tiger pattern.

jeremy

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Best to read them again.

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If you don't have a sacrificial thread, you will not see the pattern as you've covered it up with the single thread wrap over the top. You have to leave some space there so the bottom wrap shows through. You also might want to try to very dissimilar colors on the bottom. The top thread gives your color and the bottom gives you the pattern.

Also, don't forget to wrap the top thread in the opposite direction of the bottom threads. This gives a cress cross pattern that makes the bottom thread movement it's pop.

Sorry for the confusion but I did use a sacraficial thread and wrapped the opposite way.

I will redo it and try and work it out.

So I take it that I can use CP on the top thread too.

Thanks,

Richard

Richard,
Yes you can certainly use CP on the top thread if you are using regular nylon thread and want to retain that color.

if you do not use CP on the top thread and just finish the top thread will become Transparent and will show the base thread more

Try it on a scrap piece

Bill - willierods.com

Bill,

That actually lessens the moire effect - the top layer needs to be opaque in order to create the effect.

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Yes, CP the top, however, you won't be able to see the design until you epoxy. The CP will hide it. You should be able to get a good idea of what it will look like before CP. I have found that for greatest effect, I use Madeira and size A NCP on bottom and Madeira with size A sac on top. CP both layers. It comes out great this way and you get complete color shift.

The only NCP thread I can see availble is the prowrap colour fast on the mudhole website. Is this the same as normal CP thread?

NCP, Colorfast, Colorlok, it's all the same. NCP means no CP needed. It doesn't look as good on the top layer as regular nylon with CP though. I use it on the bottom with Madeira thread. size A NCP is slightly larger than regular size A and Madeira is slightly smaller than A. For me this gives some wicked looking tigers with complete color movement.

Thanks Brandon, I will give it another go.

Looks like I was doing it right after all.

It was just a matter of putting on the epoxy, which made the colour and pattern come through.

Glad you got it. One thing you need to be careful of is that you CP is not to thick when applied because it won't fill the gaps will. Tigers are fun and look great with a small 3 thread diamond pattern over the top.