I am new to rod building and am getting my 9 year old son rod parts for Christmas so we can build a fly rod together (8' 6" - 5wt Rainshadow RX6). His favorite color is orange and I think he would like orange wrapping. I have been told that most orange thread will turn to brown after applying the finish coat. Does anyone have any suggestions on a specific thread or method to keep the thread an orange color.

All thread will turn translucent and show the blank color after finish applied - unless you apply color preserver - or use NCP thread which will not turn translucent. The color preserver comes with its own problems - sometimes turns milky after wet - finish will not migrate through wraps to bond to blank.Any "light" colored thread - i.e. anything but black, dark purple, cobalt blue, dark green, etc will turn darker on a dark blank. If your son HAS to have orange then use color preserver (CP). But my recommendation would be to pick a darker color.
Herb

What ever you decide, do a test wrap and finish on the blank portion that will be under the grip area, then you can see the effects.

Barry,
I have built several rods for children using Orange for the wrap. I have used Gudbrod orange with CP over the top and the color stayed virtually the same color as when it was on the thread spool.

After a long time, the color has remained true.

Good luck and may your child enjoy the rod.

Roger

I've not built many rods, but you might try to find an orange metallic thread. I've use blue (Japanese silk) metallic thread, and it didn't change noticeably after applying finish. NCP is another option.

Cheers,
--Rob

I have also used orange with CP and it turned out fine. There was almost no color change with 2 coats of Casons CP. Orange can be really sharp looking on a rod especially with trim wraps. There are lots of great pictures on the photo pages. I did a search and came up with several just using the word "orange".

[www.rodbuilding.org]

David Dosser
Coshocton, OH

You can use metallic, but I think that the rod really looks nicer with Orange nylon with CP.

Be safe
Roger

I built a Cleveland Browns rod with orange. I used CP and had no problems. If you use too much cp it will turn milky. Use two or three light coats and it will be fine.

Bill

Ohio Rod Builders

Canton, Ohio

Barry,
I posted a photo of a rod I made for my grandson a few years ago under "thread art" .
Orange Madeira thread on a graphite blank. I painted the rod white under the cross wrap area and the guides before wrapping.
I've found light thread over a dark blank does not work for me without some kind of a light color base.

"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble.It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." Mark Twain
John in Wethersfield, CT

Or, buy a spool of orange NCP thread. It'll hold the bright orange color with or without CP.

.............

I absolutely agree with John, use a little white Testors model paint where you want the wraps to go. It turned a very unsatisfying first experience with orange thread into my sons' favorite look for black or blue rods.

Get yourself - if you can - a white blank to start White with orange looks reel good

Also like said NCP thread Even with 1 -2 coats of CP

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/19/2011 08:54AM by bill boettcher.

Thanks everyone - so far that has been great. If I use the model paint as a background on the blue rod, should I free hand it or mask it off? If I use white background do I still need CP?

Barry Z - Kamloops, BC

If you do not have the handle on yet try NCP thread Finish and see how it is Pack well

Regular nylon NEEDS CP NCP does not I put a coat on just for GP's

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2011 04:31PM by bill boettcher.

Masking always works better than freehand. It wouldn't hurt to use CP too. It'll keep the orange opaque. Make it pop out more.



Barry Zunti Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks everyone - so far that has been great. If I
> use the model paint as a background on the blue
> rod, should I free hand it or mask it off? If I
> use white background do I still need CP?
>
> Barry Z - Kamloops, BC