Starting a build for my dad and want to put alingment marks on it. I've tried it in the past and found that the paint runs in the thread making it more of a bloch than a dot. Does using CP first help? I have some but have not used any yet, kind of a newbe. Yes I did look in "search" first but didn't find anything under alingment mark, alingment dot, alinment,ect..

Thanks for any help
Scott

Scott,
Wind the alignment mark into the wrap on the joint.

It is pretty easy to do. Basically do an underwrap of the trim color, but only expose the trim color where you want the alignment mark to appear. i.e. cover the underwrap with the joint wrap of the main color.

Then, just add an extra wrap on the butt section of the rod. When you do this wrap, make sure that the finished end is a bit of distance away from the location of the tip section. As the rod ages, the tip section will tend to move down the butt section a bit with wear and age. So, just be sure that the finished end of your lower joint wrap is far enough away so that the wrap will never interfere with the fit of the tip section.

Roger

p.s.
You may need to practice this wrap on a test section a couple of dozen times to get it right, but once you have it you will be able to use this skill for other decorative wraps on any rod.

I do my alignment dots on top of a light coat of epoxy and then apply a second coat after the mark is dry. No bleeding!!!

Tiny marks with acrylic ink, let dry, finish over.

DR

Roger
Im familiar with an underwrap but not having ever done any decorative wraps I cant see this in my head. Is thare a picture in the photos section that shows this?

Scott

Decal Connection sells Alignment dot decal strips (on left)

Scott.
Simply tape your main and your "spot" wrap thread onto the blank. Put a couple of main wrap on the rod, then start the under wrap. Afte you get about 4 underwraps on the blank, use the main blank to cover up the underwraps and to hold the wraps in place.
Now, on the next wrap, do an over wrap of the underwrap at the alignment location. Then, continue with the rest of the main wrap to cover the underwrap. Repeat for about the next six wraps, so you will have an alignment wrap the width of about 6 wraps and as wide as the main thread. When, you get near the end, lock off the underwrap, put in your pull thread, a few more wraps of the main wrap and pull the main wrap back to lock it up.

Good luck
Roger

I use tiny glass dots I get at Michaels and epoxy them in. They dont run and look good, especially in the sunlight.

Dave

Here's my process:

Wrap the female end of the ferrule, one coat of epoxy, let dry. Make sure the sections are aligned and apply your dot with metallic ink or acrylic paint and let dry on both male and female ends, leaving some space for wear. Apply a 2nd coat of epoxy on the wrapped end, and a single coat of epoxy over the male end dot. Let dry, all done.

Terry

something i have been doing thats a bit different is to use jungle cock nails. If you point the base of the feathers toward each other they look cool and work perfect. I have even used multiple feather inlays such as swords. Now granted this is best with a fly rod and it has to fit in some what with the rod theme if there is one but just another choice