Any tricks to getting all of your wraps equal on each guide foot? I have used calipers and tried to mark the starting point, is there a better way?

Mine get smaller as I progress towards the tip. Having said that, I start them 5 wraps from the foot and go from there.

If you want them all of equal length, I have found the simplest method to be: after wrapping the first one to the desired length, cut a strip of paper to exactly that width, this then becomes your "gauge" for subsequent wraps. A more exact way is to count the wraps as you go..................LOL

I mark up a little index card. I use an engineers ruler graduated in 64's on one side and 100's on the other side. I should use a metric ruler but is what I have. I never have decided on the right way to size the wraps proportinal to guide length. I think Billy posted something on that once but I forget.

I miss the days when I felt comfortable scribing marks on the blank. Sometimes I still do if it is a heavy blank with a thick finish on it!

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

I use a sewing guage that you can get at any sewing store. They are cheap and adjustable.
Here is an example.
[www.createforless.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/09/2012 03:31PM by Bob Riggins.

Hi Chris,
I'm a little different, when I'm doing an underbinding I use 130% of the guide length, both single and double footers and that works out good for me, you could probably use 125%. For light weight rods without an underbinding and single footers I start about 2mm from the end of the guide foot and that matches up well with Forhan locks. Without locks and double footers I start about 1mm from the end and that gives me 5 or 6 wraps before climbing the guide foot. I've also got a chart that tells me how far to start from the guide position for different types and sizes of guides. I mark the blank with a china graph pencil where the ring sits. The chart has been established to give equal length bindings on double footers. A little mucking around with different sized guides with a pencil and ruler will make you one.

ESFNEM Col
Port Kembla, NSW
Australia

Hi Chris

I am with Victor on making the wrap length smaller as i go up the rod.But i try to keep the running train all the same size as all
the guide feet are the same length.I have longer wraps than most they start out at about 8mm on the stripper as i am putting in
a bit of a fancy trim just cant help myself.But at the moment i just use a ruler and a chinagraph pencil to mark it out.I have been
meaning to get one of the sewing gauges Bob mentioned they look the goods.Theres a lot of good stuff in sewing shops just
you get some funny looks from the fairer sex when your in there.

cheers

Ray Balmforth
Figtree
NSW
Australia

I just eyeball them if they look good I go with it. I found if you try to keep them all the same as you go toward the tip the wraps start to look longer even though they measure the same. I generally try to start about 5 or 6 wraps from the guide but even that varies depending on the guide foot length. If it looks good I go with it.

Bruce

I have marks on the side of my burnishing tool for reference. That way you don't have to hold or grab extra tools.

Get a 6" center rule, its the best tool for this application.

Dennis J. Danku
(Sayreville,NJ)

I use a Compase with points on each end

I start at the tip and do the first guide from the top as short as I can Measure it Then each wrap after is maybe a 16 - 32 nd larger after that This way as the blank gets larger the wraps get longer
Eye Candy

Bill - willierods.com

Chris,
I just do 5 wraps on the blank before I get to the guide. Then, wrap the length of the guide.
Pretty simple. No measuring required. Of course the smaller guides have shorter wraps, but that makes sense from an appearance stand point.

Roger