What are the advantages of a Power Wrapper over a hand wrapper?

What are the key features of a power wrapper to look for?

Mikew

It saves some time over hand wrapping. Probably the greatest advantage to me, is that it holds the rod allowing you to work with both hands. I really don't know what to tell you about what features to look for. Mine is a bit dated. Most of the guys will probably tell you to upgrade the chuck. This is not a issue for me because I use a lathe for turning grips. Hope this helps a little bit. You aren't going to get any better quality but you do gain time and convenience once you get past the learning curve. If I don't feel like setting up the power wrapper I'll use my hand wrapper.

Mike,
I wrapped one rod by hand and said, after wrapping that rod, that there must be a better way.
So I started building different kinds and variations of power wrappers.

A few things to look for.
1. Excellent chuck to safely and securely hold the rod.
2. Absolute smooth and linear speed. Especially have excellent speed control in the 0-2 rpm range where a lot of careful wrapping is done.
3. The ability to reverse the wrapper at the flip of a switch.
4. Good rod rests that hold the rod in a stable manner.

I often suggest the use of a DC gear motor to drive the chuck. By using a small gear drive on the end of the motor, you end up with a very small and compact power head that is easy to use and control. No need to have anything more than a single belt driving a 1:1 pulley.

Thousands or rods are wrapped every day on hand wrappers, It is likely that there is an even larger number of rods that are wrapped every day using a power wrapper.
As was suggested earlier, it is nice to have both hands free at all times. Also, if you are in the middle of a wrap with a power wrapper, you can stop, go to dinner and pick up where you left off with no break in the wrapping at all.

Good luck and be safe
Roger

roger wilson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>Also, if you are in the
> middle of a wrap with a power wrapper, you can
> stop, go to dinner and pick up where you left off
> with no break in the wrapping at all.


I use a Sully hand wrapper and this is a feature of it. It has a spring tension device that allows full "hands-free" operation. Of course, a hand is needed to turn the rod when applicable.

I have owned both power and hand wrappers and prefer the latter. I only see an advantage to power wrappers for heavy rods which have very long underwraps. When it comes to light rods (everything but offshore) and fly rods, I think the benefits of a hand wrapper outweigh those of a power wrapper. I am fast and accurate with a hand wrapper, but of course practice makes perfect.

As far as what to look for ... they are all the same UNLESS you are going to spend the big bucks on a CPW or Renzetti. Go to the Expo next month and buy one that's on sale. Better yet, win one of the ones being given away as a doorprize.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/13/2013 10:38AM by Jim Gamble.

I can't think of any disadvantages to using a power wrapper.
Here are seven benefits that I can see...
1. Makes working on the rod easier, especially toward the tip section.
2. You can use a power wrapper as a sophisticated hand wrapper, if you want to.
3. I have some arthritis in my hands and winding more than a couple of guides can be painful.
4. Built in drying machine.
5. Ability to turn cork, or to lightly sand areas that you have filled.
6. Ability to sand out high spots in the finish.
7. Fast and easy way to apply finish.

I second Jim Gambles post. I have both and NEVER wrap with the power wrapper. IMO, speed is the only advantage to the power and I'm just not in a hurry. Also, I find it way more convenient to sit in one spot and simply move the rod to wrap each guide rather than move myself to do the next guide. I can wrap a 7' rod without moving from my stool. Another advantage is that my hand wrapper takes up a couple of feet while my power wrapper takes up 8'. Since my wrapping bench is 8', it.s a no brainer for me. My wrapper is home made but I strongly considering the Eco Wrapper which is awesome as is the Sulkey

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

I can think of a disadvantage to a power wrapper; you have something else or new to learn. I would love to have a power wrapper, but I am afraid I would hate it and feel like I spent the money foolishly. I have the cheapest hand wrapper money can buy; found it on an action site and can't seem to find them anymore. Trully hand made and can't see why anyone would buy one, but I modified it and it works for me. If you all saw what I use to wrap rods you would laugh your tails off, but it works well for me.

If your just getting started in the hobby and can put a power wrapper in the budget, I say go for it. I can think of many things I could do better if I had one, but I can do everything I care to now without one. I am sure there are a lot of things I am missing out on in this hobby had I saved up and went the power wrapper way in the begining, but then my old school archaic style would be lost to the same old thing that I see others doing today.

As someone new, I guess it depends on what your after. I have no style, but in its simpliest form it has become my style; I am not artistic, never have been and never will be, nor do I have any desire to become something I am not. I do not have to please or impress anyone, nor do I care to; and that pleases me. I never accept anything that is unpleasent to the eye, and everything must be in a place where form and function meet. My style is to be simple and uncompliated, yet leaves one who looks upon it to have not want or need for anything else. It is my way, it is not for everyone, but it is my way.

Good luck on your journey,
Chuck

Hi Guys,

I have a basic hand wrapper HW1 as listed in the Mudhole catalog. I have wrapped about 15 bass rods by hand using this tool. A friend gave it to me when he bought
a power wrapper along with a finishing motor. So far I have been able to do just about everything I want to do, maybe a little slower than with a power wrapper.

Hi Mike Barkley,
What features of the Eco Wrapper do you really like?

Mikew

I drool over it at the Expo every year! It's an extremely versatile and well made wrapper and is expandable with several options. A little pricey but I think well worth the price Here are a few videos (I have NO affiliation with the product!!) [www.youtube.com]

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Like the one guy said, I did one rod and said "this just @#$%&." My fingers were tired and cramped. Of course, I do some pretty extensive wraps and long butt wraps as a rule, and we won't even begin to compare the wrapper at 1000 RPM burning down underwraps for butt wraps and two-footed guides. Even guides too. There's no comparison. Rod building is a time-consuming endeavor; we only live a few decades, and then we answer to the one who supplied the time, intelligense, wisdom/tact/skills, etc. to begin with. It's a no-brainer, bro. I like to move on to the next creation and execution myself, and share much more of my gifts with more of the the world! I built mine from a 3/8 DeWalt drill running through a 100-volt transformer and a sewing machine pedal. My wooden blocks have (2) 1 dollar casters from Northern with a third on a 2X2 that swings down on a bolt with a wing nut to hold the blank in place securely. A couple rubber bands help too. Your challenge is the chuck. I made one, but ended upo ordering the 25 dollar one from Mudhole. If you want, I can email you pics of it.....

Hi Guys,

I have a basic hand wrapper HW1 as listed in the Mudhole catalog. I have wrapped about 15 bass rods by hand using this tool. A friend gave it to me when he bought
a power wrapper along with a finishing motor. So far I have been able to do just about everything I want to do, maybe a little slower than with a power wrapper.

Hi Mike Barkley,
What features of the Eco Wrapper do you really like?

Mikew

Hi Mike,
I replied one post up!

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

I would be lost without power to the wrapper, can do almost anything and everything...its a must have...I have a quick touch clutch to knock it in reverse.

Chuck;

Brother, I promise you, if you put even a moderately small amount of thread on your rods, you'll never feel foolish over that investment, it's a basic impossibility if you build any rods at all. I've always been a poor boy carpenter, and as I said below, I built my wrapper. There's not a lot to it. We're a creative bunch, and none of us should have any trouble coming up with something that works, probably from stuff you have lying around the place. I just screw my blocks down when I move them around on a 1X12. After 4 years, I've never had a situation where it would not lock down because of too many wallowed-out holes. Do it, man. Like anything else worthwhile, it's an investment. Time or money and thought, take your pick, but I guarantee that you'll never be sorry.

On my 110v drill that is built into a wood housing, I use a wedge at the trigger to limit the ultimate output of the drill. I switch over the plug on the sewing machine pedal from "motor" (which is variable by pedal) to "light" which is contant power, and bach the wedge way out for a slower, constant drying mode. You can even put cloth and stuff on top of the drill chuck to get it slow enough.

Hope this helps, bro.....Later