I am starting a rod on a Phenix MirageMF711 UL. Still working on handle and reel seat,but am concerned when I start wrapping guides. Blank has spiral raised ridges. How do you deal with packing tight wraps on this finish. I dont think I should sand down a blank finish meant to be what it is now. Thanks for any tips.

Hi John,
They can be a nuisance especially if the the ridge is sharp as the thread wants to follow the ridge and not go where it is supposed to. If you are doing underwraps you can pack as you wrap by putting a burnishing tool up against the wrap and exerting moderate pressure. This should cause everything to get packed fairly well and the ridges don't have as much of an effect to the overwraps. If you are only doing a single overbind it can be more difficult as the guide foot doesn't let you pack as you wrap very well. You will have to stop wrapping and pack every four or five turns. When finished give the wrap a good burnish with the tool and you should be ok. Takes longer to get everything done properly on blanks with ridges. You will get used to them after doing a few.

ESFNEM Col
Port Kembla, NSW
Australia

I've wrapped many Phenix K2 blanks with the raised ridges with sz A thread with no issues or problems at all. Wrap a guide and see for yourself.

Thanks for the tips!! Starting on guides this week. Will keep you in loop. John