Started working on my rod wrapper over the weekend. The base is 8' long, just a good straight 2x6. I ran a 1/2x3/4 strip of molding along each side, with a piece of door stop on top of that to hold the rod supports in place.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

The rod supports are ripped from a piece of 1x6 fir i had lying around; they're screwed to pieces cut from a cutting board i liberated from the kitchen.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

[www.rodbuilding.org]

I'm trying to decide what do with the tops of the supports. I was going to use some UHMW plastic i have, but i'm not happy with how that was turning out. I'd like something a little smoother and more secure than just a felt-lined V. If i use something like skate wheels, do i need something on top to hold the blank down, or can i get by just with the wheels?

If you're turning by hand, the top wheel is not an absolute must, but it is certainly helpful, especially if your wheel size is small or your working with larger diameter blanks. If your thread is coming from behind, you might want to consider having the center of your rear roller a little higher than the front as this will more equally split the load on the rollers and help to keep the blank in place while you turn it by hand.

If you're planning on power wrapping, that will require the third roller.

If you ever plan to upgrade from hand to power later on, I'd just go with three wheels from the start and be done with it.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/2013 12:31PM by John E Powell.

[www.sears.com]

Or, cut your blocks into a "V" and use these magic sliders. The adhesive on them is not strong enough. I used rod bond. they work very nice.
After cutting out my notch I used the cut out piece and pushed the glider into the cut out area and clamped it with a bar clamp
Sorry, I wasn`t able to get the picture of the package. they are available at all hardware stores

Magic Slider Rectangle Slider 15/16''X4''
Sold by Sears Sears Item# SPM6026122105 | Model# 04124

$6.90 package of four
.
.

Ohio Rod Builders

Canton, Ohio

Kevin:

If your thread is coming from teh top, you will need a method of holding the blank to the rod supports. This could be a third wheel, a hair elastic of a piece of velcro. If you are going to use roller blade wheels, use soft wheels. Some of the harder ones will make a blank. Putting O-rings on roller blade wheel bearings is another option.

See [www.rodbuilding.org] for a setup that uses roller blade wheels.

Chris Richer
Iroquois ON

Hi Kevin,
Barry Thomas snr posted links to some nice wheels for wrappers, see here
[rodbuilding.org]

ESFNEM Col
Port Kembla, NSW
Australia

Home Depot
Shower door replacement wheels Several sizes With nice bearings Then go and get some Faset o rings to fit
I put tape over the bearings on the wheels so they would not move put them on a piece of scrap then on the turner and coated with several coats of permagloss over the o rings for duribility

Bill - willierods.com

since there is mot much weight or High RPM these should work fine

[www.savacable.com]

[www.savacable.com]

[www.rodbuilding.org]

And heres a way to add the Top Roller

[www.rodbuilding.org]

[www.rodbuilding.org]



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/2013 04:52PM by Barry Thomas Sr.

I have been happy with these too at about $2.50 each

[www.leevalley.com]

OK wheels from scooters

This is my stand Not pretty but works very well And fully adjustable The top wheel can be moved up or down for large handles The two on the bottom can be adjustable One is stationary One has a wing nut and can be taken off and moved into another hole for wider blanks or handles
Now has a spring instead of the rubber band on the top wheel Also adjustable
The whole unit can be moved up or down to level for finishing also
[www.rodbuilding.org]

Bill - willierods.com

[www.rodbuilding.org]

These are my current rod rests. They use a piece of cutting board for a base. Then, a vertical bar for the mounts to attach. Then horizontal aluminum bars for the roller mounts. The rollers are skate board bearings with flat bottom O rings on the bearings to shield the rod.

Plain skate board bearings work very well as well. Just put a wrap of tape at each rod rest position on the blank, to prevent marking the blank.

The advantage of having the single skinny vertical mount on the back, is that you can work very close to, or under the rod rest when wrapping. This style rest is particularly useful when working near the tip of a fine tipped rod that bends easily.

Be safe
Roger

Or these for Small rollers

[www.vxb.com]

Check out the Photo Page for a LOT of ideas on home made wrappers Lots of ideas

Bill - willierods.com

Thanks for all the suggestions. A lot to consider. Wish i could do metalworking.