Hi all, may I take this opportunity to thank you all for the wealth of information you have provided me up to now, much appreciated.

I am about to start my first rebuild on a Zziplex saltwater beach casting blank rated at I guess 6oz sinker weight. I plan to wrap the ferrules and then cover them with Japanese shrink wrap, in a similar fashion to another rod I use.

What size wrapping thread would be adequate for this purpose, A or D? It would be nice to keep the finished diameter to a minimum, but I'm worried grade A would not give the required strength.

Kind regards, Nick.

They may not need reinforcing. Check with Ziplex and see if they integrally reinforce them. They very well may, many do.

All you're trying to do is reduce the chance of a split-out at the edge. A thread would be strong enough, but D isn't going to increase diameter by any practical degree on a rod of that size. Do apply epoxy over the wrap.

.....................

Please forgive my ignorance, but what is Japanese shrink wrap, and what is the purpose.

It's a shrink wrap that is similar to the popular x-shrink aka x-flock. The jap shrink doesn't have the x pattern, all of it I've used is slightly thinner than most x-shrink. The jap shrink is my go to when the x pattern is not wanted and when quick grip is too heavy or thick for the task.

Greg Cudnik Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It's a shrink wrap that is similar to the popular
> x-shrink aka x-flock. The jap shrink doesn't have
> the x pattern, all of it I've used is slightly
> thinner than most x-shrink. The jap shrink is my
> go to when the x pattern is not wanted and when
> quick grip is too heavy or thick for the task.

A web search using Japanese shrink wrap brings zero results. Pray tell: where does one find this product. Thx, KD.

Ken Driedger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Greg Cudnik Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > It's a shrink wrap that is similar to the
> popular
> > x-shrink aka x-flock. The jap shrink doesn't
> have
> > the x pattern, all of it I've used is slightly
> > thinner than most x-shrink. The jap shrink is
> my
> > go to when the x pattern is not wanted and when
> > quick grip is too heavy or thick for the task.
>
> A web search using Japanese shrink wrap brings
> zero results. Pray tell: where does one find this
> product. Thx, KD.

[www.shop.century.gb.com]

Don Becker

Ken - This sounds like shrink tubing available from any large electrical wholesaler. The shrink tube can be
had in very small sizes from Radio Shack - have used it to cover soldered repairs on CNC machine wires
size 24 or so - up to covering welding cables dragging on concrete flooring 10 hrs. a day. Basically the
same as X Flocking without the pattern. I have used this on some rods I have used on Jettys for 25 Yrs or so
and have found it to be very durable.

Vinyl shrink tubing is usually used for electrical applications. It is durable, harder, and has a slick finish. Often you have to remove the ratings stamped on the tubing. Rubber shrink tubing is likely to be the tubing being sought.

Don Becker

Rubber is the tubing I am talking about - easily available on the East coast.