I know if I do not use color preserve the thread will turn dark. but is it really just dark or more transparent? I would like a darker transparent look but want the thread to still retain the overall thread color. say I am using a medium blue. without color preserver will it turn dark blue, just dark, almost black ,or sort of transparent with a blue shade to it?

It will be better if you do several short wraps on a piece of scrap blank to know how it will look And then to see how some colors fade

Bill - willierods.com

You can see how it changes by wrapping and then wetting with DN Alcohol.
That will mimic the way it will look with finish.

Best wishes,
Ron Schneider
Schneider's Rod Shop
Mountain Home, Arkansas
[www.schneidersrods.com]
mtnron40@yahoo.com
870-424-3381

It depends on the color of your blank. Without CP, the thread will be translucent and allow the color of the blank to show behind the thread. You can adjust this some by starting with a lighter colored thread, which retains a little more of the thread color. The darker the thread color, the closer you will get to the color of the blank under the thread.

With CP, the thread will be slightly darker than on the spool, but it will not be translucent at all and will be a solid color.

As suggested, you just need to try a few shades with your blank to see if this is the look you want.

Terry

You will get some interesting outcomes if you use a metallic underwrap and nylon overwrap.
For instance, orange nylon over copper metallic has a redish color in the shade and an orange color in the bright sun.

I suggest you put down some wide bands of metallic colors and then overwrap with bands of various colors of nylon.

Don

Don Becker

Hi Edward,
You can also get some interesting results using madeira polyneon. You need to add a few bits of madeira thread to the finish mix. This will make the surface tension of the finish the same as madiera thread and prevents the fisheyes you would normally get when putting finish on madeira. The lighter colours will turn translucent while the darker ones remain unchanged. See my test from the past for an idea of what you will get.
[www.rodbuilding.org]
As has been said the colour of the blank will influence the colour obtained but the madeira polyneon 40 has a huge colour range with a lot of different colours possible using this technique.

ESFNEM Col
Port Kembla, NSW
Australia