Has anyone used the prizm tape under the guides. I talked with a builder at the rod show who was displaying some rods he had done with the tape and it looked really good. I wrapped a rod with it and the edges are curling bad. It's really beautiful and I'd like to use it. I tried a little five min epoxy to try to fix it but this didn't work at all. I tried both color preserver and super glue on the seam but it still curls. I am frustrated because it looks really good but I can't use it like it is. I wish I had asked the builder more questions at the time. Does anybody remember who he was. His booth was just to the right when you came into the show. He had several rods on display and didn't seem to be selling anything other than maybe the rods he had. Thanks for any info.

Try applying it and then wrap thread over the top like a guide wrap. Then gently warm it up with a hair dryer. Don't cook it, just warm the adhesive a bit, then set it aside to cool. Once cooled, unwrap the thread, remove any adhesive that might have squeezed out from under the tape, and apply some color preserver making sure the edges get covered. Then wrap your guide wrap thread up over the edges of the tape covering them. In this way only the short end of the tape is left exposed. if it's sealed with CP, it shouldn't get lifted by the epoxy applied over the CP.

I haven't actually tried what he does yet, but it seems to me that if you treat the tape like you would applying sheet abalone it should turn out fine. The problem I foresee is the overabundance of adhesive on the back of the tape for this type of application. Maybe there is a source for the raw tapes without the adhesive and backing paper applied; I don't know of any or even if that would makes things better or worse. Just an idea.

That was Ken Preston's booth.

Email Ken and see how he does it

Bill - willierods.com

Thanks all for your ideas and Ken's name. I'll try to get up with him. I wrapped a few pieces of tape and then wrapped some masking tape around it to hold it down. I am thinking after a few days it will get set in place and stay. I will see what Ken says because his looked really good and I know whatever he is doing works. Thanks again.

This is what I passed on (plus a little more) ; put the tape on (do not stretch it); put on a coat of Sally Hansen's Hard as Nails (clear nail polish); allow to dry; wrap guide & apply epoxy. If you want or need to you can apply color preserver over the Sally Hansen and then epoxy. The tape can overlap itself and can extend under the guide foot - as if it were an under wrap.

Thanks everyone for helping me get in touch with Ken. Thank you Ken for the reply and email. I think I can make this work now.

i somehow managed to miss Ken's booth at the show. Sorry because the use of the tape sounds interesting. What width tape are you using? I find some 1/2 inch on the inter-net but nothing thinner. Just wondering if rod taper causes a problem.

The tape is in a 25' roll 1" wide. An @#$%& seller called paperstreetplastics sells it. I think he calls it prism hoop tape. It comes in many different colors. I think it looks.really nice. Gives the rod a different look. I am using it on four king mackerel live bait rods I am re-doing. I'm just an amateur but I think it will look really good when done.

here is one place ( sure there are others ) for tapes
[www.rodbuilding.org]

Bill - willierods.com