I always have problems finishing the chevron wrap. I haven't found a technique that lets me cleanly wrap the multitude of threads in a nice smooth wrap. I invariably get spaces in the wrap or "bumps" in the finish. The approach I have been using is to start the tie down wrap then remove the tape. Cut the threads at an angle and complete the rap. But it never looks nice and clean when I'm done. I have seen many photos and they are always as clean and packed as a guide wrap. So what technique seems to work best for everyone. Probably the same technique for finishing a weave too I would imagine.

Thanks.

When finishing up a wrap I always double wrap the ends, cut off the threads, and then double wrap over the end of the threads. Always seem to work fine for me.

I think you'll get a flatter tie-off appearance if you cut the pattern threads a few each turn, rather than just cutting them all either square or at an angle. The idea is to prevent an "edge" from the sudden end of many threads, which you'll have if you cut them all at the same time and in the same place.

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I make multiple passes with the blade over the ends of the thread at a very low angle to the blank. Hard to describe but think of it as shaving the thread little by little. Have you ever seen a woman tease her hair? How each pass she gets a little bit of hair. Kinda like that, each pass I'm shaving a bit more off. That's the best analogy I can come up with, sorry! This spreads out the multiple little filaments in each thread and tapers them from the top layer to the bottom.

Also don't forget to kind of comb out or separate the threads. This helps eliminate bumps where the pattern crosses.

And on Michael'scomment, when you double wrap you can even treat it like a guide underwrap. Put trim bands at the ends of the wrap and then you can do an overwrap of a contrasting color.

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I used a white metallic with no cp, which is why you can see the tags of the trim bands on the second one (no epoxy yet on the first). Not what I was going for, but it's on the bottom and looks cool when viewed from the top. And my daughter loves it, so that's all that really matters.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/18/2016 10:58AM by Randy Weakley.

Ok,

I will give these excellent ideas all a try on my next rod. Many thanks.

Ok,

I will give these excellent ideas all a try on my next rod. Many thanks.

what I do is I put wraps over the end where I'm going to cut the threads even. If I use multi colors I leave that last one off then cut the threads then I take a piece of scotch tape and cut it to fit at the edge of the thread that is wrapped then cover the ends of the cut threads then wrap my last color over that to a smooth finish. Or if one color just do it before you cut your tie off thread

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