Just started working with cane, and consequently with silk. I have not done much in the way of fancy threadwork, although what I have done with nylon has been fine, up to now.

I need some help on how to accomplish the delicate tipping wraps that you see on finer cane work - I am interested in adding that to my efforts. Any similarities to the technique used to add a few turns of a contrasting color to the middle of a wrap (alternating colors)?

Thanks in advance,

Sean

Sean,
For tipping, I do 3 turns of silk the same way as I do nylon, by making 3 turns around my index finger and the blank, then tucking the working end back thru. Got this method from Kirkman, who I think wrote it up in Rodmaker a few years back. If you can't find that old back issue etc, get back to me and I'll try to explain the method better.

Another difference with silk, besides being thinner and more delicate, is that it fuzzy's easier. For example, the sewing machine type thread tensioners, no matter how those washers are polished, that kind of friction is sure to cause fuzzies, even with the long-fibered kind of silk like Pearsalls.

Or if you're coming to the Guild conclave, a hundred other experts can show you all kinds of ways to do these things!

One other thing to keep in mind is that spar varnish turns the wrap translucent and darkens your colors. I learned this the hard way by using medium brown silk on a flamed blank tipped with three turns of black. Result: The darker tipping disappeared – the whole blamed wrap went dark. Lesson learned. Polyurethane will turn the wraps semi-translucent, I understand, to retain the colors (somewhat). I believe that a coat of lacquer is used as a color preserver to retain the silk thread color in sort of a what-you-see-is-what-you-get situation. Russ Gooding had an excellent article in RodMaker on this subject, issue before last.
Clyde

I use Pearsall's Gossamer silk for tipping. The stuff is incredibly thin in diameter and comes in a variety of colors. 4 turns of this looks like 2 of size A. Goldenwitch carries it, among others:

www.goldenwitch.com

--Rich