Its been about 10 years since I last built and wrapped rods. I have lately done 3 more and noticed when I bury the tag ends using a loop of thread and pulling under 4-5 threads at the end of the wrap that the thread is pretty pronounced and shows a bump. Looking at my older rods I do not see these bumps in the thread wraps. Even at the beginning of the wrap where I bury the tag end I see the bump from the thread underneath.

What did I do before that I am missing this time?

Thanks Rick

Rick,
When you pull the thread through, be sure to use considerable tension. The tension will tend to thin the thread a bit and make it slightly smaller in diameter.
Also, when wrapping, I use a power wrapper. When I finish a wrap, I use my burnishing tool to flatten and level the thread. I do this at high speed, so I imagine that I turn the rod several hundred times when burnishing.
I would imagine that burnishing makes the biggest difference.

I use a burnishing tool that is identical to this one:

[www.mudhole.com]

When first starting, I used craft sticks to burnish the thread, but there is an issue with using a wood stick because it can lose splinters into the thread when burnishing. These nylon tools are slick, don't shed material and do an excellent job.

Good luck

I tend to get the same result. Roger, when you say "use considerable tension" what do you mean exactly? When you cut the thread and put it through the loop and start to pull it tight to the wrap where do you apply tension? Or, are you talking about tension on the thread once it's pulled through, but just prior to cutting it?

Try this:

[www.youtube.com]

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

Matt,
When I say considerable tension, I am speaking of the tension that the tension device on your wrapper is putting on the thread for the full length of the thread wrap.

I tighten down the tension, so that I can just barely move the guide for its final alignment, if it is necessary to move it at all.

I want to have to use two thumbs, and two fingers to move the guide due to the tight tension. By doing this; I don't have an issue with a guide ever slipping on the blank.

Good luck

Roger, big guides or small thumbs? LOL

As with Rik I am also wrapping a rod for the first time in more than ten years and have also noticed the pronounced bump of the thread after trimming it off.
Now I will try burnishing the bumps a little more as advised.

Thanks also for the link to the video, its certainly a new step forward on the 'how to' of wrap finishing.

I use a surgical scalpel that has disposable blades instead of a razor blade but both cut equally well.

Phil,
All guides are wrapped with the same tension. i.e. as tight as possible to be able to barely able to move the guide for final adjustment.