Other than speed is there any benefit an individual rod builder realizes from using a power rod wrapper?

I only build performance fly rods - hence short wraps.
So, I never used one. BUT - if I did - I think it would eliminate possibility of getting carpal tunnel syndrome.
Herb

i,m a hobby builder..i may have built six or seven rods this year but i did several rebuilds mostly trying different guide set ups, and wraps are short like Herb said..if someone gave me a powr wrapper, it would just sit there, besides i,m in no hurry and i don,t/won,t do surf rods..lol.

Phil,
For myself, it is about the ease of doing the build.
I have both hands free to do any work that I need to do while wrapping since my foot is turning the rod, via the foot pedal.
It is easy to add trim thread, while maintaining tension on the main thread with the wrapper.

I can start a wrap, get a phone call, stop in the middle of a wrap and pick up the wrap after the call with no change in tension, or thread placement.

Of course, if one builds long heavy rods with very long butt wraps, it is nice to be able to do a 5 inch butt wrap in about 4 seconds with the pedal to the metal for these long wraps at high speed.

---------------------
One of the best uses for the power wrapper, however, is the use of the wrapper when applying finish. With the wrapper, I can spin the rod in either direction at any speed from 1 rpm up to a few hundred rpm if needed. I normally apply finish at about 50-60 rpm, but stop on a dime for an all stop to do the tunnels and the back side of the guide foot. Then, back on the pedal to get the rest of the finish on the rod with no runs spills or sags. If I don't have another rod going back on the wrapper, I just slow the wrapper down to about 8 rpm for an overnight drying cycle, without ever having to move the rod from the wrapper.

----------------------
Many years ago, when I was first introduced to rod building I wrapped my very first rod by hand. After the rod was finished, I said to myself --- "I will never wrap another rod by hand" and I never have. I said to myself that since I have an engineering background and I enjoy designing and building things such that a wrapper was in my wheel house. The search was on for the best possible wrapper possible.

Of course, I enjoy designing and building the machines as much as I enjoy building rods.

Best wishes.

I use a base for a power wrapper without a motor, better than my old cobbled hand wrapper. Now and then for long wraps like Roger says it would be nice to have powr. But for most of what I do, It does fine and I don't think I could keep up with a power wrapper for some of the stuff I do.

Good question!

i have used my power wrapper to shape and cut grips eva and cork

Power to the people. I don't make enough rods to warrant a power wrapper, but I sure like the look of the speed. [www.youtube.com]

The reason I ask is I find I can pack thread wraps tighter wrapping by hand than I have been able to pack them using a power wrapper. Is this unusual?

It's usual for me.

If you are going to use a power wrapper, you will need to learn how to use it. Once you do, you will be able to do tight wraps. I can actually wrap tighter with the power wrapper consistently. There is a learning curve and you will almost have to abandon your hand wrapper. A definite advantage to the power wrapper when applying epoxy. The power wrapper needs a station or a designated area but the hand wrapper can be moved to your favorite chair in front of the TV. There is a lot to be said for that mobility.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/19/2020 01:09PM by Lance Schreckenbach.

To answer your question yes there are other benefits realized by using a power wrapper, in addition to speed, the wrapper can produce more uniform wraps and can relieve stress on the users hands and increase production..

A power wrapper is no different than any other power tool, it was designed to lend itself to mass production by making the task faster, easier, efficient and offer an increased level of quality.

The decision own one is strictly an individual choice based on the users needs. A lot of factors may enter in the decision, the cost of the system or the number of rods one expects to build.

To the newbie you don't need a power wrapper to produce a quality rod.

From what I have seen they are awesome and any builder would benefit from owning one. However, I will probably not make more that a few rods per year. Employing a power wrapper would significantly increase the cost per rod for a long time. Yet, I am sure I will end up buying one. I like tools! I just started building a month ago and I am hooked. I am on my 4th build and one rebuild. I just order 2 lamiglas blanks from the Dec. 19th sale, so I have a few more to build.

Fishing is not a sport, it is an art.

Danny, you might be surprised. It used to be if you wanted to do any real turning you had to spend a lot of money. Now you can get something for $500 plus some additional items. However turning makes a mess and some would rather do it in a different place and use something made for the job. Think used wood or mini-metal lathe.

I use my power wrapper when I'm doing larger saltwater rods with under wraps or butt wraps. I wouldn't dream of using it for a fly rod, or even most fresh water rods. You need to count on at least 8 feet of full time dedicated counter space. That hand wrapper can be set up on the coffee table and you can wrap a rod while you watch a football game.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

I use my power wrapper to wrap 5' ultra lights and 13' spey rods. I rarely use the actual power option. When wrapping, I use it like a hand wrapper. I find the smoothness of the blanks rolling on the bearing supports very comfortable. I have 12' of base and can move the supports to the area of the softer blanks into position to prevent blank flex from interfering with wrapping. I really like being able to move the thread carriage the complete 12' of the base and never have to reposition the rod blank. When I wrap rods longer than 12' I can remove the butt section and wrap the rest of the rod. I use the power of the wrapper to shape grips. The mess created is easily cleaned up with a shop vac. I don't know anyone that has purchased a power wrapper and decided to not use it, sell it and go back to the old hand wrapper. The only time that I use my old wood hand wrapper is when I teach rod wrapping classes for our local TU. When we get close to the end of the class I will take the power wrapper to the class. There has been several students purchase one after seeing the advantages and ease that it provides. My opinion, If you can afford one get it.

My rod-wrapper consists of four ball-bearing rollers salvaged from a discarded sliding glass door that closed off a bathtub-shower. The outer rim of these rollers have a groove which kept the doors on the track. A neoprene roller can be stretched to fit snugly in this grove around the roller. Attaching the rollers side-by-side, overlapping, allows the blank to nestle in the "vees" created by the two sets of overlapping wheels. I turn the blank by hand using a fly-tying bobbin to hold and apply the thread. Not mass-production but it makes nice wrappings.