Hi folks. Happy New Year. I am going to do a 6'6" 3wt fiberglass for my son, The blank is translucent (white) glass and he wants black trim. I am tossing around doing transparent or translucent wraps using black silk. Will the wraps be a see-thru black? Or a translucent with depth? Or just a bad idea! Any thoughts (or pictures)?

Dale Thompson
Small-time fly rod builder

I don't think you're going to like the look. While most "blacks" are actually either a deep red or blue, even the white glass is not going to do much for the black. Try some test wraps with deep reds, greens, & blue. It will be just as dramatic contrast from wrap to blank and you will see some translucence, especially so for chrome guide feet.

also do the test with black,it may please you.

I agree with Donald. Typically the "Black" threads, either silk or nylon just don't look all that great, unless they are on a "dark blank", like Black or Natural Carbon. Plus I would do some test wraps like he said.

One dark color you might want to try the Anglers Workshop brand of Deep Plum Silk, that color goes to an almost black when color preserver is not used with either 2 Part Epoxy Finishes or Spar, and you'll be able to see the guide feet thru the finished wrap.

Being that it is a "white" glass blank, you might just want to do Black Trim Bands with another color for the main guide wraps. Example, Natural Silk for main wraps (that will go transparent) and then add a Black Trim Band. Or use a Light Olive Silk with the Black Trim, that combo is very popular with the customers who buy "White" Fiberglass builds from me.

If you want to email me via this forum, I'll send you a link to my site where there are pictures of different thread colors on white glass.