Hello fellow rod builders,

A customer has given me a shimano slx that needs a new guide on it and I've been having some difficulty trying to match the thread color. I tried a few of the blue fuji threads (I bought NOCP so that could have been my mistake there) and they're not quite as dark as the thread wraps on the rod are. The top thread in the picture is #008 Dark blue and the bottom is #009 Royal Blue. As you can tell from the picture (see link), they're not quite the same and I think it would look a bit off if I used either one of those colors.

Have anyone of you had to try and match this color of thread before? If so, what did you use?

Also, if I were to purchase the regular nylon thread, do you think it would significantly darken (to the same darkness as the wrap on the rod) when I apply my thread wrap epoxy?

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Thank you

I use Fuji thread for most of my wraps, and I know it will become significantly darker after epoxy is applied without using CP. Do a short test wrap on the rod after removing the damaged guide to see how it compares. It it’s a double foot guide, only remove the wrap on one foot, so you have a side by side comparison.

I have used the 018 Navy Blue NOCP. It is definitely closer than 009 or 008 but I think 018 probably still a bit too vibrant. It is always hard to judge lighting in photos.

A dark blue regular nylon thread without Cp should be very close.
Norm

Have you tried to get info from Shimano?

Ray and Norm - I bet you're right with a nylon navy blue thread. I think I'll give that a go! Thank you!

Phil - I honestly figured they'd never get back to me and that one of you guys have probably ran across this same color before. I did reach out to them anyways so we'll see what they say.

I can see very little difference between the 2 sample wraps shown, however I think the top color in regular nylon and no CP would be very close to what you want. Get a few colors and test them.