Maybe ProWrap Merlot?

Norman, if you need some Gudbrod garnet, I can part with a big spool. Let me know if you want it.

Mick, for sure! I’ll email you. Thanks
Norm

I am less concerned with using other builder’s opinions of the different qualities of the available thread brands for my personal benefit as I am to, hopefully, provide a “base” for others to view and assist them in their own selection. Each brand / type has its own pros and cons which depends on how it is viewed by each individual builder and the effect they prefer / are seeking. A viewable “base” could be a huge benefit to many to avoid wasting money on trial-and-error. Just my feeble, hopefully not futile, attempt to help.
The replies thus far have been very enlightening (and appreciated) to that goal; hopefully others recognise the possible benefit to the rod building craft and will contribute as well.

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

Mark, I use regular nylon thread, with no CP. I bought CP with my initial purchase of rod building supplies, but have never used it on a build. I did some test wraps using it and thought it took away some of the shine when compared to the same color, without CP. No, the thread color didn't change, but it just didn't have that same shine. I've never tried the NCP thread. I just don't like the way it looks in the pictures on the various web sites.

I actually enjoy the color change of regular nylon thread once finish is applied. The only problem is that I have to buy several different shades of thread to experiment with. I have more than a few spools that I'll never use again because I didn't like their final color in a test wrap. And while I have seen it mentioned many times that wetting the thread with DA will show the color once finish is applied, I do not find that to be true at all. It will simply darken the thread, but it doesn't give the same translucency that finish does. At least not to my eyes.

And Michael Sutheimer, The wraps I did with the Pro Wrap Silver Smoke were fine out of the gate. It took a little more than a year before they started streaking. In the last year and a half, so about 4 years total, they look horrible. Some areas of them are almost completely white. I'll be redoing the rod this winter. The blank is a Quickline SJ782 , which has a gloss black painted finish. I am a little concerned about keeping the blank's finish intact when I scrape the old guide finish off. Thankfully the guides will be going back in the same locations they are at now, so I should be ok.

I replaced the guides on a Shimano Convergence crankbait rod that I have, that had the same type gloss black finish as the Quickline. And even though I was very careful scraping the old guide finish off, because the new guides weren't in the same locations at the old guides, you can clearly see where the old guides were.

Thanks, David.

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

David the color prowrap nylon you mentioned as fading sounded familiar, so I looked at a rod I built for my son in 12/2019 to check for issues. (also nylon with no CP applied, just finish). As it turned out the thread used was #813 silver shiner, and it showed no fading at this point, but I know it hasn't seen the exposure your rods have. So at this point my response is moot. lol However, I have uncovered a discrepancy. I believe Silver Smoke should be #822, and #831 should be Smokescreen. So I guess I'm saying I'm not sure which color you actually used. I just know it's not the one I used.

Lynn, I could say I need my prescription checked, but in actuality I just need to write the right name on the spools. lol You are absolutely right, 831 is Smoke Screen, and it is the color giving me the trouble. I actually have it on two rods. The rod I built on the Quickline blank, and my drop shot rod that is built on an NFC DS 6107 IM blank. The IM blank is a natural graphite finish and it is showing streaking as well. Tthey aren't as bad as those on the Quickline blank, but the drop shot rod is a couple of years newer. I'm pretty confident that they'll end up looking just as bad.

It really disappointing too, because I really loved the color charcoal it produced. I loved it so much I bought another spool of it shortly after building my drop shot rod. I really would like to know if it is something I did that caused the fading, but I can't think of anything I might have done to cause it. Other than brushing off any possible dust with a brush prior to applying finish, I don't wipe the wraps down with anything, so I can't see it being something I do.

Lets hope it was just a bad spool for whatever reason. I'm right there on your color likes. I could live with blk, wht, silver, and many variations of grey-bluish for the most part. That said, love red nylon without CP.

I prefer Fuji Ultra Poly for wrapping guides. I have absolutely no interest in thread art, so maybe something works better for people who appreciate that pursuit. I wasn’t really a fan of “god’s eyes” when they were in style in the 1970’s. I wouldn’t want to weigh down any of my rods with them a few decades later.

My favorite is Gudebrod. I am fortunate that I had a large inventory when they went out of business. I have tried many of the other brands, especially Prowrap, which I find not to have enough stretch..

Although the head-of-steam may be cooling, I appreciate the continued replies to build, small as it may be, a “thread base” from which others might benefit. Thanks to all contributing!!!

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.