Dennis,
A lot of folks use razor blades to cut their wrapping thread. An issue with a razor blade is that as you try to cut close to the wraps, you may nick one of your wraps and have to redo the entire wrap.
As a result, folks tend to err on the side of a little longer cut to avoid nicking the guide wraps.
An alternative to a razor blade is a new sharp pair of micro tipped Dr. Slick fly tying scissors.
For example:
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When you use the scissors, pull your thread tag as tight as possible. Then, bring the scissors down tight to the thread wraps and snip the thread.
The typical nylon wrapping thread stretches. So, by holding the thread end taunt and then, holding the tip of the scissors as close as possible to the thread wraps, when the thread is cut and resumes its normal length, in many cases the tag end will actually disappear under the first couple of threads on your guide wrap.
Because you are using scissors and not a razor blade, you can hold the scissor tip tight to the thread wraps and have zero chance of nicking a finished thread wrap.
Give the scissors a try, and I suspect that you will never go back.
Over the years, I have built many many rods. I generally sharpen the scissors about once a year, or less and I am still using the same pair of scissors that I purchased so many years ago when I first started building. fishing rods.
I was taking a rod building class from an experienced builder who wrapped rods every day. It was he who recommended the Dr. Slick fly tying scissors as it was the same one that he had also used for many years.
In two words. They work
