I’m planning on building a few Haldin glass rods… what are the best silk threads for gaining a crystal clear result under epoxy?
I’ve noticed that between YLI, Kimono, and Hitena, that these can come in varying sizes (thickness). Should I need to be worried about strength the thinner I go when wrapping guides? These are for a pair of 8-wt. rods.

All 3 are quality brands. YLI in Natural, has given me the best results when I am looking for the thread to become clear, transparent look.

I would recommend that you buy each brand and do some test wraps on your blanks. Put the test wraps where your grip will go, easy enough to remove once you find which thread gives you the look you are after.

Just to add, most silk comes in 50wt, 100wt, and A. 50wt is a tad bit smaller in diameter than A, 100wt is smaller than 50. All will be plenty strong enough for guide wraps on a fly rod.

I typically stick with A and 50wt for most of my work and use the 100wt for tipping.

What Bill wrote regarding YLI and the Natural color, which used to be color #212. Do not confuse Natural with White. White is dyed white and will not work.

Definitely do test wraps.

By the way, my formula for the first epoxy application for clear wraps is 3 ml of ThreadMaster Lite resin and 3 ml of ThreadMaster Lite Hardener mixed for 3 minutes, then add 3 ml of acetone and mix for 2 minutes.

On my last build, I used

Tight Lies and frisky fish

RJF

On my last build, I used Gen 4 epoxy. light, and Kimono Superior thread, 100 weight, natural white. It gave me very nice transparent thread wraps, with no bubbles. Simply wrap. taking care that your wraps lay perfectly, with no crossed threads, and not too tight, burnish, and coat. Make sure to use equal parts gen 4 resin, and hardener, and mix for 5 to eight minutes. Wit 8 plus hours before applyin the2nd coat. Be sure to completely saturate thread wraps to get complete transparency.

Tight Lies and frisky fish

RJF

I like Hitenia natural and Gen 4 light build.