Decided to try to wrap some guides while spending some time with the wife. In the living room I took the bolt and wing nut and washers from the Batson hand wrapper I got and stuck them into the side of a small box. With the box at my feet I pulled the thread up and over the blank and started wrapping.

I still struggle a bit to get traction right away, but once I did it was what felt like a much smoother, more comfortable, more consistent wrap - especially getting closer and closer to the tip. In the wrapper the thinner part of the blank gets very uncomfortable to turn and more difficult to control, but by hand it was much easier.

The only issue was handling tie offs because I don't have a free hand to set up a pull through. I managed, but it got a little wonky at that part. And a little bit of adjusting the butt because I didn't set up anything to keep it in place. But overall it seemed so much easier to prevent overlaps - but when they did happen it was so much quicker and easier to back off a smidge and correct.

I got like 4 wraps done in the time it had been taking me to do one. Sure I'm always a little better than I was last time being so new, but I really think this was just a better way for me. I think part of the issue with the hand wrapper is adjusting the angle of the thread - I fiddle with the angle and the tension trying to find the balance often - but holding in hand I can wiggle and slide the blank left and right as well as quick tension adjustments by moving back and forth. I felt like I even had to pack less once I got in a rhythm, just rolled on tight. No fancy technology needed, just the old school hand wrapping still works well.

Similar to the way I wrap. I have the thread tensioner on my work bench in front of me, with the thread coming over the top of the blank while turning the rod towards me. You can put a couple of folding chairs to either side of you and use the chair backs as rod supports.
Norm