Rod Building 101 - Wrapping Guides

now we will begin the wrapping process this will probably be the most time-consuming part of your rod build if you follow the basic instructions for starting and ending a wrap this process is not difficult to begin you must load the thread you intend to use for wrapping your guides into your wrapper for this we are using a hand wrapper with a spring tension on the spool holder to adjust your thread tension this hand wrapper also has a constant tension spring mounted to the top that allows you to reverse or unwrap several wraps of thread while still maintaining a constant tension on the thread attached to your rod you will then pass the thread through any guides or eyes that are intended to route the thread from the spool to the rod here we have two eye bolts then a loop at the end of the constant tension spring during the wrapping process we will refer to the thread running from the wrapper to your rod as you're running thread and to the piece of thread that is excess and will eventually be cut off as the tag end you begin the wrap by running thread over the rod blank at the point where you wish to begin your wrap then wrap it around the blank one time doing this to the side of the running thread in the direction that you're going to make your wrap if you are wrapping left to right and the tag end will be on the right side of the running thread next maintaining tension on the thread you push the running thread across the tag end on the blank creating an X with your finger holding this in place rotate the rod at least one revolution until you cross over the tag end which will secure the thread in place then continue wrapping over the tag end five or six times after you have wrapped over the tag in five or six times use a single edge razor blade to cut the remainder of the tag in be careful when doing this to avoid cutting any other threads other than the tag end it is best to lay the razor blade on its side close to where the thread is and hold the blade in place then pull the thread to the blade to cut it flush after removing the tag and continue wrapping up the guide foot until you reach about 1/8 of an inch before where you intend to end the wrap after removing the tag in continue wrapping up the guide foot until you reach about one eighth of an inch before where you intend to end the wrap generally you end the wrap at the point on the foot where the frame leaves the blank there is a little joint there where the guide frame has been stamped or bent when you get one eighth of an inch from this spot you will insert a pull through this is another piece of thread tied into a loop you can also use 10 to 12-pound mono to make a pull through lay the pull through on the back side of the rod blank opposite of the guide feet and continue wrapping to the end of the wrap at this point you will need to place your finger on the end of the wrap to maintain the tension and release the tension on the running thread then cut the running thread about two inches up from the rod you then take this thread and pass it through the loop of the pull through still maintaining the tension on the wrap grab the knot on the pull through and pull it under the wrap and out at the point where it was inserted this will pull the thread under six or eight threads and you will avoid having to make a knot now with a burnishing tool square up the ends of the wrap with a flat edge then with a rounded side of the burnishing tool lightly brush the threads back and forth this will flatten the threads and fill any small gapping that might have happened during the wrapping process from here you should proceed attaching one guide at a time and wrapping it until you have finished each guide a wrap at the tip top and then a wrap at the hook keeper if you have a split grip you may wish to make a small decorative wrap on the inside of each rear split rip piece

Channel: Mud Hole Custom Tackle, Inc.

Views: 1,372,285

Rating: 4.6847825 out of 5

Keywords: Custom, Fishing, Rod, Building, Lure, Making, Guide, Fly, Rodbuilding, DIY, howto, wrapper, handmade, 101

Id: zq3aK9zhyus

Length: 5min 5sec (305 seconds)

Published: Mon Apr 12 2010