I'm a new builder who stumbled on this site a month or so ago. I'm rebuilding 2 Loomis IMX rods that I broke last year, and am using blanks Loomis sent me under warranty. Things are going very well and I'm almost ready to epoxy, but decided to add 4 wrap trimming to each guide. The winding check and lower guides were no problem, but I'm struggling on the upper guides and rod tip.

In short, I'm not able to maintain consistent tension because of how much the rod tip flexes under thread tension. When I tighten up the tension the tip flexes and then the rod spins in the wrapper and the thread unwinds. But when I loosen the tension the wraps unwind all on their own. I can't seem to find any happy middle ground, and almost need some way of "Locking" the rod in the wrapper. I've read the posts that are pinned at the top of each forum, but nothing addresses the finer points of wrapping the last few guides and rod tip. Any suggestions?

EG

What kind of wrapper are you using? Homemade, wood, power wrapper. I use a home made wooden wrapper. I took dowels and drilled holes into my up rights for the dowels...I then use my wifes hair rubber bands. the cloth nylon ones...they give enough tension to keep the rod from spinning in the wrapper.

It's a homemade wrapper, similar to the typical store-bought model. Can you post a pic of how you've aligned the dowels and the hair band? Sounds like a good idea.

EG

Your wrapper is probably made of wood. I make a loop of fabric and put a rubber band on each end. Then I put the fabric part over the blank and hook the rubber band on two push pins. Keep the end of the blank as close to the upright to allow you to work but keep blank flex to a minimum. I always do the tip top first as it's, to me, the most frustrating. Have done it as many as five times!

Tip tops are the trickiest part of rod wrapping. I move my thread tensioner outside the the uprights, and hold the tip top in one hand while controlling the wrap with the other. This is one time when 3 hands are almost a necessity. It takes a little practice, but eventually you'll get the knack of holding the tip fairly stationary while you wind. I also leave the tag end very long, so I can tighten the wrap manually before I let it the tension off.

First of all I never bother with wrapping the tip top guide. It just adds weight and at the spot where it does the most harm. I never use a wrapper for any of my guides I just run the thread through a book for tension and hold the blank in my hand. Works for me.

I also use the push pins, but I just loop rubber bands around the blank and hook them over the push pins. It holds the blank from spinning and are easy to release.

I always put a trim wrap on the tip top. I know its not necessary, but it looks good.

You can skip the wrap on the tip with your own personal rods, but if you skip it on someone else's rod (wether customer,friend, WIFE, or donation) people will think yopu forgot to do it. Most people think that a rod does not look "finished" with out it.

Rubber bands and thumbtacks. I think I can swing that. And off I go!

Thanks folks!

EG

PS - I'll post some pics in a few days.