There are several brands of thread out there and I was wondering what you guys opinions were on brands.
Thanks

Hey dtw... I hope it doesn't seem that I'm hijacking your thread - not my intention. Your question got me to researching and I noticed something that I hadn't before. I use the 100 yard spools of Gudebrod and pay about $2.30 per spool of regular nylon and $3.70 for metallics. I've been thinking of trying some Madeira because of colors that Gude doesn't offer.
In the MudHole catalog, I see Madeira spools in 1,100 yard size for $3.85. Thinking it a misprint, I checked the website. Sure enough, it reads the same! Hmmmm...
Okay. So, Gudebrod is Nylon and Madeira is polyester. But - 11 x the amount of thread for less than $1 more??
Whassup with that?

Not a misprint. Madeira looks great but you MUST use CP with it. It is an embroidery thread and has silicone on it. The silicone will cause fisheyes in your finish. I'm sure most already know this but...

Lane

Thanks, Lane. B b b but... if Madeira has 'additives', should it not be more expensive? I can grasp the concept of a product developed for a particular application as is the case with Gudebrod thread but, Madeira is also heavily marketed to rod builders at approx 10% of the cost. Perhaps the Madeira has a broader market base = more volume of sales = lower price?
I don't mind using CP if I want a thread to retain something close to the color I bought on the spool. I just don't get the price differance.

I have been using Maderia for about a year now. NO problems. Just use CP and that the CP will darken it about 1/2 a shade.

Robert, I think you figured it out. Rod builders are a small market. We all know that the more they make the less they can sell it for. Gudebrod almost quit makeing rod thread not long ago.

Mike

Robert, You are right in your thinking. Madeira is one of the largest embroidery thread manufacturers in the world. Think of all the patches on police, military, EMS, etc uniforms. All the shirt companies that put company logos and names on shirts use this stuff. I'd be willing to bet that just last year more thread was used in the embroidery world than has every been wrapped on rods.

Lane

Ok, back to your question . I use Gudebrod, Sulky, Maderia, silk and metallic threads.

Pros and Cons:
Gudebrod: # 1 selection for NCP thread.
Con: Expensive for the amount you get. Not as many options as the embroidery threads.
Pro: No CP necessary to avoid fish eye. It can be purchased as an NCP thread. Saves steps.

Maderia (embroidery thread):
Cons: Need to CP or varnish the wraps to avoid fish eye, due to the silicon in it. I don't use their metallics, don't seem to hold up well while wrapping. No CP will drastically change some colors.
Pros: Inexpensive. Thread selection is huge. Easy to find at sewing stores.

Sulky (another embroidery thread):
Cons: Haven't found any...yet. I don't recall the need to put CP or varnish on the wraps to avoid fish eye...yet. No CP will drastically change some colors. Orange turned to a dark olive.
Pros: Inexpensive. Thread selection is huge. Easy to find at sewing stores.

Silk:
Cons: Expensive. More difficult to work with. Doesn't stretch. Need to pack it more often while wrapping. Not as big a selection.
Pros: Creates beautiful translucent wraps when no CP is used. Fuzzies and tag ends can be burned off with an alcohol flame (or any flame that doesn't create soot). Persall's Gossamer silk extremely fine, difficult to work with. Beautiful very fine low profile wraps. Good for trim wraps. Use it for the majority of my bamboo builds.

Pac Bay:
I don't use it, my supplier mainly stocks Gudebrod. What I have used is comparable to Gudebrod. Don't think it is as expensive as Gudebrod.

Metallics:
Cons: No matter who makes them they are satan in thread form . They will come undone the second you turn your back. Secure them well and CP, varnish, or super glue them in place as soon as you finish the wrap.
Pros: They can really complete the rod. With all the colors it is easy to find one that will set off a rod. Saw some candy apple wraps accented with red metallic that looked great.

The embroidery threads don't seem to burnish as well as the Gudebrod or silk. Then there is the evil child, metallic. Try to burnish it too much and it will come loose or the metallic tinsel will separate from its thread.

All this is just personal opinion.

Pete

Robert, don't mind at all this turn into an informative thread ans I appreciate your input, thanks everybody.

Thx, dtw. I learned a thing or three, too!
Pete's post was very good. Now we know who to argue with! Cool beans!

Robert nothing to argue with here Arguing with me, about rod building, is like fighting an unarmed man . I do like to poke hijackers, with a stick, since I am probably one of the biggest post hijackers around .

Hope nobody thought I was serious with my smart a-- start to my post. That's just me.

Pete

You're unarmed?? I would recommend a .45.