I've read a lot about builders preferences on furrell wraps. Some wrap to match the wrap size of nearby guides and I've seen some say to wrap as far up as the lower section fits into the upper section. While looking at a factory TFO 10' 7wt 4 piece rod this last weekend I noticed there were no furrell wraps at all. Only an alignment dot with finisnh around the blank. Do you think it is a failure waiting to happen? I havent checked many of their rods, maybe this one slipped by or is this common on that rod?

Back 5-10 years ago and farther back, ferules needed to be wrapped or you ran the risk of splitting the blank at the ferule. Now in 2011 Most modern day Graphite blanks are made with a spiral (some call it helix coil) type scrim that goes around the blank eliminating the need for any ferule wrap what so ever. Personally I do a ferule wrap even though one is not needed just because I think it makes the rod look more "finished". So basically how you want to do it is entirely up to you.

Steve

I wrap the ferrule on every rod; gives a more finished look as previousle mentioned. I generally use the rule- minimum length is at least twice the diameter of the female ferrule.

I wrap them, too. 1/2" each on most rods.

I wrap them to but the size depends of what kind of rod i am building and the kind of decoration i am applying.
Anything that you do its ok. You are building a custom rod not something rigid with severe rules. You only have to worry about performance. Don't do anything that can prejudice the rod performance. The rest its all allowed,

Abraço

Nuno

What Nuno said !

GWP, Do you think they may have used white silk to wrap with? You wouldn't be able to tell there was anything there.

Definately no thread. The bead of epoxy is barely if at all wider than the the cheap hobby brushes to apply finish with.
I believe it is there only to cover the alignment dot.