[Ben Dixon]

Decided that wrapping by hand in front of the TV is not for me so was looking for something to make whippings a little easier.

Was considering getting the Pac Bay wrapper from Guides & Blanks but was put off by the price relative to what it is in USA that and their "Highlands & Islands" delivery charge when shipping by Royal Mail so, I decided to make one.

Cobbled together with a junior hacksaw, some Tesco metal files and whatever I could find from Homebase & Inverurie Auto Parts that looked useful.  A bit rough around the edges but seems to work as planned 




Cheers

Ben

[Mike Barrio]

Cool ....

[Iain Cameron]

What role does the peanut butter play in all this? Is it better to go smooth or crunchy?

[Ben Dixon]

What role does the peanut butter play in all this? Is it better to go smooth or crunchy?

Crunchy, whole earth organic or nothing Iain 

[Mike Barrio]

I hope that's not going to get in the way of the kettle Ben

Cheers
Mike

[Rob Brownfield]

Have you made a "third leg"...you will need it when wrapping eyes near the end of the sections.

[Ben Dixon]

Have you made a "third leg"...you will need it when wrapping eyes near the end of the sections.

Yes Rob, three sections although for a 15' 3pc I think I need 4 legs or a much longer table 



Cheers

Ben

[Rob Brownfield]

Try doing a 2 piece  beachcaster with an 8 foot tip section!! Nightmare

[Ben Dixon]

Almost got tip section of 15' 3pc done......

Try doing a 2 piece  beachcaster with an 8 foot tip section!!

Err....  Bollox to that!

[Rob Brownfield]

Yip! The blank diameter alone means you use metres and metres of thread per ring on the butt/lower tip, especially as most rings are underwrapped.

[Graeme Inglis]

Hi Ben,
Looking at your rod wrapper and I'm wondering how you stop the nut on the thread holder 'winding up' as the thread rotates and increasing the tension?  That's the problem I have.

Graeme

[Ben Dixon]

Hi Ben,
Looking at your rod wrapper and I'm wondering how you stop the nut on the thread holder 'winding up' as the thread rotates and increasing the tension?  That's the problem I have.

Graeme

Hi Graeme,

I made some washers cut from the bottom of Orvis green fly tubs (polyethylene sheet) and covered them with sticky backed felt, there doesn't seem to be a problem with tightening up using these.  If you were getting tightening (I do on the right hand side with no washers) then you could lock off the wing nut (or whatever you use) against another nut.

Cheers

Ben

[Graeme Inglis]

Yeah I tried locking off the nut with another, wasn't too successful on the first version, second version is more like yours, but from what you say the plastic to reduce friction is the key.  My quest continues!

G

[Ben Dixon]

I got the sticky backed felt from Homebase, it's the stuff sold for putting on things to prevent scratches on surfaces.  Also used it for lining the V's that the blank sits in.

Cheers

Ben

[Derek Roxborough]

I used to make shake proof nuts by cutting a slot along a face ( not Across) cut into the thread and then nip the nut in a vice or tap it with a hammer, its very effective, easgach 1

[Graeme Inglis]

Well after a few try's I have got the tension sorted by taking a leaf out of Ben's book.  I have tensioning springs under the reels with nylon washers above and below with a domed nut locking off the top.

I also used a bit of broken rod with a couple of rubber 'O' rings to hold it in the correct position on the steel rod.
However it doesn't seem to have made a lot of difference.

The new one is on the right. 

Graeme

[Ben Dixon]

Graeme,

Wish I'd have thought of that with the broken bit of rod    Was a real pain drilling out that dowel without a vice or clamp, very nearly drilled my leg 

I've blown that pic up as much as I can and cannot see any gaps in the thread but it is difficult to get a good idea without having the rod in front of me, maybe worth getting one of the more experienced guys to look at the build.  I have not seen any other rods with similar thread therefore cannot make a comparison between your wraps and any others.  It looks as if you may be wrapping rather tight around the guides as the thread looks a little stretched over the feet but not on the blank, this is something you would not notice if using solid colour thread which is all I have personally ever used.  Can you move the guides at all once they are whipped on?

The other thing you could maybe do which might make life easier is grind or file the tops of the guide feet down a bit to reduce the height difference between the top of the foot and the blank, I didn't do this on the first rod I wrapped but have done it on all since. Makes wrapping easier and looks neater once finished.  You could also try using solid colour thread, I think that would just make the unevenness go away!

Cheers

Ben

[Graeme Inglis]

Hi Ben,
I personally think its down to that thread, well put it this way, I wont be using it again!  I have now re wrapped the worst ones but I'm calling it a day with this thread.  In saying that the jig is now working really well so looking forward to the next build.....but do I need another rod?

Using the section of broken rod just seemed the right thing especially since the fit was almost perfect.  The rubber 'O' rings make it easier to keep the thread in the right area without limiting the flexibility of the loop section.
Thanks for all your help. 

Graeme