Hello!

Can somebody tell me something about the "lockwrapping"?
What are the pros and cons of this method?
Is it really necessary or just a nice feature?


Many thanks,

Jan

The locking wrap is a security feature. It prevents the guide from being pulled out from the wrapping under any of those bizarre circumstances where the guide would face that kind of pressure.

If your rod is likely to get knocked about then it is pretty important.

Pros? Many Cons? None that I know of. The extra wraps don't add much weight.

You can read up on one kind by going to the library. C2

The only con is that they take a tad longer to do

I've over the years replaced or rewrapped many single foot guides that have become loose with time or were pulled out one way or another. But I have never done this on a guide that had been wrapped using a Forhan locking wrap, unless the guide was actually broken

Another con (at least for me) is that is more difficult to align the guides on the blank once I am done wrapping.

I don't use them. Not because I think there is anything wrong with them I just don't like the way it looks. I use single foot cermit and sics more than any other guide and I have never had a guide come out from under a wrap. I am not saying it can't be done just that I have never had that problem.

Granted, I am very careful with my rods because I put a lot into them in the way of turning and engraving but even on the plain jane rods I use as loaners for friends it has not been an issue.

That being said, If I needed a hair bit more thread and finish on the tip end to tune up the balance on a rod I may be tempted. :-)

Ray

I have never personally seen one of my guides pull out, but I saw one pull out on a rod that my buddy made for his wife. He has 3 kids and they all go out together so it could have taken a beating.

Edit: I should have said that I do not normally use locking wraps on bass & walleye spinning rods.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/12/2007 09:16AM by Chuck Mills.

I've had a few guides with locking wraps loosened up laterally (side to side) from being knocked around & tangled up in transport, but not pulled out.
I have broken 2 rods with SF guides with locking wraps, in both cases the guide below the break did not pull out, but the thread securing them actually broke. Actually the guide did slip out to a point, then the locking wraps broke. I dont' know if I'm explaining that clearly.

You wouldn't notice them unless you looked very, very closely. Most fishermen over the age of 40 or 45 would never suspect them without some strong magnification. We're talking about 3 extra thread winds on regular security wraps and about 5 on the Forhan wrap.

Rich developed his variety in order to keep bass fishermen from ripping the guides out when removing rods from rod lockers in bass boats.


..............

I believe it is also one of the extra features that seperates custom rods from production. Once you get good enough it takes only seconds longer than traditioanl wraps. Don't use a lot of tension and there is no issues adjusted guides after wrapping. Also don't worry about gaps while wrapping, you can burnish them after you are done. No real cons I can think of.

Spinning guides are less susceptible to pulling out but it does happen. I find them most useful on single foot wire snake guides. I've had these pull out several times until I started using this feature.

If you unhide your email, or send me one, I'll send you a tutorial I did to augment the library article. If done correctly, they actually look good on the rod and definitely a custom feature you don't get on a production rod.

Terry

I puta Forhan wrap on EVERY rod that I make with Single Foot guides. Takes less than a minute extra per guide and I prefer the way they look and work. I see no CON whatsoever to them. It's on more thing that a builder can do that makes their rods better.
I have no problem making minor adjustments to alignment after a Forhan wrap. If you can't adjust, they may be wrapped to tight.

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/12/2007 10:40AM by Mike Barkley.

I use the Forhan locking wrap on each and every single foot guide I wrap without an exception. It just stands to reason to do all I can to make the best, most durable, most efficient fishing tool/toy I can, since I build mostly ''plain vanilla'' fly & spinning rods. "Oh, it takes too long", to do what, the best you can??? If you're not building the best rod you know how to build, why bother?

If at first you don't succeed, go fishing, then try, try again.

Funny about the whole eye of the beholder thing. I use them on every rod that I build, primarily for the intended purpose of keeping the guide from pulling out, but I feel that they look way better. A SF guide without a locking wrap just looks unfinished to me.

When was the last time someone picked up a rod and inspected the guides close enough to notice wraps. Rodbuilder or fisherman? The only time people will notice is if the pictures are posted on the forums and someone makes a passing comment about the use of or lack of locking wraps. Outside of that nobody will notice or care.

I build saltwater rods that are used heavily and under extreme conditions and I would never think of not using a locking wraps. With the advent of locking wraps we are able to use single foot guides like the Fuji single foot boat guide for rods in the 60 lb class and they are holding up really well.

Like Mike and others, I use the Forhan wrap on EVERY single foot guide, spin and fly. "Seconds" someone mentioned above to add the Forhan and they're CORRECT! Very easy to do and it's became a standard practice for me.

Why would the guides be harder to move with the Forhan? They may be a TAD harder, but I dont have any trouble moving mine unless I have too much tension during the wrap.

DR

Since the first time I read the article in the library a few years ago I have been using the locking wrap. It is easy to do, quick and well worth it. I also have no trouble aligning the guides after word. I see no reason not to use it at all. Scott

If you've ever watched how a tournament basser treats their rods - you would never think to question putting the Forhan locking wrap on each and every single foot guide you install.

Being a bass fisherman, building for and dealing almost exclusively with bass fishermen. I would not think of sending out a rod with out them on it.
I have seen and repaired way too many other rods were the guides have pulled out not to.