Pretty basic question, but one I've been having some issues with. I'm using either double sided tape, or masking tape wound sticky side up and using that to fasten my threads to as I do a cross wrap. The problem I'm having is with a couple of threads coming unstuck as I progress thru the wrap, kind of frustrating to spot a thread from early in the wrap coming undone. Any advice on how to avoid, does anyone use any kind of tape or thread to secure the wraps as you go?

Thanks
John

You have to add more tape as you go. At some point you get enough thread on there and/or your fingers take some of the sticky off the tape and it's time for another band. I just use masking tape doubled back on itself. This effectively binds down what you're already wrapped and provides new "sticky" for subsequent threads.

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I lay down a layer of blue painters tape that will leave no residue on the handle or blank. Then I cut a piece of a transparent double stick material, made by Scotch that is ultra thin. Whenever I think I need a little more adhesion, I just put on another layer and peel off the backing. This keeps the area that you are trying to secure your thread to a minimum thickness without great big bulges.

Tom and Randolph, thanks for the info, that's similar to what I've been doing, just wasn't sure, maybe there was a better trick. Will just have to be more dilliegent about adding tape.
Thanks
John

Hello,

I use double-sided poster tape as it it seems to be very tacky yet leaves no residue.

Also, I will save a piece of the backing and place it between my thumb and the tape before pressing the threads into place.

This helps keeps oil and contamination from your skin off the tape, and helps it to stay sticky longer.

-chad

John,

The only other thing I can think of that hasn't been mentioned already is to build the tape on the blank in front of your wrap area, not behind the wrap area on the grip. Al lot of people seem to build up tape on the grip and as you spiral thread the rapid diameter change from the large grip area to the much smaller blank is a problem area, especially so when you have a compliant grip material like EVA.

For the first few years of doing wraps back in the late 70s and early 80s I started threads on the grip and this was always a problem. The first time I tried taping in front of the wrap I never went back. My current technique is a layer of paper towel, popsicle stick (split narrower if doing a really small blank), another layer of paper towel, and then masking tape spiraled reverse with tape out. When it begins losing it's stickiness, another layer of tape goes down.

When it comes time to cut it off, I cut through the thread and tape down to the popsicle stick in one clean easy cut.

My turn around area is right in front of the grip on the blank, I do not go up on to the grip to turn around.