Has anyone experienced a "zebra" like look with Fuji thread? I just wrapped a rod where I was meticulous about packing and burnishing, the wraps looked great until I applied finish and then it started getting stripes. I took off the wraps and the same problem, I ended up having to wet burnish and that helped a bit but still isn't perfect like I am used to with ProWrap. I love their thread but am gun shy now to use it again, especially in a lighter color. As a point of reference the wraps were in a St. Croix SC5 green blank and the thread was medium green.

Any tips or tricks are very much appreciated.

I've used red and candy apple on PointBlanks with no apparent problem.

Did you use color preserver and if so, did you thin it?

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Tom - No color preserver and this was Ultra Poly thread. I did not thin the epoxy either.

Unless this was their colorfast thread, the look you mention is to be somewhat expected if you don't use CP.

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Tom - thanks. No haven't experienced this problem before and I do most of my rods without Colorfast thread. Is this something to be expected with Fuji thread or all makes? I really like the look of the translucent thread and would be bummer if I needed to start applying CP to avoid the zebra look.

Nate,
As the saying goes, "If you have a product and don't like the results of using that product, stop using the product."

Good luck

p.s.

You might try some test wraps on a junk blank in different colors with different spools of thread to see if you have possibly gotten a spool of defective thread. Stuff happens. Perhaps it is just one spool of thread that is not up to snuff.

By the way, when you say that you are getting a zebra look I take it that it means that the finished appearance is not uniform but gives a striped look of light and dark areas in the wrap?


Be safe

Tom is right. In our experiments every thread will show some degree of what you mention. It is usually related to a light color over a dark blank. Variations in packing (which are unavoidable) will absorb finish at different rates causing a color variation. Solution: Use CP on light colors, underwrap with white (or paint the area under the wrap white) or use a darker color. Wet burnishing can often (almost) eliminate the problem.

Sounds like regular nylon Where a size D packed well and CP usually keeps the color on lighter colors

Bill - willierods.com

Thanks Everyone.

Roger - yes it had the striped look. I took a leap of faith on the color given my success with the thread in the past, lesson learned...

Jim - I used the medium Green over the SCV green blank (darker green), I was a bit surprised but understand the logic behind dark blank and light thread.

Speaking of junk blanks, does anyone have some lying around? I typically build to order and dont have backstock and am actually looking for something I can use to extend a S5MLF 3-6".

Nate,
For junk blanks go over to your local good will or salvation army store.

You can often find rods for less than $1 at these locations.

Also, a lot of sporting goods stores have Charity - dump boxes for holding discarded rods. Speak to the manager of the store to ask for some of these blanks for use in tests.

Good luck

Nate, tell everyone you know and the people you build for to drop off their broken rods. Will be surprised how quickly your broken rod stash will increase. Had one guy give me 25 broken rods he gathered from his neighbors that fish. They really come in handy for all sorts of things. Might be able to pick some up local outdoors shops.
Norm

Thanks for the tips Roger and Norm.