Hello
I am new here and I was wondering where I could find some plans for a manual rod wrapper ?
Thank You

Take a look on the photo page here and use the search in the tools and misc. category to find a variety of home built wrappers. That should at least get you some ideas.

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Look at the Commercial Manual Pieces and Mod Your Own

The tensioner system is my biggest concern I have seen a few different types and I am unsure what is best.7r

Avoid tensioners which squeeze the thread in favor of squeezing the spool. You do not want to entice more thread fuzzies than will already be encountered.

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

Mousetrap tensioner is cheap and works well for me!

Just remember that when you "squeeze" the spool instead of the thread, tension will automatically increase as the amount of thread on the spool diminishes.

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The N eptune thread tensioner from All American Guides to the left produces no fuzzies and stays the same tension. Works only on hand wrappers though. Tension is adjusted by placing small pieces of paper between two magnets. Mine is 10 years old I guess and still works great.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/10/2016 12:29PM by Tom Kirkman.

Thanks for all of your suggestions. I hope to start building this before too long but I welcome any tips or trick that may be useful.

I use magnets that are in the "repel " position that push the spool against a stop, with one is pushed against the arm that holds the spools .It's easily adjustable & there is no friction to overcome the resistance to turn. I did try the magnets that Spencer uses & found them difficult to use so I didn't persevere with them .As the thread doesn't come in contact with anything other than the guides that direct the thread path & as Spencer said "they work for me".

Regards Baz

Bundeena
NSW Australia

I have used the same - squeeze the thread between two spring loaded disks every since I have started building rods.

I do NOT use the tension disks for any metallic thread. i only use metallic thread for short trim wraps so no big deal.

Millions and millions of sewing machines around the world use the squeeze the thread between two spring loaded disks and have essentially 0 issues with either the tension device or the thread.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Picture of the thread tensioner. The spring loaded disks are mounted at the end of a 10-12 inch piece of wood. The other end of the wood is clamped between two right angle brackets.
The tensioner is mounted on a piece of nylon cutting board for easy movement on my rod bench. The tension device simply rests against the back of the wrapper base and is moved along as a guide is wound.

Simple, reliable and fool proof.

Be safe