Hi, just wondering what the possibilities are on a using a transparent wrap on a saltwater rod rated 30 to 50 lbs. I'm not sure the strength of silk to nylon. If I recall correctly, the tensile strength of silk is very high. I'd like to (maybe) use it on a butt guide that will have a cross wrap as an underwrap, so the only thing hidden on the butt wrap will be the guide feet on the bottom of the rod. I've read the article in Rodmaker on guide stress, and it seems like the butt guide doesn't get much stress on it. So maybe this would work.

In addition, the guides are black, so I would need to paint the feet after filing them down and prepping them. I was thinking enamel model paint. Any ideas here?

Randy,
Rather than using invisible thread - how about using thread without CP, so that when coated is identically the same color as the blank?

The translucent look that you get with this process works very well and you have essentially invisible thread with excellent strength.

Good luck

I considered using white with no CP, but I read that the only way to get a true transparency is with undyed natural silk.

Hello Randy.

I use white no CP all the time.

Do a 1" wrap on something the color of your blank and see if you like it.


Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

The natural threads like silk, absorb more finish and become more transparent than nylon which absorbs about 15%.

I guess I wasn't very clear.

1. I was mainly wondering if the strength of silk was adequate for a butt guide on a heavy rod.

2. The blank will never show through, because this would go over a closed cross wrap.

Randy,

I have never used heavier silk thread, but when wrapping a split bamboo rod, I was very frustrated at the low breaking strength of the silk (size 50) I must have broken the thread a dozen times on that one rod alone. I have used polyester, cotton and nylon threads, and in my opinion, they were stronger, I have never had them break in mid-wrap. You do however need to pay attention to the stretch factor, as any very stretchy thread will compound the pressure on the blank. I have found the pro Wrap threads from American Tackle to be highly satisfactory, my next best choice to Gudebrod (which no longer exists...)

That being said, many different threads will become translucent without a color preserver. One of the coolest effects I have seen is a white metallic Pro Wrap thread, whose base white thread disappears and only the sparkly prismatic colors from the Mylar over-wrap are visible. Really adds another dimension to the wrap!!

Richard Bowers Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> One of the coolest effects I have seen is a white
> metallic Pro Wrap thread, whose base white thread
> disappears and only the sparkly prismatic colors
> from the Mylar over-wrap are visible. Really adds
> another dimension to the wrap!!

I have actually done the exact same thing with the same white metallic thread. By mistake actually, but cool nonetheless. The only thing I didn't care for was the fact you could see the tag ends of the inlays beneath, as it was an unplanned effect. It was on one I built for my daughter.

I've caught fish over 100 lbs. many, many times on silk thread wrapped guides and others here have also. My guess, as it's a prototype blank from the early 80's is my rod is around 30 lb. class, and wrapped with Fuji MNSG guides.

Silk is stronger than nylon if the same diameter, if concerned you could try a double layer of silk.

Thanks Phil. I just thought of something. Can I test it out by just wrapping and soaking it with water? Or would that not be a true test?

Not sure water will give the same effect, and won't it also soak the underwraps?

I will epoxy the cross wrap prior to wrapping the guide. I find it easier and I've done it in the past. I don't see any down side. I won't likely be casting this rod, and am not concerned with the extra miligrams of weight. It will be used for trolling bait behind a kayak or letting live bait swim freely on a baitrunner reel. I do this for normal underwraps as well. Its just so much easier (to me) to put at least a thin coat of finish on the underwrap. Especially for packing and reducing gaps.