I haven't been able to buy a nice power wrapper yet, and that would probebly solve this issue, but here goes.

I run the thread from the spool that is in a cup on the floor, under my leg for tension then on to the blank. This process works well for me until....

On a long wrap the thread twists upon itself and then a knot comes up under my leg, this causes two issuews, one it changes the look of the thread and the tension goes away after it comes out from under my leg.

I use Gudebrod.

What do I have to do to get rid of this issue?

I do untwist the spool at the end of each wrap.

Thanx

Paul O

you can get a thread tensioner from janns netcraft for about $10.00. that should take care of your problem.

Paul

When I started building rods, in the 1970's, I built all my own equipment. The best thing I could come up with to tension the thread was to run it through a hardback book. I would fold a piece of typing paper and insert it into the book and run the thread through that. The paper would protect the pages. The book would lay flat on my work table. How deep in the book you run the thread, changes the tension. Middle of chapter one or two, light tension, chapter eighteen, too much tension. The spool of thread lay on it's side and unraveled against the book. No twist. It worked for me, for years.

Bill Doherty

Amen to Bill, I feel sure some old timers did it this way. I started will books just to see if rod building and I were met for each other.
It did catch on as a hobby. I turned all my rods by hand for hours until I made enough to buy used power wrapper a dryer etc. That was over 16 years ago. It can grow into a very rewarding job, business or hobby.
Good luck to all starting this venture.

Paul,
I saw dircetions for making an inexpensive simple wrapper with tensioning device at this website:

[www.steelheader.net]

There was also an article in a RodCrafters Journal on making a very nice tensioning device from miscellaneous items you an get at Wal-Mart. Click on Clements Tackle on the left and follow the links to RodCrafter. I am sure there is a way to get the back issue.
Jim

I use to use a thread bobbin that fly tyers use before I got my lathe. The only time the thread twists is when I let the bobbin hang off the blank as I add another colored thread. You can have one for each color thread you are working with too.

Check out:
[www.distantwaters.com]

I had used all the above before getting my own power wraper. In Dale Clemens book Fiberglass Rod Building. He had many hints on how to make inexpensive rod building tools and equement
Good Luck Bob.... PS - I have been building and repairing rod for well over 25 years

I just built my own wrapping stands w/ tensioner. I used a thru bolt the diameter of the spool hole, an oversized fender washer-threadspool-another washer-small spring-another washer-wing nut. in that order. it works great. Is very adjustable and cost about $2