I have a lone spool of Pearsalls Naples silk thread that I was going to try using for the main wrap. I don't have any other silk thread, so I was wondering how it would look to use size A nylon for tipping. Would the nylon look "higher" than the silk after a couple coats of threadmaster lite? I can always try a test wrap on a scrap piece of blank, but just wondering if anyone has tried this. I know people go the other way (nylon for main, silk for tipping), but having seen anyone comment on this way before.

Thanks!

While I generally tip nylon with silk, the result of what you’re considering might be a uniquely appealing appearance. If you do finish out a test wrap, please share your results by posting pictures.

I have a rod drying in the basement right now that has silk wraps tipped with size A polyester (no difference in size with nylon). At best, I can barely tell if there is a raised area once the finish coat of epoxy is on--and this requires a close inspection with good lighting. With something like varnish, it might be more visible.

I should add, I used one coat of thinned Threadmaster Lite to make the silk go transparent, with a second coat for finishing.

I did it this way because I usually wrap with nylon/polyester, and have several colors already. But for this build, I decided to go with transparent wraps tipped in burgundy. I had burgundy polyester, but no burgundy silk.

Thanks for the advice guys. Penzzz, I've got some other builds in progress, so I don't know when I'll get to this project, but I'll post a photo when I do.

Probably you do this, but it's easy to forget. If building in series, finishing one and contemplating the next, that's a good time to do test wraps since your finishing product will be out anyway. A few wraps of the type/color/pattern considered on a scrap of rod will tell you exactly if the plan is to your liking. Do those test wraps--rod scraps are easy to come buy at any boat ramp or junk shop--before you apply finish the completed rod. Then finish its wraps, and with the left over, finish your test wraps.

Well, I did some test wraps and took some photos, sorry my phone does not like to zoom.



I was trying out some other colors too - that is sunburst nylon on the far right and orange nylon in the middle. But the wrap in question on the left. That is Naples silk in chestnut, tipped with 2 turns of nylon size A, medium brown. Like GlacierRambler, I couldn't tell the difference in height, if anything the nylon looked smaller to me. Maybe a difference would appear with more turns of trim. These are all just wetted with water.

Since I have you all here. What color wrap do you like on this Lami build? I'm not looking to match the reel seat necessarily, I just want to see what looks best. Personally, I'm liking the chestnut silk and brown nylon tipping, but the oranges are looking good too. If I went with one of the oranges, I could tip with the other orange, that I didn't use for the main wrap. Thoughts? Thanks!

All three look good; however, I agree that the chestnut-brown combination stands out.

That's beautiful, GlacierRambler.

Well sure., but then you wouldn't have that nice look above.

So that's just the next rod.

The one after that, it's interesting to think the opposite way--the darker of two colors as the main wrap, and the lighter/paler color as the tipping.

No...to be clear, I mean to say Sunburst main wraps tipped with medium brown, or red.

I would try the Sunburst with Chestnut tipping, but I would try it with finish (maybe the reelseat area?) Water or DNA often looks darker than the final product (with epoxy) for me. Varnish just turns things browner for me. It isn't that noticable except over bright colorpreserved thread.

Iooks great.

Chestnut/brown combo is my pick. On a blank that color, I have used brown for the main thread and orange tipping, only on the tip, ferrule, stripping guide and butt.