Here are a few pics of a new building project I just started. It's an 8' 5wt semi-parabolic blank rolled by James Green. I like brown wraps against honey yellow blanks, and I'm experimenting with a turning an up-lock real upside down to make it a downlock.

The blank is unhanded so it has those snake-belly ridges. I'm planning on putting a thin coat of flex coat down first before putting on the signature, but I'll take any suggestions people have.

nice colors and thread work, I have one of those blanks half-wrapped on my bench right now. It's been a struggle to find the time to get it finished, but you may have inspired me to find the time this week.

Like you, I like to wrap my honey colored blanks in brown, mostly a dark chocolate brown. Done that on all my Lami blanks as well as on two of James Green’s blanks. I like what you have done with your color combinations.

Great build so far! I love those wraps.

On the pros and cons of unsanded blanks, I tend to trust the thoughts of a respected rod maker on the forum who told me that he only makes unsanded blanks. As I understand it, sanding is mainly for aesthetic reasons. The unsanded blank provides better hoop strength and more consistency, as the sanding process doesn't always get everything exactly right. Larry Kenney posted similar thoughts on here many years ago.

Thanks for your replies, everyone. I've been away for a bit for some early summer travels. But I have it all wrapped up now, and am working on the finish. I'll post pictures when it's all finished up.

Yes, it's a 10mm stripping guide. It's just a chrome pac bay.