JShenk_615 wrote:
I was trying to get lighter colored wraps on a dark blank...
Light colored thread under spar varnish or epoxy gives a
transparent wrap (more or less). Light travels
through a transparent object. A dark colored rod blank absorbs the light passing through the wrap, leaving very little to reflect back. Visually, the wrap looks as dark, or darker, than the underlying rod blank. Basic physics work against lighter colored wraps on a dark blank.
A light colored wrap is achieved by reflecting light rather than allowing it to pass through. This is done with NCP thread or plain thread treated with color preservative. In practice, NCP thread gives predicable results under standard rod finishes. Some rod builders prefer plain thread and color preservative. Given all the different color preservative recipes (and the continued internet debates about them) getting good results from color preservative takes practice.
The other option is to make the dark blank reflect light. This can be done with a light colored paint under the wraps, an NCP thread underwrap, or a mylar underwrap. Many of these techniques show up on old school vintage glass, particularly spinning rods and boat rods. Paint is easy and cheap, but will look ugly under a transparent wrap*. Mylar under a transparent wrap might be interesting (see the photo of a Conolon Ritz below). NCP thread underwraps work best with larger rods and heavier threads.
Tom
* Painting light colored bands on a dark blank was done so light colored NCP wraps would not show gaps. Sometimes short thread spirals let the underlying paint show through as a design element.