For several reasons, I'm committed to wrapping my own rods from here out. I've built a few spinning rods in my youth but haven't made anything since.

In looking around, there are a wide variety of rod wrapper and "rod wrapping systems". The very basic ones (which is similar to what I used years ago) are simple wood stands with a tension adjustable thread holder and cost $20 to $40. A low RPM drying motor is usally sold separately as is the rod chuck.

Then there are the higher-end complete kits for $200 to $300.

Does anyone have any positive or negative experiences with any particular models or have any advice when it comes to cobbling a cheaper one together or buying a diamond-encrusted Cadillac model that can give BJ's while I wrap?

-AP?

I picked up one those flex coat kits on ebay a few years ago. Comes with stands, motor, and a few tools. Think I got it for around $100. The utmost folks hooked me up with a piece of old blank and some coarse sand paper to make a reamer, which was nice.

Unless you intend on becoming a rod building maniac I'd stay around, or under, $100 at least. You could probably get by for about $50 if you made your own stands and 'thread distribution and tensioning system'. Could probably fabricate something in an hour or two.

But then again sometimes buying a kit package is cheaper than the sum of the parts.

I've never seen a need for a rod wrapper. I put the rod winding thread of choice in a fly tying bobbin, hold it in my fly tying vise, and wind away. A rod drying setup would be nice, cuz I just set rod sections in a box that has Vee grooves cut in it and rotate the sections a quarter turn every 15 minutes. I've thought of cobbling one together with an old BBQ rotisserie motor but haven't gotten around to it. However, I could change my mind about all this if the high end model really offers BJs while you wrap.

Sg

Wrapping your own rods is the only way to go, for many reasons... You'll be stoked in short order.

I had used a couple of different brand wrappers up until about three years ago. Not liking one or more things about the others, I built the one I have now for under $100. All pieces were purchased at Home Depot, except for the drying motors/chucks from Cabelas.
(I don't wrap under power so it has no footpedal run rod chuck.)
With the dual motors it's capable of turning two portions when finish working, has dual thread carriages, and will handle 2 pc. rods up to 14'.

After a couple hundred rods it still works great, although contemplating some slight modifications this Winter if time permits.

Good luck.

Been wrapping with a Forecast Wrap Machine for 8 years solid now. Can't begin to tell you how many rods have been built on that thing. A small $300 dollar investment that I've only replaced a $2 belt on. Its the addiction that cost the money!!!

You should probably get on that asap... make it easier for everyone else who has to use that thing

I did the lazy thing and bought a kit too. I think it was the Flex Coat kit from Shoff Tackle. They're crazy easy to make. Finishing up Rod 2. Rod 1 still needs to be fished.

.

If I was selling rods,I might consider a power wrapper. I'm never in a hurry to get a rod wrapped ASAP so wrapping by hand works fine for me.

I'm as low tech as it gets. I put the spool of thread in a coffee cup,and lay a book on top of the thread for tension.

I made the drying motor out of a rotisserie motor from Home Depot.

if i did fancy work or sold my rods, i'd get one of the power wrappers, mainly because i built mine for $10 and it's pretty crude. the rods i build are functional first and attractive at a distant second, but the finished quality is as good as almost anything you'd find on a rack at the store.

i'd recommend getting one of the kits if you're just starting out, it makes things a lot easier. no need for anything expensive.

Made a few rods back in the day,, made a small wood stand with a vee in the top lind with felt and would drag the thred throught a big book, more pages the tighter the thread would be, worked great. thinkin of trying it again reading all this....... good luck.. and its something to be said to catch a fish on your own rod....

I just stumbled onto this. still laughing because I just finished wrapping my first rod about ten minutes ago. used mouse traps for thread tension, a box with grooves and my dughters hair bands for holding the blank, and the clamp from my fly vise to hold everything to the dining room table. completely cobbled together and cost me $1.39 for the traps. I see more builds in the near future, and I wont change my setup at all. adds to the fun of it

Aaron,

Here is the one I made up while bored one afternoon many many years ago...

Take a broken, cheap a$$ piece of college furniture, cut it into a bunch of pieces on a table saw. Find 2 thread tensioners at a craft store, an old arrow for a smooth thread guide, a handful of sheet rock screws, 1/4" bolts, and a few wing nuts... total cost = $10, total time involved, 2 hrs.

Twitch, you have to much time on your hands my friend !!!

Arron, I will call you later today with some words of advice and a phone number for you ...........

Peace
Fly

Very nice, Twitch!

I bought a decent but very simple rod wrapper and supports set up on E-Bay for around $25-30 ... supports are made out of nice white pine instead of press board. Came with thread tensioners which were a little tricky to use compared to the others I had used in brand name setups, but it works fine when set up correctly. I also bought a drying motor and rod chuck on e-bay for much cheaper than listed on any of the other retailers. So far built 2 new and rebuilt 3-4 rods.. Works great. Probably have $50 into the whole set up for wrapper/supports, drying motor, and rod chuck.

AP several are around and most are similar. I went with Pac Bay and it has done OK as it is better at it than I am.

I haven't wrapped my rod since I got married,It's a good feeling when ya know your rod's safe.Just sayin.Good luck,
SZ

my system is pretty primative, have done maybe 20ish rods on it. however i've bumped up to a much nicer system. didn't pay a dime for it. barrowed it fron a guy on another BB site... i just never returned it. i've owned now for about a year or longer.

Nice, SZ! I agree.

Brewer, do you mind if I borrow the one you borrowed.

Thanks to everyone for the advice. Based on this thread, I'm going to keep it simple and probably just built something myself.

You're married, ferchrissakes...why would you wrap it when the only reason it comes out is to take a leak or cough for the doctor?

Fish on...

Todd

Todd,funny chit.But after being together for 15+ years and married for 10 of the 15 the honey moon is still going strong.The only rod wrap's needed for this guy say shimano or loomis on them.Good luck,
SZ

FInished my first Rainshadow rod last month. All you need is 3 stands such as ones in the picture above with the V indentation. A helpful tip is a couple of pegs sticking out of them to place a rubberband on to put downward tension on the rod (see link below). I bought the cheap motor/stand from Batson for $48, but you can rig your own if you don't have the money. I hand built 2 other stands to match height.

http://www.batsonenterprises.com/wrapping-machine

For the threat wrapper system, I just used the popular coffee cup + stack of books technique. Put the thread spool loose in the coffee cup, pull thread out and wrap it around the cup handle once or twice depending on the friction of the handle, then through the pages of the book. How many pages sit on top of the thread determines the tension on the wrap.

One note on this method is that the thread is coming from the far side of the rod coming to you, while most all purchased wrappers will have the thread coming from under your chin heading away from you. This makes a difference if you are a newbie and are trying to follow videos as it does mean you have to wrap opposite.

If I had to do it all over again, I don't think I would do anything different. Of course, if you want to do a ton of rods, then you'll want a foot-pedal operated wrapper and one that allows for multiple spools (for thread weaving multiple colors).

My first wrapper was a flex coat hand wrapper. After four rods I invested into the Rod smith aka Forecast Wrap Machine. I considered the investment pain management.

Really if you want the best Hand Wrapper all you need is two Forecast AL-Base two Rod Supports and thread carriage http://www.batsonenterprises.com/wrapping-machine then just buy the Batson Drying machine or Forecast and you saved a few bucks to start. The thread carriage rolls up and down the base like butter and the spring loaded fully adjustable rod supports are mint. At the end of the day your going to say I should have just bought the Forecast Machine trust me. I would start with the Batson Hand Wrapper and Batson Drying Machine then step up to the Wrap machine after that and pass on the Hand Wrapper to your favorite bud to try. Just Saying

I have a PacBay wrapper which can wrap under power on the foot pedal and has a separate motor as a drier. The drier is crucial. I turn my finish coats by hand for an hour and then flip on the drier and sneak outta the room. Wrapping under power is pretty nice too. . .it's not about being in a hurry. . .just easier to get nice even tension and threadwork, especially on long runs. It's been pretty good to me so far. Good luck,

fb

i spend a lot of time on rodbuilding.org and rodbuildingtutorials.com. google rod building forums and you'll find a plethora of useful info on how to build everything you'll need to wrap rods. there are lots of good ideas for colors/techniques there too.