Power Wrappers - Hand Wrappers

I currently wrap all rods by hand, but have been looking at a power wrapper.

Anyone upgrades from hand to power?
Likes/Dislikes etc?

Thanks OE

I’ve used an American tackle power wrapper and it was very nice, it also wasn’t mine. My dislike was that if I overlapped a thread, I wasn’t able to back up a little to fix it without great effort. I really like having the big deck and the Chuck to hold the rod still. Very handy when putting coatings on as this one also had a drying setup. The wife didn’t like me covering the dining room table for a few days though. If you have the room, to me, it’s a no brainer. I’d have one if I did more rods and had more room.

I have used about all of the ones out there on the market today. My personal wrapper is the alps with the upgrade chuck, and it's the smoothest one I have used. I wouldn't trade it for any of the new ones out as of today but they all get the job done just depends on what your looking to spend. My old wrapper / backup is the all aluminum upgraded pac bay, it does a good job I just hate the aluminum Chuck stand. It allows the chuck to wobble a little. I use the Flex coat finishing machine because you can crank the RPM speed up , witch mean you can epoxy the rods faster and also cut much cleaner lines when you epoxy and unless you mess up you done have to clean up the epoxy lines to get them strait. Now thats a $600 option I wouldn't say you need unless you are cranking rods out in the 100 plus a months like I am. The way I look at it is The extra time it takes to do things by hand is backing me up on rods and losing money.

I wouldn't say there are many dislikes to using a power wrapper but there is a learning curve to it. It's easy but hard at the same time when your learning what speed you can wrap at and get the feel for it. Get a feel for the pedal and go. Now I will say I do have some friends that really like the control you have doing it by hand and and feel out of control using a power wrapper. Its no different then going from a bike to a motorcycle. It just takes seat time to learn what it does when you do something. I can wrap a rod taking my time with 10 -12 guides plus the trim wraps on the split grip, sk2 reel seat and hooker in 30 to 45 min and its perfect every time now days since I have the eye for were to start my wraps. I can also keep a much tighter wrap on the guides. The things you will quickly find out is starting a wrap takes the same yet different approach, it will spin with the pressure from the wrapper with only one wrapper over your tag end. I pull the tag under the main thread two passes while straitening the first line of the wrap and let go on the 3rd wrap and its normally good to go. Going up a foot ramp you will get pushed back on the wrap you have already done because the opposite side will angle back at the leading edge of the foot. Once you get the hang of its easy and much faster. I use a belt knife sharpener to file the foot ramp a little flatter so it doesn't make a sharp angle to mess me up, and it flows up the step better.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gbcorley

I have used about all of the ones out there on the market today. My personal wrapper is the alps with the upgrade chuck, and it's the smoothest one I have used. I wouldn't trade it for any of the new ones out as of today but they all get the job done just depends on what your looking to spend. My old wrapper / backup is the all aluminum upgraded pac bay, it does a good job I just hate the aluminum Chuck stand. It allows the chuck to wobble a little. I use the Flex coat finishing machine because you can crank the RPM speed up , witch mean you can epoxy the rods faster and also cut much cleaner lines when you epoxy and unless you mess up you done have to clean up the epoxy lines to get them strait. Now thats a $600 option I wouldn't say you need unless you are cranking rods out in the 100 plus a months like I am. The way I look at it is The extra time it takes to do things by hand is backing me up on rods and losing money.

I wouldn't say there are many dislikes to using a power wrapper but there is a learning curve to it. It's easy but hard at the same time when your learning what speed you can wrap at and get the feel for it. Get a feel for the pedal and go. Now I will say I do have some friends that really like the control you have doing it by hand and and feel out of control using a power wrapper. Its no different then going from a bike to a motorcycle. It just takes seat time to learn what it does when you do something. I can wrap a rod taking my time with 10 -12 guides plus the trim wraps on the split grip, sk2 reel seat and hooker in 30 to 45 min and its perfect every time now days since I have the eye for were to start my wraps. I can also keep a much tighter wrap on the guides. The things you will quickly find out is starting a wrap takes the same yet different approach, it will spin with the pressure from the wrapper with only one wrapper over your tag end. I pull the tag under the main thread two passes while straitening the first line of the wrap and let go on the 3rd wrap and its normally good to go. Going up a foot ramp you will get pushed back on the wrap you have already done because the opposite side will angle back at the leading edge of the foot. Once you get the hang of its easy and much faster. I use a belt knife sharpener to file the foot ramp a little flatter so it doesn't make a sharp angle to mess me up, and it flows up the step better.

---

GBCorley,

Doesn’t the Alps w/ Upgraded chuck, allow you to dry as well? I thought it also dried @ like 12/14 or 18 rpm? Something like that, I might not be exact.

Or is there an advantage to the flex coat finish machine? (Asking b/c I had never heard of it.)

Belt sander idea I like, but knowing me, I’d accidentally file the foot right off the guide.

I use a small metal file, and file them by hand.

Any tips for working with Abalone?

Thanks for the insight.

OE


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Most of the Power wrappers have a drying motor that you change the belt over to. But yes the ALPS has a multiple speeds for drying and applying finish with. I do suggest you pick up a slip clutch like he has in the video. You can just mount it in the chuck put the rod in it that way when you want to stop the rod to look at something you just touch it and then let go instead of being at the tip of the rod and having to roll or walk over to the switch and then come back and do it again to turn it back on. the flex coat machine can spin up to 200rpms, it just helps cut straighter lines and levels the finish out a little better. I built 1000s of rods with out one, it just speeds the process up. I used to use a file but I will tell you the work sharp sharpener really makes it easier. Best thing I will say I have paid for in building rods. you can keep the shape of the foot very easy and you can go as slow as you need to by how hard you push against the belt.


Flex coat finishing machine. Flex Coat Rod Building - Applying Flex Coat Rod Wrapping Finish "How We Do It" - YouTube
Abalone this will help you more then me explaining it. CRB Pearl Metallic Powder Marbling Pigment - YouTube.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gbcorley

Most of the Power wrappers have a drying motor that you change the belt over to. But yes the ALPS has a multiple speeds for drying and applying finish with. I do suggest you pick up a slip clutch like he has in the video. You can just mount it in the chuck put the rod in it that way when you want to stop the rod to look at something you just touch it and then let go instead of being at the tip of the rod and having to roll or walk over to the switch and then come back and do it again to turn it back on. the flex coat machine can spin up to 200rpms, it just helps cut straighter lines and levels the finish out a little better. I built 1000s of rods with out one, it just speeds the process up. I used to use a file but I will tell you the work sharp sharpener really makes it easier. Best thing I will say I have paid for in building rods. you can keep the shape of the foot very easy and you can go as slow as you need to by how hard you push against the belt.


Flex coat finishing machine. Flex Coat Rod Building - Applying Flex Coat Rod Wrapping Finish "How We Do It" - YouTube
Abalone this will help you more then me explaining it. CRB Pearl Metallic Powder Marbling Pigment - YouTube.

---

Thank you for the info & insight.

OE


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Most of the Power wrappers have a drying motor that you change the belt over to. But yes the ALPS has a multiple speeds for drying and applying finish with. I do suggest you pick up a slip clutch like he has in the video. You can just mount it in the chuck put the rod in it that way when you want to stop the rod to look at something you just touch it and then let go instead of being at the tip of the rod and having to roll or walk over to the switch and then come back and do it again to turn it back on. the flex coat machine can spin up to 200rpms, it just helps cut straighter lines and levels the finish out a little better. I built 1000s of rods with out one, it just speeds the process up. I used to use a file but I will tell you the work sharp sharpener really makes it easier. Best thing I will say I have paid for in building rods. you can keep the shape of the foot very easy and you can go as slow as you need to by how hard you push against the belt.


Flex coat finishing machine. Flex Coat Rod Building - Applying Flex Coat Rod Wrapping Finish "How We Do It" - YouTube
Abalone this will help you more then me explaining it. CRB Pearl Metallic Powder Marbling Pigment - YouTube.