Daily post can be seen on the Oklahoma/Texoma thread.
While there are many intricate steps to making an attractive decorative wrap there are more things to consider than just looks. In my case there is the choice of colors that the Lone Stranger chose as his two favorite colors. Typically I ask the rod's owner what his or her favorite two colors are and I make what ever I want as a decorative wrap using those colors. I am the artist and it is my choice as to how I am going to represent my chosen art form being thread art. It is also my custom to make a custom rod look like a custom rod. That being said black thread on a black rod requires a little thought as to how to make something decorative out of it. All this considered is why I decided on a red and black diamond spaced so that the diamonds can measure the length of fish in one inch increments. While this choice is not necessarily that artistic it is extremely functional in a way that is of interest to most crappie fisherman including the Lone Stranger.
Decorative wraps not including actual weaves or most flags are at their base some combination of chevrons and diamonds. In my opinion the most important part of the wrap is to get it straight. That is in my case for the center of each diamond to be absolutely straight and equally spaced with the centers being the right distance from the end of the fore grip as the diamonds are used for measuring purposes. A little extra effort in laying out the wrap will provide benefits at it's finish.
I use an 18" machinist ruler that shows increments of 1/64" and a piece of thread to get everything straight. Photo's on the next post. I am typing on my computer because there was a lot of typing to do and I take the pics on my phone. Since Iphone's last update I am having trouble transferring pics from phone to computer.
You can’t see my hands but I am holding both ends of a piece of thread. Using the thread as a straight line I manipulate the first 2 cycles of thread on the diamond to make sure it is laid out strait. There are lots of other ways of aligning a wrap but the thread works well for me. Many use the reflection of light on the blank for aligning purposes but for me the piece of thread makes it easier to be precise. The pic will probably have to be zoomed in to see the thread.
Being as I use the fore grip to cover one end of the decorative wrap I have reamed the cork to fit the blank loose enough to slide over the decorative wrap before starting the wrap. I am well aware that others don’t do it that way but I like to cover the start or the wrap this way. Future pics will show the advantage to doing this.
This rod project will seem slow to the occupational rod builder but then again I am retired and fish 5 days a week weather permitting except during hunting season. I understand that much fishing is a big responsibility but some one has to do it.
Redge LIKED above post
To get the crappie to stand on their heads like that takes a lot of practice and a stern voice.