spring steel wire and its strength

[Kevin Stenberg]

I am in the process of making a jig to wrap the eyes on fishing rods. What I need is to keep constant tension on the tread. But I am unsure about what dia. of spring steel wire would put too much tension on the thread to break it, or so week that it kept little tension on the thread.
If someone knows of some kind of chart that would show the bending resistance of different size wires I am thinking that will tell me what size I need to order.
I have already looked at Evilbay and they have many different dia. that I can choose from, I just need to know what dia. would be best for what I want to do.

 

[RicinYakima]

50 years ago, I had a set of "V" blocks that held the rod. I used a hard back book between the spool and the rod for tension. Don't know how complicated you want to make this.

 

[Tomme boy]

Core Hand Wrapper

The CRB Core Hand Wrapper was specifically designed to help anglers build a foundation in rod building. Created from a durable ABS polymer, this hand wrapper features a compact footprint to allow builders with limited space a stable platform to build or repair their rods. The underside features...

mudhole.com

 

[Bret4207]

The wrapper set up I have uses a simple wing nut and spring to give tension to the spool of thread.

 

[Rick H]

Wing nut spring and washer tensioning on the spool was the newer method. When I started I simply threw the spool in a cup, passed the thread through the pages of an old dictionary and added books on top of it for additional tension when needed. Instantly adjustable tension and best of all. It cost nothing.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

The wrapper set up I have uses a simple wing nut and spring to give tension to the spool of thread.

I have used the bobbin from fly ting. In a made up jig ta hold rod. But I only "built" a couple decades ago. Havent had need for it in forever with the epozy stuff used today.. NEVER need repair.

But I do have a couple of my grandfathers rods Id like to "re wrap" and use a bit.

CW

 

[Petrol & Powder]

My father would use unwaxed dental floss and embed it in epoxy. There was no jig involved. One person held the rod and slowly rotated it while the second person (usually me) held the end of the floss and maintained tension.
When the desired number of wraps had been made. The person with the rod held the last wrap tight with a pair of needlenose pliers. The other person tied a knot and pulled it tight. The loose end was cut off, a little more epoxy brushed on and the rod was set aside to dry.
It wasn't high tech but it worked extremely well.

 

[Cadillac Jeff]

I also tension the spool,

I tye rods in the winter, since retirement I have tied 15 or so rods all on a tying rack I made for my Dad back in the early 90s. It is just 2x4s 1 x3s with holes drilled and spaced to move the thread rack under the blank , rack is just the 1x3s with the 1/4 " threaded rod with a lite spring for tension 8,1


Wow. Hope that don't confuse ya......a picture would help but we know I am not good at that

 

[popper]

Fly tying bobbin with GSP (kevlar) thread will do the job.

 

[Kevin Stenberg]

Yes I have made a few rods by passing the thread through a large book but the spring speeds things up.
I solved my problem. I took an old very light rod and I am using that instead of spring wire

 

[Bret4207]

This reminds me I have a mess of rods with corrosion on the eyelets, eg- the chroming is rusted and even flaking on some. I always intended to replace them with ceramic guides. Add that to the "To Do" list!

 

[Cadillac Jeff]

Well there yago ol buddy ya got sumthin ta do now !!

& I know ya got a ol jeep ta tinker on too <<< that'll keep ya outa the Mrs. Hair Fer a min. Or 2

 

[Snakeoil]

I got to the party too late, I see. I was going to suggest any long wire, old fishing rod or even long piece of thin pine would probably do the trick. I've been trying to envision how you wrap the hook. Is the hook fixed in a vise and you wrap it by hand or is the hook in a rotating fixture and you rotate the hook to wind the thread on it? I'm guess the latter as I can't see how you'd use a spring if you were hand wrapping with the hook fixed in a vise. I've never tied flies so I've got nothing on which to develope a perception. All the fly tying I've seen has the hook stationary.

 

[Bret4207]

He talking about putting the eyes on the rod, not tying flies.

 

[Snakeoil]

Wow, for some reason I read "rods" as "hooks". I pretty soon I'll be talking to trees and putting my pants on over my head.

 

[Rick H]

I pretty soon I'll be talking to trees and putting my pants on over my head.

You mean that's not normal?

 

[popper]

eyes on the rod -- line guides.
Tying flies, you have a small tying vice so the hook can be rotated as needed. GSP is a thread made of Kevlar, very strong and tough stuff. Interesting, the guy who invented Kevlar didn't patent it but a competitor did. So he lost out on the business.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

.................. GSP is a thread made of Kevlar, very strong and tough stuff. Interesting, the guy who invented Kevlar didn't patent it but a competitor did. So he lost out on the business.

The "Guy" that invented Kevlar was a Girl, Stephanie Kwolek

And because she was working for Dupont at the time and specifically working to create those types of fibers, Dupont owned the patent, not her.

 

[Bret4207]

Wow, for some reason I read "rods" as "hooks". I pretty soon I'll be talking to trees and putting my pants on over my head.

Just remember to open the zipper on the fly so you have a peaky hole to see through. Safety first!

 

[popper]

Actually, the guy was an independant who first came out with it. Don't remember his name but he didn't think it was something neat, just a better (stronger) thread for his sewing Co.