Thread wrapping/ Thread stacking

[spottedeagle]

I've head a lot about thread wrapping/stacking in sevearl posts and I've seen a few pictures of examples. Just wondering how all of you fan makers and bustle builders do your thread wrapping. Especially how you do different colors. I'm getting ready to start making my first tradish bustle, I've came up with a few designs for the center, just don't know if it is possible.
Any help would be appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!
joe

[n8tivechick]

i have no clue what it is

[randyinkc]

If you are looking to do this for a bustle, I would offer an alternative....

If you have extended your feathers with dowels, and are looking to put your design only on the dowel section (which is, IMO, the best way to prep the feathers if you inted to wrap them) then ditch the thread and go for some paint!

Painting the dowels is faster, less likely to leave you with deblitating hand cramping ;), and holds up better in the long run. If your thread gets nicked then you have to worry about unraveling (though that can be prevented).

I painted a star design on my fancy dance bustles and it has been great...

You may have to give the dowels a white primer coat, depending on how well your paint covers.

But for a bustle, its by far the easier route. Now, granted, its not quite as cool as thread wrapping, but on a bustle with 40+ spikes to wrap, its what I'd do...

[Tom Iron Eagle]

Thread Wrapping

Thread Wrapping is the way to go.

It is not as hard as it looks but it is time consuming - but it looks 100 times better than colored tape, paint, etc.

It is the same as thread wrapping a drum stick - I posted some info about that on this website dealing with making drumsticks.

All my feathers are thread wrapped and I have no problem with nicks, breaks, etc. After the wrapping I use a special brush on sealant that is flexable. I usually get about four coats on. It seal in the thread and makes the feather shaft and or rod very strong.

[spottedeagle]

Thanks everyone for the ideas. Paint? Thread wrap?? Hand Cramps??? OH BOY!!!! Sounds like I'm gonna have some fun now!!!!!!!!!!!! A wise bustle maker is giving me some pointers over the phone, only problem is he lives in Flordia and doesn't believe in computers!!! He said to thread wrap my dowels, so that's what I'm gonna do. But when it comes time to make my kids bustles, painting them sounds like maybe the way to go. Right now I have 40 dipped immitation eagle feathers, primary wing feathers. I think I'm gonna subtact a few from each side and replace them with some spikes (black I think) and use 2 hand paints for my honor feathers. I'm using white fluffs for the interior and red fluffs for the exterior, white horse hair. Does this sound like a good idea, before I start ordering more feathers and the wife really wants to kill me? LOL

[creejingledress]

Can anyone offer some info on the actual thread stacking? I'm planning on wrapping some side feathers for my next outfit but I need some pointers. I was planning on beading them but they are light weight eagle feathers and I don't want to weigh them down. I'd like them to be light. Any input would be greatly appreciated.:)

[tribaltagz]

I've done some thread wrapping on fans, but I wanna know how to get that ultra keen 3d stacked effect I've seen on fans. Anyone know how they do that? Looking at it I'd think you'd need a fly tier's rig or something like that....

[Blackbear]

Ok not sure about the thread stacking myself.. I was actually told at one time how to do it, but since I never had the chance to try it out I'm not sure I would be passing your correct information on how to. I can offer y0u these tips though...

embroidery floss is good thread to use

once you are pretty good at this, coat it with superglue gel and wrap quickley in small spurts.

not this is what I was'nt too sure of.. round waxed thread I think I was told was the best thing to use for wrapping and stacking and stacking is done one layer at a time and done using the superglue gel method I was talking about...

the thread wrapping I've done so far has been one layer with embroidery floss and then coated with clear nail polish.

[Privateer6]

It's easy, but time consuming. It looks a heck of a lot better than taping the bustle's extenders, but don't know about paint though. I am going to try and explain the process as I did my new bustle's extenders back in dec.

Step 1 Mark out the pattern on the extenders

Step 2 Apply glue to a small area of trhe extender as it dries fast.

Step 3 Using yarn, thread, floss, etc. make a small U on the dowel with the thread.
Begin Wrapping the longer end over the smaller portion of the U and keep
wrapping.
Step 4 Add glue as needed to small areas of dowel.
Step 5 at end of a color cut the yarn andleave as a "tail. repeat from step 2,
Wrapping over both small bit of U and the tail.

Step 6 once finished, tie off with a double overhand knot ( over hand know tied twice) around yarn, add clear glue,a nd snipp off excess with nail clippers.

In case I lost you, here are some links:

http://www.nocbay.com/learningcircle/index.html

http://www.nocbay.com/learningcircle/pdfs/35_Wrap%20DesignWeb.pdf

http://www.nocbay.com/learningcircle/pdfs/66_BustleSpikes.pdf

Hope it helps

[Czechy]

Don't some people use a fly-tying vise and swivel bobbin for this type of work?

[OLChemist]

I've never made these but...

The stacked thread-wrapped extenders I've bought to use on fans were made using Gudebrod fishing rod wrapping thread. They were made using flys wrapping vise. Some type of coating material is used to glue and coat the threads. Unlike single layer thread work, the stacked stuff does not have the end back pulled back underneath with a loop. The cut end is glued and sealed.

[sokoki_wolf]

I've never made these but...

The stacked thread-wrapped extenders I've bought to use on fans were made using Gudebrod fishing rod wrapping thread. They were made using flys wrapping vise. Some type of coating material is used to glue and coat the threads. Unlike single layer thread work, the stacked stuff does not have the end back pulled back underneath with a loop. The cut end is glued and sealed.

the coating material might be the adhesive sealer thats used to coat flies its semi flexable and dries clear....

[Mr Bo Jangles]

It's simple.


Take some electricians tape. Depending on whether or not you want the raised diamond looking things or the cone shaped deals or the raised cylindrical jobs. You'd use electricians tape (I use it).

For the half cones,with the wide flat tops towards the top of the extenders, I apply a section of tape above where I want the cone flair to be. Use enough tape to get the appropriate height you want, and use it as your guide when you start wrapping.

Apply a small amount of adhesive, I use Elmers glue, thinned with some water, or just go REALLY light on it, but, enough to hold the thread in place. Then I start wrapping, going down and back up, basically setting the width you want the stacked section to be, and then build in a taper to the thing by stacking up towards the tape ring you put on there. After some trial and error, you'll know how much glue to use and how to wrap neatly enough. Just takes some practice. You'll use this same technique if you're doing those raised diamond looking shapes or the inverted things shaped like this )(

The slightly raised cylinder shapes are easy enough to do as well. And they don't requre tape guides.

I use Gudebrod, and I highly recommend you do so as well. You can use embroidery floss in a pinch, but, you'll get better results with the Gudebrod, Nylon threads, and they come in a WIDE variety of colors.

I highly recommend you do as Czechy has suggested and pick up a spool bobbin, basically, it just holds your threads taught, lessens the waste on your thread wrapping, thus cutting back on total cost and thread loss thru disposal.

Go to www.gudebrod.com for the thread, scissors, bobbins and various types of cements and adhesives that'll make for some NICE threadwork.

I'll post some pics when I have time here.........feel free to encourage me and chide me or berate my technique if you like....but, dang........I think the stuff comes out pretty nice!!

Check out the WHOLE product line at Gudebrod......especially the videos on rod building, the techniques, while used towards fishing rod construction, are VERY applicable towards fan making and threadwork.....also check out the various types of adhesives and color protectants there. The neat thing is, alot of this stuff is WATERPROOF........read...........SWEATPROOF. So, you've got very little to worry about in the way of your threadwork fading, cracking, discolouring, or peeling off if you employ the right adhesives and color protectants. Hell, i don't even use the color protectants.....just the glues. They dry pretty quick, and with a nice HARD, CLEAN, CLEAR finish. SMOOTH to the touch.




After awhile, you won't need tape guides to do this stuff. I rarely use them, but, they certainly help!

I'm certain everyone has their own method and others certainly exist. I've only mentioned what works for me.

[sokoki_wolf]

and Mr Bo knows...any advice he gives is solid advice....
(ok so thats another 20 you owe me MB lol)

[spottedeagle]

[email protected] fine work!!!! I've done a little playing since I started this thread way back when. I can do single layered wrapping easily enough, gonna have to try the stacking one of these days.