Need Help Please Need Your Professional Opinion

[babachu]

I'm looking at purchasing my first power wrapper and would like your opinions. I am looking at the American Tackle APW / ARD 1 wrapper / dryer combo and the Pac Bay Rodsmith RW3-XL with the Pac Bay dryer. I'm looking for a quality unit in this price range with emphasis on ease of use as I am a virtual beginner (I've built about 10 rods using the cardboard box / phone book method). Also, I notice that most of the wrappers are 8' long. I'm wonder how a 9' or 10' jigstick would work on these?? Thanks in advance for your input.

[CALCOfshr]

Check with Mark at C&M as he may be able to come up with an extra bed section for you. If not, Just don't join the sections of lathe bed together. Leave a gap between them. If its a one piece bed, cut it in two or even 3 smaller sections and mount them to your wrapping bench. Make sure you have enough rod supports. Of course, you could just rig up some extra supports, and make do with the standard bed length. Then wrap out at the tip using thread bobbins.
I don't have this problem as I have an old Clemens lathe with three 4' sections, and a smaller 2ft section that was dedicated to the shed for just shaping grips.
Chuck

[SALTYDAWG]

Both are decent machines and yes, Mark at Acidrod can get you a bed extension and extra rod supports or any other extras you may need. You might want to check with him on the entire set up, He has great deals and is a good guy

[pier-aficionado]

I got the pac bay with upgrade aluminum stock chuck and love it. I ordered an extension piece and can do up to 11ft rods with no problem. the pac bay doubles as a dryer so helps to have my rod dryer on the side, that way I can finish 2 rods at a time, usually apply on the wrapper and then move to the dryer. Then put another on the wrapper and leave it there drying.

[MKUHN138]

Ordering the extension from acid rod is an option. I have a wooden work bench that's a little about 10' long. I snapped a straight line across the bench to use as a reference point. depending on where I'm working on the rod, I move sections of the wrapper up and down the bench, and just screw straight through the bottom of the aluminum channel pieces into the work surface. I personally don't care for the attachment method they provide with the wrapper, and you're going to want to it to be secured to something anyhow.

[Comedie]

I managed to get a bit more length when I need it by doing this to my wrapper:
Custom Rod Builders Guild
Custom Rod Builders Guild
Since I never wrap down at the chuck end, makes it a free 20" or so extension when I need it.
Could have doine something similar at eash section joint too. Haven't needed that extra length as yet. In those places I've use the thinner one-sided channel, and take a tad off the end of the supports for clearance perhaps.
I just never wanted to spend the $$$ on another piece of channel when all I needed at the time was an extra 6" or so in length

[Red Monster]

Dave, where did you get the extension extrusions?

[Comedie]

Originally Posted by Red Monster

Dave, where did you get the extension extrusions?

I'm not sure which bunch I used for that particular extension. I had picked up some from a metals recycler in town (recycled computer frames), and also some off Ebay (eBay Store - 80 20 8020 Aluminum T-Slot T Slot extrusion 8020 garage sale:)

[1:11]

i like my pac bay, although i would like the chuck upgrade. burnt out my foot pedal pretty quick turning EVA but replaced it for 20$ and will probably turn more EVA with it. In the past i used a much higher dollar power wrap machine and they pac bay is not all that much inferior.