Product Description

Our Classic Rod Winder is in the foreground;
in the background is an original Thompson Rod Winder.
We’re improving on our rodmaking heritage.

Our Classic Rod Winder, based on the old Thompson Rod Winder, is a traditional tool for tensioning nylon and silk threads while whipping guides. It also works admirably for tensioning Ferrule Tab Binding Cord when you’re gluing ferrules. Our winder is cast from manganese bronze, which is durable, corrosion resistant, and handsome. The thread dowel, sized to fit nearly any spool on the market, is crafted from stainless steel. The clamping screw and swivel head are stainless. The tensioning screw has a fancy knurled brass head and a steel shank. The thread bed has been extended by 1/2” and, most importantly, it has been machined smooth so you can operate with the finest diameter silks. All these attributes are improvements over the original which, while functional, left a few particulars of top-notch performance to be desired. As a single example, the thread bed on the original wrapper was left with the sand-cast texture in place and that roughness made for jerky wrapping. Many rodmakers compensated by lining the thread bed with a thin sheet of aluminum. Our reproductions need no compensation. They are a rodmaking classic, improved!