I like my Lami 3wt, it was my first build. Back then I didn't have a clue about guide spacing I guess. I only used 7 guides (it's a 7' rod) and it should have had 8. Needless to say it had a good deal of line slap. I used Gudebrod Chestnut brown thread, which matched the cocobolo seat insert, and the honey yellow blank. For a wrap finish I used Gudebrod rod varnish.
This didn't hold up well and cracked at the guide feet in short order.
Well I got tired of the line slap, and found a good spacing for 8 guides and stripped all the wraps and guides off. I decided to use candy apple red thread, the same thin light wire snakes plus one more, and replaced the Pac Bay stripping guide with a Hopkins and Holloway stripping guide I had laying around. I used Permagloss for a rod finish this time, and now I'll never have to worry about it cracking at the guide feet. I like the candy apple red on Lami blanks, but I think that I like the Chestnut a bit better, at least on this rod. I'm happy with how it turned out though. Line slap has been minimized.
The way it used to look.
And the way it looks now.
Thanks for looking.
J.