[dropcap]L[/dropcap]ooking for whatever at the local big box office supply store a while ago with no help in sight, I got lost and then found it… by mistake.
About the globs of rubber
Plastic binder rings are called “combs.” They come in a lot of colors. White, however, makes for the best because you can write in it. The negative – they come “lots” to a box. Several sizes in stores and more online
The rubber bands that I used to keep fly rods broken down and together with so they’d be at the ready, reel fly lines wrapped safely, line spools wrapped, tying threads and sundry strands wound in their spiral course, had turned into a glob of smelly plastic. Not an unfamiliar state of failure – probably my 100th time the cheap plastic bags of rubber bands’ offsprings had turned into gooey globs over time.
So, back to lost and then found – isle 17 at the store
I saw a busted plastic ring binder comb on the floor, not the whole umpteen strip of them that would bind 8.5 X 11 sheets of paper into a “booklet,” but one busted loose ring.
Q-Knot Wraps -$8 for 24 pieces X 3 different sizes.
Slowly, the lights came on
Voila, I said to myself. Could this be a rod keeper wrap? A reel fly line keeper wrap, spare spool line keeper wrap, tying thread keeper wrap, and wrap for lots of stuff that used to need rubber bands?
Yes, as it has turned out
Later, with handfuls of different diameter and lengths of Combs, UT Speedy Wire Wraps, and Q Knot-Wraps I joyfully replaced most of what used to be bound by rubber bands. Nothing broke in the initial application of any of the wraps, like rubber bands, and everything was permanent feel. Undoing any of the warps would not break like rubber bands always do.
Another benefit is being able to write, uncramped, on the rings with indelible black ink (white color rings best). If the label falls off the thread, spool, reel or spare reel or anything, you can ID it right now. The UT Speedy Wire Wraps and Q Knot-Wraps are not SHARPIE friendly.
Sources: Combs, UT Speedy Wire Wraps, and Q Knot-Wraps are all big box store office supply items, easily found. Also, for bigger diameter combs, and Wire Wraps, and longer Q Knot-Wraps < online.
