Modifying Hackle Clips

[letumgo]

I received a set of hackel clips in the recent Secret Santa swap. I love these little clips (thank you to whoever sent them).

This morning I made a couple modifications to personalize them and make them easier to find on my tying desk.

Adding magnet (helps them to stand up on my tying station and on the base of my vice):


Trim the button end flush with an Exacto knife (helps magnet sit better with gluing it onto the end).


Add a drop of gel Superglue, then attach the magnet.



Add High Vis Wrap to make it easier to find on you tying station, and make it visually unique (good for travel kits, so you know which tools are yours).



Add a coat of clear nail polish for durability, and your done.




The magnetic end can be used to retrieve hooks from you hook box.

[Roadkill]

Thanks, I love it, just glued up 2 for my fly photo studio! I was often looking for them.
I need more clips, they also will come in handy on my Evergreen Hand!!

[letumgo]

“Evergreen Hand”

I don’t understand. What does that mean?

[Roadkill]

Some tying I became involved with some tyers at Cabela's just when the Pandemic hit...

https://projecthealingwaters.org/announ ... ice-video/

The Kit...
IMGP0055 by William Lovelace, on Flickr

My Hand assembled...
IMGP0057 by William Lovelace, on Flickr

Something I hope to put to use there in 2021!

Video showing how the Evergreen Hand in action.

[Resman549]

Nice job ! What did you use for the bodkin ?

[ronr]

Bill The Evergreen Hand is just an amazing invention. I'll be looking forward to watching you tie soft hackles with it and teaching others how to use it.

[ronr]

Ray your engineering mind is beyond my comprehension. I have used those clips for the longest time and never thought about gluing a magnet to the base... However, instead of the colored thread... I think I'll just use some colored tape. Where do you buy the little magnets?

[letumgo]

Ron - I found the little magnets on Amazon. I will try to find the link and post it here later. I think the set of magnets contained about 100 magnets, of various diameters. All of them are very powerful Neodymium magnets, each on is 1 mm thick (nice size for uses like this). If you need a more powerful magnet, all you need to do is use two magnets. I have a steel plate under my tying bench, and use magnets to keep things organized.

LINK FOR 2MM THICK MAGNETS (note - I used 1 mm thick magnets, but cannot find them listed on Amazon at this time): https://www.amazon.com/DIYMAG-Refrigera ... den&sr=1-3

Bill - I am so glad I asked the question about the "Evergreen Hand". What a fantastic invention. I watched the demonstration video this morning, and was extremely impressed with the effectiveness of the whole system/tools. I am so glad you mentioned this and posted the link. The "Evergreen Hand" would make a powerful demonstration at events, and one that I am sure would be very welcome. After seeing the demonstration, I am convinced that there are other tool modifications which would be helpful to single hand tiers.

Resman549 - The bodkin tool is something I made up for rod making and tying zonkers/matuku patterns. The orange part is simply HMH plastic tubing (same stuff that is used for tying tube flies). I added a smaller tube inside to stiffen it up a bit, and prevent the sewing needle (bodkin needle) from sliding up into the tube. The other end has a fine nylon braid loop, with is used to pull tag ends, under manual thread wraps. A common way of finishing the thread wraps when making a rod. I love little gadgets like this, and find myself making them for special purposes.

[Roadkill]

ronr,

I had and used these magnets on mine 8mm x 3mm
https://www.amazon.com/DIYMAG-Refrigera ... B07B3SDRCP

Ray,

Thanks for adding the video with Jesse showing some of the tying features!!

These are a few more tools...
IMGP0088 by William Lovelace, on Flickr
the weighted hackle pliers came to my attention years ago watching Harry Lemire tie full dress Salmon flies in hand.

My weighted bent paper clips sit down over a hook shank to hold materials in place to tie them in.
IMGP0087 by William Lovelace, on Flickr

[letumgo]

Very nice!