Hackle Pliers

[JohnMD1022]

Check the pliers at jvice.com

Not cheap, but beautifully made.

[redietz]

What I started with at age 12. I cut the beveled tips off and roughed up the flat part to grab better. It was still awful but I had no money.

Same here.

[Theroe]

From Roscoe, NY:

[RickA]

Dana, Those look like the ones Winnie used.

[Terrestrial12]

I'm late to the conversation but love the topic! I've got 4 different styles on my bench and at least as many different ones in my drawer of tools I don't use every day. But for me, the cheap plastic plunger style are the best you can get! Anything i tie in from the tip I use the plunger style. Anything I tie in from the stem I use a pair of small or medium size English style pliers IF I want to save the hackle tip. If not...I still use the plunger style. Then I also keep a pair of large size English style plies on my spinning block with heat shrink tube on the jaws. I just wish you could get a "nicer" version of the plunger style. Maybe made out of brass or aluminum and with a ring on the end for rotating around your finger.

[Ron Eagle Elk]

I just wish you could get a "nicer" version of the plunger style. Maybe made out of brass or aluminum and with a ring on the end for rotating around your finger.

There was a guy out in Washington making just that, out of brass. Nice smooth edges, good ring at the end, and gorgeous to look at. I actually bought a hackle plier and a fly holder made the same way. Only problem was the weight. In order to use the plier I had to maintain so much pressure on the hackle stem, I broke more feathers than I wrapped. Maybe they would be better made of aluminum.

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

I always get a good chuckle whenever anyone, doesn't matter who.
brings up the "heat shrink" tipped tear drop hackle pliers and how
well the heat shrink 'grabs' the hackle material.

The reason, well the "hear shrink" that is on the hackle pliers is
basically Teflon, a frictionless material. My father was part of the
Start up crew (Management), I worked on the floor for Zeus Ind.
Products Inc. I hand chopped over a Million 1" samples of all the
sizes and various shapes the Summer of 67. Back when it was just
at the foot of Thompson St. in Raritan, NJ. Nowadays it's gone Global.
The coarsest grade was Medical spec.

I hope you can see why I chuckle and join in the fun as well.

hank

[Terrestrial12]

I'm not sure if it's the same or not but mine is actually electrical wire insulation. I think everyone thinks that it makes the pliers grip so much better is because for the most part the pliers are junk and it's the only way the jaws actually meet up in the same place when closed

[RickA]

Howdy All;

I worked on the floor for Zeus Ind.
Products Inc. in the Summer of 67. Back when it was just
at the foot of Thompson St. in Raritan, NJ. Nowadays it's gone Global

hank

Small world, Hank.
I grew up in Basking Ridge and dated a girl from Raritan back in 69.
I also spent a lot of time fishing both the south branch and north branch of the Raritan.
Wouldn't be surprised if we shared some of the same waters.
Rick

[letumgo]

One of the things I do periodically to improve the grip of my hackle pliers, is make a small bb size ball of tacky dubbing wax and pinch it in the jaws of the pliers. The wax gets crushed against the inside surface of the jaws, improving their grip. Over time, the wax wears off and collects debris from the feathers. Once gripping power diminishes too much, I scrape off the old wax and redo the process. Works like a charm. Easy peasy.



A little bead of Bill Shuck’s dubbing wax works wonders. Thanks Bill.