Vanity of vanities, all is vanity

[GlassJet]

Just use a piece of unwound guitar string, a push switch and a nine volt battery. Only switch on for a very short time.( Otherwise the wire will melt). You can mount the bits and pieces in a plastic housing, but you need metal terminals for the wire. The legs of a standard three pin 13 A plug are suitable. These things get very hot indeed. Be careful!
Mike

Hi Mike, thanks for this, but if you knew anything of my track-record with DIY - and electricity in particular, you'd understand why I'm going to pass on the option to make my own!

But thanks for the info anyway, always interesting to be aware of such things.

Andrew.

[GlassJet]

If you have been a nice guy all year you may buy yourself a little toy/tool. Your flies don't need it but you just might.

dd

Thank you dd, for giving me permission to permit myself. Now there is a man who understands...

Andrew.

[William Anderson]

Andrew, I have to just go with Carl on this one. I dont have any experience with the tools you're looking at, but you might just revisit the tying method. And then let us know how the tool works out. I'm curious.

w

[GlassJet]

Andrew, I have to just go with Carl on this one. I dont have any experience with the tools you're looking at, but you might just revisit the tying method. And then let us know how the tool works out. I'm curious.

w

I really set myself up for this one on a board like this, didn't I?

But William - if I revisit the tying method, I won't need the tool will I? Then what will I treat myself too?

I'm not convinced it is the tying method tbh - I think I am sometimes guilty of trying to cut it a bit too fine at the hook eye. I remember the thread where it was discussed, and it looked like swings and round-a-bouts to me at the time - though I was looking at it from the point of view of how securely the hackle was bound down, rather than any 'neatness' considerations.

Having said that, I haven't tried the hackle on first method for ages, and I'm a better tyer now than I was then, so will give it another go, out of interest.
But if it removes my justification for buying another fly tying gadget, I will not be best pleased.

I'm surprised not more of you use them on here though....

All together now....

"That's because we all tie on the hackle first!"

Andrew.

[GlassJet]

Andrew, I have to just go with Carl on this one. I dont have any experience with the tools you're looking at, but you might just revisit the tying method. And then let us know how the tool works out. I'm curious.

w

I really set myself up for this one on a board like this, didn't I?

But William - if I revisit the tying method, I won't need the tool will I? Then what will I treat myself too?

I'm not convinced it is the tying method tbh - I think I am sometimes guilty of trying to cut it a bit too fine at the hook eye. I remember the thread where it was discussed, and it looked like swings and round-a-bouts to me at the time - though I was looking at it from the point of view of how securely the hackle was bound down, rather than any 'neatness' considerations.

Edited to clarify: clearly it is the tying method, but what i mean is, it is perfectly possible to produce a neat head without unwanted straggly bits when tying on the hackle last. Bit is it easier if tied on first? I will report back. But, I am smiling to myself as I write this, because I don't tie 'artistic' flies like a lot of you guys do - I tie to catch fish (or try to!) and I am smiling at the irony that I spend half my time trying to introduce just the right amount of straggly bits at the other end of the shank! Like the fish would know! lol

Having said that, I haven't tried the hackle on first method for ages, and I'm a better tyer now than I was then, so will give it another go, out of interest.
But if it removes my justification for buying another fly tying gadget, I will not be best pleased.

I'm surprised not more of you use them on here though....

All together now....

"That's because we all tie on the hackle first!"

Andrew.

[kanutripr]

Well, it's like this Andrew, see if you tie the hackle on first....

Maybe you can find an even cooler gadget to buy if you don't get this one. Maybe that's what this thread is really about!

Happy seeking


Vicki

[daringduffer]

Andrew,

This tool is invaluable for burning away the hair in your nose and your ears. Go for it!!

dd

[GlassJet]

Maybe you can find an even cooler gadget to buy if you don't get this one. Maybe that's what this thread is really about!

Happy seeking


Vicki

But Vicki - I think I just about got all the others!

Option might be a quail skin though...

andrew.

[GlassJet]

Andrew,

This tool is invaluable for burning away the hair in your nose and your ears. Go for it!!

dd

OK - you convinced me - I'll go down Mike's route of wiring myself up to the mains and giving it a go!

Besides - you have prematurely aged me - you assume i am sprouting in inappropriate places already?

Jus' kiddin' folks - wish I'd never mentioned this now - think I'd rather have posted on here about whether or not you thought viagra would be a good idea for me!

andrew.

[kanutripr]

Too late to go back. You left yourself open!




Vicki