Touch Dubbing Wire

[daringduffer]

[Mike,

Could you provide dimensions for that nice block, please? It would save some trial and error.

dd

Sure, here's a quick sketch, all dimensions in millimeters;



The block is a piece of waste hardwood from 25...30 mm thick. The saw cuts need to be made with a fine saw like a hacksaw or fretsaw with a fine blade. The cuts are 3...5 mm deep and 10mm apart, depth depends on the minimum length of dubbing you want to use, as you have to grasp what is left projecting from the slit with a clip. If you make them too deep you can't grasp short fibres, so make a trial piece first with just one slit. The depth you can use is also dependent on the width of the slit. A fine slit only needs to be 2mm deep.

To use, either pull hackles in by the stem across the slit. Or, place dubbing across the slit and pull it in with thread or wire. You can also use various fibres from hackles etc.

TL
MC

Thank you for your effort, Mike.

dd

[Mike Connor]

Brilliant design, Mike. I plan to build one of these in the future. This looks perfect for the Leisenring-style dubbed silk bodies. Thanks for sharing.

It does work well for quite a lot of things, however I did not "invent" or design it, somebody sent me a picture of a similar one a long time ago, and I simply made a couple from that. The picture in the post was also sent to me a while ago. I made a few of these for various people who were learning fly-dressing. It is cheap and quick to make and easy to use. Most people don't start out with all these tools and stuff, and quite a few are reluctant to spend much on stuff like this when they are just starting out.

I also have the magic tool set from Marc Petitjean, and a few other home made dubbing tools etc of various designs, some my own,and some from others. Dubbing is a very important aspect of fly-dressing so anything that helps is worthwhile.

TL
MC

[Mike Connor]

Thank you for your effort, Mike.
dd

My pleasure Stefan.

TL
MC

[Mike Connor]

Brilliant design, Mike.

Definitely love the looks of both this and the dubbing block, though I'm going to have a hard time explaining to my wife why a mitre box and a router are now essential to my flyfishing experience.

In actual fact I made a lot of these using one of the bandsaws in my workshop, this is a lot quicker and very precise, but you can make them easily enough with simple hand tools. Most people like these things to look good on the bench and so the finish is quite important. All I did was sand the blocks using fine sandpaper and then waxed them with beeswax. If you varnish them or something like that, don't varnish the dubbing slits.

One tip which a few people had problems with. The grain of the wood you use should run along the length of the block, otherwise the lips of the slits are prone to splitting. These have to be precise to give a good fold of the fibres you are using. If you have the tools you can make this from stainless steel or aluminium. Also, you can make small pieces of aluminium and epoxy them to the block at the right distances instead of sawing the block itself. This guarantees slit width precision, and slit depth.

You don't actually need a milling machine for this! Although that is what I used! One like this is adequate;

http://www.tphmachinetools.co.uk/prodin ... &machine=n


TL
MC

[Mike Connor]

http://www.tphmachinetools.co.uk/prodin ... &machine=n

I should point out here that I used to own a small machine shop, so I did not have to tell any fibs about machines or anything like that. If you buy a machine like this to make fly-dressing tools and other stuff, then please don't tell your wife or significant other that you need it because Mike Connor said it would improve your fly-fishing! I get into enough trouble without having to endure a barrage of protest from angry ladies!

Of course you can use these machines to make lots of other lovely stuff!

I LIKE tools and machines!!

TL
MC

[CreationBear]

Mike Connor said it would improve your fly-fishing

Thanks for elaborating--I was wondering about ways to control the depth/width of each "channel."

Now...I need a bigger house.

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

I KNEW I should have bought one of these instead;

http://keyperformance-raptor.com/index. ... del=410LEV

Comes with a 10' shop/garage in the back section with a drive up ramp.

hank