Handy Little Tool (home made dubbing brush twister)

[letumgo]

Ah! Perfect. Thanks.

(I may be able to steal one of these from my wife's sewing supplies. Shhh..)

[William Anderson]

What a great thread.

Ray, I like your little spinner very much. It's something I may have to use, although I try to do more with less and eliminate additional tools. Seems silly when I've added a spinning block to the tying station, but each tool has its place, so to speak. I really like this this a lot. I have resolved to being about to twist the threads between my fingers without an additional tool to reach for, but I'll certainly give this a try.

Rodger, I saw Bill up-end the block and use that technique as well, and it worked very well for him. I haven't tried it, as my JDorin teardrop hackle pliers would not carry enough momentum to create much of a twist, but I look forward to seeing you perform your technique this summer. I like to take only 3-4 turns and look over the dubbing for strays or outliers and like you as I spin take the opportunity to fine tune the body.

Hans, I have managed to spend enough time working out the split thread with pearsalls and 14/0 to "technically" claim success. Although I wouldn't pretend to be any good at it. I have a number of Tups flies (trials) for the swap that I used the split thread technique to make the thorax and I have to admit...I am very tempted by the efficiency of the operation, lack of wax, tying on the fly using the tying thread, etc. I'll keep at it. Maybe at some point I'll insert some guard hairs and make a hair hackle softy with the technique. Then I will feel like I've actually accomplished something. I can see from all the videos and flies you've posted that it seems to be a natural solution for you. I like it.

So let me get this straight...I need to add another tool for twisting spun bodies, and a flattened needle tool for splitting threads. Maybe these should end up being the same tool.

w

[chase creek]

William, you've been around long enough to know you can never have enough tools (or hooks, or feathers, or silk, or .............)

[letumgo]

William - Yeah, this minimalist approach is never going to work. Just give in, and start collecting.

(yes - I am that evil little voice in your head. )

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

Are you guys NUTS ??? ..... dub-ya has been doing so
much with so little for so long that the next phase
for him is to tye flies of impressive magnitude
with absolutly nothing!!!!! , , .

dub-ya, sooner or later you're going to run out of things
to eliminate ...

hank

[daringduffer]

I have made a dubbing needle from a darning needle; flattened the sides and glued it into a five inch splitcane handle. The needle itself projects about half an inch from the handle which I have flattened somewhat at the junction, parallell to the needle flats. This tool gives me more precision as well as tactile and aesthetical pleasure.

(Come to think of it; it was a stainless surgical spike. A darning needle would work equally well).

dd

[wsbailey]

Awesome looking tool, Ray! I was thinking about making one myself. In searching the internet for materials I came across a site a wire bender like yourself might enjoy: http://www.stopmotionworks.com/articles ... mtures.htm. Bill

[letumgo]

Thanks Bill. Very cool link. Now I want one of the bending jigs. It would be very handy for making small gadgets and tools. Thanks for sharing.

[chase creek]

Ray - Google "Wire Bending Jig". Quite a selection to be had.
Seems to me that Radio Shack sold them, but that was a while ago.

[Roadkill]

A block of wood and a few nails have always worked as a fly tying tool jig for me.