Other Tips and Bits of Information

Other Tips and Bits of Information 

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Bobbin Threaders by Ed GallopThe plastic Floss Threaders used to thread floss under dental bridges make nice bobbin threaders.  Be sure to buy the longer loop eyed threaders such as those made by "Butler".  They are much better than the shorter needle eye style made by "FlossAid".

Personally, I seldom use a threader unless the bobbin tube and thread are too small to easily handle.  If you can easily insert the thread into the tube it is easier to suck the thread through by placing the tube in your mouth than to hunt down and insert a threader.  Be sure to leave enough slack in the thread when sucking to allow it to go all the way through the tube.

 

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The Cree Hackle Mystery by Ed Gallop. Cree is a brown-ginger, black, and white multi colored feather with chevrons similar to grizzly.   Brown grizzly (aka Cree) is from a hybrid crossbreed (brown and grizzly chickens), but it isn't real Cree.  Many tiers use the beautiful brown grizzly to replace the individual brown and grizzly hackle on flies such as the Adams but it doesn't have the contrast provided by the white in the grizzly hackle.  True Cree is extremely difficult to find so we settle on the next best thing...  The brown grizzly.

 

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Epoxy Fly Drying Stand by Kirk Dietrich.    Easily build this simple non-motorized drying stand to dry your flies evenly without sags in the epoxy.  Simple to build and simple to use.  Not to mention it will save you money by not having to buy a costly motorized drier.

 

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Retractable Dubbing Needle by Don Best Buy yourself 1 of those cheap mechanical pencils. Remove the eraser end and pull out the spring, lead and the little plastic that holds the lead in. Replace the lead with a sewing needle and put the whole thing back together. You now have a Bodkin with a retractable point that can be taken anywhere even in your pocket.

 

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Eyebrow Brush is a Useful Tool by Marlene FurtadoLook in the cosmetic department of a drug store and buy an eyebrow brush.  It has a small plastic comb on one end and a small brush on the other. (to roughen up dubbing).  It is inexpensive (few dollars) and the size of a bodkin.  While there pick up some "Sally Hansen's Hard As Nails" nail polish.  Makes a great shiny head cement. 

 

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Material Storage by Steve ?Use those wrapping paper spools left over from the holidays to store pheasant and other long feathered tails.  Insert in one end and remove from the other.

 

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Cement Jar Lids by Jeff Wilson:  Take the top off a ketchup bottle and put them onto of your head cement jars to keep from spilling and then all you do is flip the cap when you need it and use you bodkin to get the head cement out of the little hole in the cap.

 
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