Clark's dubbing block

[gingerdun]

Thanks Stefan, yes I have not tried that. Have you? Here is Gunnar's drawing of that method, which I'm not sure I would like better than simply twisting the thread between thumb and forefinger.

[daringduffer]

No, I cut off the silk from the spool. Instead of a leather strip I use this white strip from a folder (easily replaced):



dd

[Kelly L.]

good idea!

[Kelly L.]

Well I have my Clark's Dubbing Block in working order, and I tied a few sample test runs out. I think I read in 2-3 days the wax will have set up, and the thread should not unravel. I wish I could test it tomorrow. I got a block from a very generous guy here, and I varnished it yesterday, and today. This is so exciting. I didn't want to make up too many this evening, in case I didn't use enough wax, or used too much fur, or whatever. I am going to try this out, and see how my samples came out. If they are good, I will make up a lot of these cards.

[Mike Connor]

If you use a paper glue stick instead of wax the dubbing brushes set up a lot more quickly. ( just a few minutes normally). The stick is easy and convenient to use. The glue simply washes out when the fly is used.

There are lots of these on the market, I usually use this;

http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... CEgQ8wIwAA

TL
MC

[Kelly L.]

That is a good idea Mike. I have several glue sticks left from when the kids were in school. I like the wax because of the colors you can turn your thread though. I have never used regular dubbing this way, so it is going to be cool to try it out. I am not sure how tying it in at the rear of the fly will look exactly. I guess I'd better take a look at that part. I don't want a tag for some flies, some I would. I guess you could stroke the fibers back a bit, to hide where the silk was first tied in.

[Mike Connor]

That is a good idea Mike. I have several glue sticks left from when the kids were in school. I like the wax because of the colors you can turn your thread though. I have never used regular dubbing this way, so it is going to be cool to try it out. I am not sure how tying it in at the rear of the fly will look exactly. I guess I'd better take a look at that part. I don't want a tag for some flies, some I would. I guess you could stroke the fibers back a bit, to hide where the silk was first tied in.

You can still use wax if you wish, just use the glue stick after waxing. That is one of the major disadvantages to using twisted thread dubbing loop bodies, especially on small flies it causes too much bulk, and in my opinion is basically unsuitable for that reason. Touch dubbing or using split thread, even the usual "twist noodle dubbing", is much better. If you want "even" bodies, then you need to be tying in the dubbing loop near the head of the fly and covering the thread with even turns. Tying things like that in at a single tie-in point at the tail is insecure and results in lumps and bulges. Using dubbing loops like that is also inaccurate and requires some practice to form bodies of the shape you want, and can be wasteful as all you can sensibly do is cut off the excess. The dubbed loops themselves are a fumble about. All in all I don't think it is a very good method at all, most especially not for small flies.

TL
MC

[Kelly L.]

Thanks for these points to consider. I have some high tack dubbing wax, and will be trying touch dubbing, whenever it arrives in an order I made. I will be thinking this over.

[Jim Slattery]

It only takes about 5 to 10 minutes for the Leisenring/Keene wax to set if that. The warmer the temperature of your tying area the longer it will take to set. You can always stick them in the frig. The wax is hard but softens when warmed as it cools down it hardens (sets)
The advantage of pre spun bodies is that you can have them in reserve when you need them. Typically if you pre spin 6 or 12 by the time you are done the first body is ready to use.
Hope this helps.
Jim

[Mike Connor]

Hi Jim,

I realise that this is something of a traditional Leisenring thing, but I never saw any particular advantage in it, indeed, all I can see are disadvantages!

TL
MC