wax for dubbing brushes

[ronr]

Roadkill very kindly gave me a Clark's dubbing block recently. Can the dubbing wax used for touch dubbing or dubbing loops be used to wax the silk for brushes. The threads I've read all talk about custom compounds made to be similar to the originators of this method, but seem hard to come by these days.

[Old Hat]

There are a lot of wax mixes that can be used and can be purchased. What you are after is a wax that is in semi-hard form, softens once worked and warmed up. This way you can easily wax the thread, add the dubbing, twist and then place the dubbing brush on a card to "cure". The "curing" means that the wax you used returns to a semi-hard state and cements the dubbing into the loop. You don't want something really soft or sticky like wax that is used for touch dubbing. Anything in a tube is probably too soft.

[hankaye]

ronr, Howdy;

Welcome to the forum, don't despair, a fella here makes some mighty fine waxes
and other stuff, and he'll probably pop up in a day or 2.

hank

[wsbailey]

I don't know if Hank was referring to me but I do make several waxes including one very similar to the one Leisenring made.

[letumgo]

I’ve used all of Bill Bailey’s waxes an can personally attest to their excellent quality. I’d recommend the tiers wax, for starters on dubbed silk bodies for Flymph.

LINK ADDED LATER: https://feathersmc.com/product/cobblers-wax/
https://feathersmc.com/product-category ... tying-wax/
https://www.tenkarabum.com/fly-tying-materials.html

Jim Slattery also offers a true Leisenring wax.

There is another company offering three harnesses of “North Country Spider Wax”, but I can’t remember who at this time.

EDIT/LINK ADDED LATER: https://www.greatfeathers.com/product/h ... -721-621-2
HANDMADE NORTH COUNTRY SPIDER WAX – 722, 721, 621

Several members here have made their own dubbing wax from scratch. Bill Shuck (tie2fish) posted a recipe for his fine wax.

[hankaye]

wsbailey, Howdy;

Yup, you the one! I just couldn't remember how ya spelled your last name
and didn't want to get it wrong.

hank

[wsbailey]

My version of Leisenring's wax is nearly the same except I don't use lard. I imagine that this was the most available choice for him. Once, on my way back from the NJ fly tying show I made a rest stop in PA. For a mindless munch I bought a bag of chips. They tasted a bit different so l looked at the label; they had been fried in lard. The basic wax recipe is very common in British fly tying literature. The amount of resin used is almost always the same proportion but wax and fat amounts are usually different. Tallow seems to be the most common choice for the fat. I've made and tinkered with nearly all of them. What I have found is that you have to adjust the proportions according to the materials you use. Resin can dry out and then you need more fat. Different fats change the character of the wax. I have been making and testing wax for years, summer and winter, tweaking the formulas as I go. I have reached the point where I don't how I could make them any better. Since I sell my waxes; shelf life is a concern. This is where years of experience is helpful. I make my waxes to be stable over the long haul. If anyone chooses to make Leisenring's wax I would suggest cutting the recipe in half. He wasn't known as Big Jim for nothing.

[daringduffer]

He wasn't known as Big Jim for nothing.

dd

[wsbailey]

It's amazing to me how many people have taken Marvin Nolte's 721 wax formula and claimed it as their own. One fellow actually calls it cobbler's wax. Making wax like Leisenring did is a lot of work and somewhat dangerous. Melting the ingredients takes 15 or 30 minutes and pulling the wax takes another 15 or 20 minutes. Except for real cobbler's wax made with pitch; no wax makes a more durable fly.

[ronr]

I’ve used all of Bill Bailey’s waxes an can personally attest to their excellent quality. I’d recommend the tiers wax, for starters on dubbed silk bodies for Flymph.

LINK ADDED LATER: https://feathersmc.com/product/cobblers-wax/
https://feathersmc.com/product-category ... tying-wax/
https://www.tenkarabum.com/fly-tying-materials.html

Jim Slattery also offers a true Leisenring wax.

There is another company offering three harnesses of “North Country Spider Wax”, but I can’t remember who at this time.

EDIT/LINK ADDED LATER: https://www.greatfeathers.com/product/h ... -721-621-2
HANDMADE NORTH COUNTRY SPIDER WAX – 722, 721, 621

Several members here have made their own dubbing wax from scratch. Bill Shuck (tie2fish) posted a recipe for his fine wax.

thanks to all of you who have responded with your wax recommendations. I'll reach out to Mr. Bailey for some.