Lately I have been tying some baitfish patterns that have flash heads. I have noticed while using the above method to apply the glue has problems when trying to cleanly remove the bodkin from the flash without dragging a bunch of the flash around, making a mess. It is not too big of a deal, but if you are anal like me about finishing your flies then you may appreciate this.
I went to a medical supply store down the street and bought a plastic syringe for $1.50 and filed it with ZAP GOO. It works awesome for applying the perfect amount of glue, right where you want it without disturbing the flash fibers.
A slight hesitation before pulling the syringe away will help keep the GOO from stringing.
I have also found that if you wipe the tip of the syringe with a paper towel between applications it helps keep everything clean.
-A
[Update] If you leave a little GOO poking out of the tip of the syringe, it dries and keeps all the rest of the glue nice and uncured. It is easy to pick off when you need to GOO again.
Also cutting off the threaded sheath around the tip with a razor makes it a little less cumbersome.
Check out the big brain on Alex!
ReplyDeleteGreat tip!
Creative problem solving disgusts me.
ReplyDeleteI am a disgusting kind of guy.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! I host a fly tying club in my garage one night a week in the winter months and have been hunting around for some good ideas to share with the guys. This one looks like a winner, we'll give it a try. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I also just recently learned that Tear Mender Fabric Cement works wonderfully for gluing zonker strips to thread-wrapped hooks.
ReplyDeleteFor example if you have an articulated fly, you can glue the ass end of the tied-in zonker from the front hook to the head of the second hook. This helps keep the second hook from fouling.
(Thanks Mike!)
-A