Finishing a fly

[cgaskell]

How do you accurately apply head cement over the whip finish/half hitch on a small fly?

[wobbly face]

A very fine needle/pin. Make sure you clear any cement/varnish from the eye.

[muddler daddy]

I apply the head cement to the thread just before the half hitch - dont need much ! Also you can apply with a dab of head cement on the point of your bodkin carefully !!

MD

[tinsoldier]

also u can buy a hackleguard then varnish the head without worrying,depending on how small a hook Hackle Guard - Vices & Tools just stick the head in the hole voila!!

[richardw]

Originally Posted by cgaskell

How do you accurately apply head cement over the whip finish/half hitch on a small fly?

Use the brush in the bottle of Hard as Nails.

Pull all the hackles back with the fingers and thumb of the other hand. Wipe off excess varnish from the brush by dragging it on the inside of the bottle neck. Then holding the brush with the first finger and thumb brace the other fingers on the vice stem. Then simply push the end of the brush bristles over the eye and the turns of thread, stopping as you reach the hackle roots so that none gets on the hackles. Withdraw the brush and put it back in the bottle, tighten the top so the varnish doesn't thicken up. Then take the hackle tip out of the hackle pliers and poke it through the eye of the hook whilst the varnish is still wet.

Job done.

richard

[s fontinalis]

I use one of these

[horses50]

You can use one of those fontinalis but you have got keep the head cement [varnish] thin.

[mancfly]

Originally Posted by richardw

Use the brush in the bottle of Hard as Nails. But trim down the outer fibres to make a much thinner brush. Swish the brush in acetone before you do this so the fibres don't set hard as you trim

Pull all the hackles back with the fingers and thumb of the other hand. Wipe off excess varnish from the brush by dragging it on the inside of the bottle neck. Then holding the brush with the first finger and thumb brace the other fingers on the vice stem. Then simply push the end of the brush bristles over the eye and the turns of thread, stopping as you reach the hackle roots so that none gets on the hackles. Withdraw the brush and put it back in the bottle, tighten the top so the varnish doesn't thicken up. Then take the hackle tip out of the hackle pliers and poke it through the eye of the hook whilst the varnish is still wet.

Job done.

richard

I like to use the the very thin, extra quick drying Benecchi head glue, applied with the needle, for the first coat. Then the Sally for subsequent coats. Usually i just use the Benecchi or bees wax though.

[richardw]

Originally Posted by richardw
Use the brush in the bottle of Hard as Nails. But trim down the outer fibres to make a much thinner brush. Swish the brush in acetone before you do this so the fibres don't set hard as you trim

Pull all the hackles back with the fingers and thumb of the other hand. Wipe off excess varnish from the brush by dragging it on the inside of the bottle neck. Then holding the brush with the first finger and thumb brace the other fingers on the vice stem. Then simply push the end of the brush bristles over the eye and the turns of thread, stopping as you reach the hackle roots so that none gets on the hackles. Withdraw the brush and put it back in the bottle, tighten the top so the varnish doesn't thicken up. Then take the hackle tip out of the hackle pliers and poke it through the eye of the hook whilst the varnish is still wet.

Job done.

richard

Originally Posted by mancfly

I like to use the the very thin, extra quick drying Benecchi head glue, applied with the needle, for the first coat. Then the Sally for subsequent coats. Usually i just use the Benecchi or bees wax though.

I've never found the need to trim the brush. The ends seem to be cut off at an exact right angle, which gives a very straight end on edge and so makes control an easy matter.

richard

[elite fishing]

Originally Posted by muddler daddy

I apply the head cement to the thread just before the half hitch - dont need much ! Also you can apply with a dab of head cement on the point of your bodkin carefully !!

MD

i also apply to thread