Dubbing techniques

[treetrouter]

Please forgive me if this has been done to death before. What determines the choice of whether to use split thread or a dubbing loop - is it simply down to whether the thread can be split? if not, what are the pros/cons of the two techniques?

[Watersplatter]

For me size matters If I am tying something small/slim or a CDC parachute hackle I would always use split thread however if tying larger/fatter bodies I would use the loop.

[richardw]

Originally Posted by treetrouter

Please forgive me if this has been done to death before. What determines the choice of whether to use split thread or a dubbing loop - is it simply down to whether the thread can be split? if not, what are the pros/cons of the two techniques?

Have you considered simply dubbing onto the thread without doubling or splitting? It depends how slim you want the bodies of your flies but I do nearly all my dry flies that have dubbed bodies by simply dubbing straight onto the thread.

richard

[Vermontdrifter]

On small flies (16 and under) which is most of what I tie, I use split thread dubbing but that is more due to my clumsiness in getting even distribution of dubbing when I just put it on the thread. The only time I use a loop is if I'm using CDC fibers for dubbing.

Take care

Terry

[mot]

I find I can get a much more scruffy body on things like hares ears if I use a loop and attack it aggressively with velcro after. Never tried but I don't think Uni thread splits that well and bulk isn't a problem in the sizes I tie so I find a loop works fine. Quite a lot of the time I just dub directly onto the thread though.

[vgb]

An old link from the past but I found it very useful:

UKFlyDressing - Dubbing Techniques

[wingman]

Originally Posted by mot

I find I can get a much more scruffy body on things like hares ears if I use a loop and attack it aggressively with velcro after. Never tried but I don't think Uni thread splits that well and bulk isn't a problem in the sizes I tie so I find a loop works fine. Quite a lot of the time I just dub directly onto the thread though.

Uni thread splits quite easily Mot, just de-spin the thread so that it flattens out then use a sharp needle to split it.

[dabhoy]

Originally Posted by wingman

Uni thread splits quite easily Mot, just de-spin the thread so that it flattens out then use a sharp needle to stick in your finger.

Yip thats what I do

[roll cast]

Rolling the fibres around the thread works well for softer dubbing like baby seal and hare's fur.

However for stiffer materials like adult seal or squirrel then a dubbing loop works well and means that you can roughen the dubbing out more without fibres pulling out of the body.

And as mentioned before the split thread works well for smaller bodies on dry flies or spiders

[mot]

Originally Posted by wingman

Uni thread splits quite easily Mot, just de-spin the thread so that it flattens out then use a sharp needle to split it.

Does it.... Hmm must have a bash at that, sure I read somewhere it didn't but must have imagined it. Thanks