8/0 thread breaks

[flyinghigh]

Hi,

Have been tying up some flies and decided to try out a thinner thread than the usual 3/0 or 6/0 I use so borrowed a spool of Olive Uni thread 8/0 and started tying but I only had started to tie in the tail of the fly and the thread snapped.
So I start again and this time while dubbing the thorax of the fly it broke. So is Uni a bad make or is 8/0 thread weaker than thicker threads.

Ps. Could the bobbin tension be the problem?

[squeeks]

Could be thread tension, or several other things, or it could be your bobbin

Strangely, I've got a an old **** metal one and a new veniards ceramic, and I was having more breakages with the ceramic

Unfortunately the old metal one has just fallen apart, so I'm looking for a few decent new ones

[Fishing Junkie]

Originally Posted by flyinghigh

Hi,

Have been tying up some flies and decided to try out a thinner thread than the usual 3/0 or 6/0 I use so borrowed a spool of Olive Uni thread 8/0 and started tying but I only had started to tie in the tail of the fly and the thread snapped.
So I start again and this time while dubbing the thorax of the fly it broke. So is Uni a bad make or is 8/0 thread weaker than thicker threads.

Ps. Could the bobbin tension be the problem?

What type of bobbin holder are you using? if it's one of the cheaper ones it could be that you have a small sharp edge in the tube somewhere.

I was having the same problem and I switched to a ceramic tubed holder and problem solved. I bought a stone fly one for around a fiver (as that was the only one in the shop) but there are better ones out there. I think I've read somewhere that Steve Parton does a really good one - he's a member on here so will probably be able to help.

[squeeks]

Originally Posted by Fishing Junkie

I think I've read somewhere that Steve Parton does a really good one - he's a member on here so will probably be able to help.

Might just give one of them a go, cheers

Flydressing Hardware

[guest21]

Originally Posted by flyinghigh

So is Uni a bad make or is 8/0 thread weaker than thicker threads.

Uni threads are excellent but yes, thinner threads of the same material are not as strong as thicker ones.

Thinner threads are less forgiving of 'jerky' tying and contact with the hook point or any roughness around the eye of the hook. It's worth investing in quality, ceramic bobbin holders - Tiemco, C&F etc that release thread smoothly.

Alternatively you could try a different thread in 8/0 such as Roman Moser Powersilk - very different characteristics to Uni thread but very strong. However, you'd definitely need a ceramic bobbin holder if you move to Powersilk.

[Flyfishing-UK]

Hi there I use uni 8/0 for 90% for my flies, took me a few gos to get used to the breaking strain but have used it for a couple of years or so as my main thread. I would say just practice using it more and hopefully you will become more familiar with the breaking point, remember that one of the main reasons for the thread snapping is when you catch it on the hook point without realising it. The bobbin could be another reason, I had one bobbin that just wouldn't agree with uni thread or any utc threads etc.

Good luck, I am sure some experienced tyers will post their thoughts on here (probably already have but I haven't read other posts). I have only been tying for a few years so am defo no expert.

[dabhoy]

Im not quite convinced with the bobbin holder or the style of tying suggestions but it could be.
I however wouldn't rule out it being an old batch of thread or a poor batch as I had problems last year, and so tried a new spool of thread and had no further problems.

[mot]

I dont know if anyone else has noticed this, but I find Uni threads of the same weight but of different colours are different strengths. For example, black 8/0 uni thread is much stronger than white 8/0 uni thread. I have no idea why but I'm certain, at least with the spools I have,that this is the case.

[kirksmeaton]

I use Uni 8/0 for most of my tying and have never had problems with thread breaking.....until, yep, I bought a spool of olive.

Maybe the olive is more fragile as others have suggested, or maybe it could just be a bad batch???

Olive is the ONLY colour 8/0 I have a problem with...all the others are fine

[Steve Walker]

Originally Posted by mot

I dont know if anyone else has noticed this, but I find Uni threads of the same weight but of different colours are different strengths. For example, black 8/0 uni thread is much stronger than white 8/0 uni thread. I have no idea why but I'm certain, at least with the spools I have,that this is the case.

I have black, red and olive 8/0 uni, and I've found exactly the same as you - the black is noticeably less troublesome.