dubbing wax

[neilb]

whats the best dubbing wax available, have been using veniards but find it a little brittle

[monkeyhanger]

I got some recently as a freeby from Paul Little when he did a demo for Durham Fly fishers.

Its the best I have used.

John H

[Steve Walker]

Are the specialised dubbing waxes much better than simple beeswax? I bought a bag of beeswax pellets meant for candle making from Hobbycraft, which should last me years. I just melted a bunch of them down into a puck.

[midlander]

Originally Posted by neilb

whats the best dubbing wax available, have been using veniards but find it a little brittle

Best if you take a flake of it and warm it between finger and thumb before you draw the silk quickly though it Neil. Bees wax, as Steve points out, is a perfectly good wax in most cases.

[maharg]

I would actually question the need for waxed thread in most cases. Applying it to real silk treads I would agree with. For general tying I wonder what the point is. I believe wax was used mainly to protect and add strength to natural silks. Modern threads have no need for this. Some people would agrue that it helps when applying dubbing but I have never felt the need for it.
I also feel that a varnished head can be affected by the wax and it can turn milky.
But as with all things, if you like it and are happy with it, knock yourself out.
All the best,
Graham.

[midlander]

Originally Posted by maharg

I would actually question the need for waxed thread in most cases. Applying it to real silk treads I would agree with. For general tying I wonder what the point is. I believe wax was used mainly to protect and add strength to natural silks. Modern threads have no need for this. Some people would agrue that it helps when applying dubbing but I have never felt the need for it.
I also feel that a varnished head can be affected by the wax and it can turn milky.
But as with all things, if you like it and are happy with it, knock yourself out.
All the best,
Graham.

Well, yeah, same here Graham. I only use it for touch dubbing and anything where real silk is used. No real need for it in most applications. Still, the question was asked so I thought it was worth pointing out that a bit of body heat is all that's needed to make Veniard's wax perfectly adequate rather than spending the hard earned on anything else.

[boony]

As said warm a bit in your fingers, it will get dirty, but thats fine especially for silks as it protects and colurs them. Only use wax for seals fur and silks.

John.

[maharg]

As you say Alex. I had noticed the ball of wax I use had sort of crystallized and become very dry. I heated it up and gave it a wee mix through my hands and it has improved it. Your point about breaking a piece off is well made and it does help.

[stevekale]

Originally Posted by boony

As said warm a bit in your fingers, it will get dirty, but thats fine especially for silks as it protects and colurs them. Only use wax for seals fur and silks.

John.

Err that would colour them the wrong colour.

I use BT's Dubbing Wax. Take the top off and let it air a bit before use. It will soften and you won't need much. Just touch your forefinger gently down on it. Keep the wax - and your hands - clean else it will colour your thread and dubbing a nasty colour.

[sonnaghan]

Tongue in cheek, ask your local surgeon for a wee strip of bone wax. That wil add a nice sticky element to your tying material!!
If you cant chat up the local surgeon ask a friendly nurse to chat up the theatre sister. Better still chat up the theatre sister yourself. I married one. Didn't improve my flytying much and restricted the amount of time free to fish.