wax?

[JeffR]

Probably a bit of a numpty question, but I'll ask anyway, I'm not proud.....

I'm a lazy tyer basically, don't do huge amounts of dubbing and have never really bothered with wax after getting in a mess first time I tried - have managed ok with just fingers up til now. However, now I'm tying a few more river dries with dubbed bodies I thought I'd give wax another go. Bought some Veniard prepared fly tyers wax (not really what I was after but was all they had in local shop - its the hard wax in a sort of thick disc shape)...but its not very sticky is it? are you supposed to melt it a bit first or use some special trick, or is this type of hard wax really just for giving a bit more stiffness to thread? I suppose I should really buy the softer sticky stuff in a pritt-stick type tube, but this hard wax has got me puzzled.

[Former member 2]

No dont over do it, few runs on the thread. It also helps grip the hook better for anchoring down the base thread on those pesky patterns that want to keep spinning round the shank.

You dont want to see it on the thread just feel it when you run your finger along it.

[JeffR]

Ah, ok, that makes sense, thanks Pom. Tried some of that sticky liquid wax once before - yuk, what a mess - what you say sounds much more manageable and helpful.

[christy27]

No need to melt or use softer wax. When you pull the thread across the wax quite quickly the friction melts it. I was told many moons ago that it helps protect the hook from rust . I guess there is some sense there cos under the body of the fly could remain damp for some time.

[shuck raider]

Yep, the speed at which the thread is drawn through the wax is critical to cause friction and thus apply some wax to the thread.

I rarely use either tacky wax or beeswax any more. I think it was orginally used 'back in the day' before synthetic nylon/kevlar/whatever threads and organic material like silk or fine cotton was used for tying. The wax coating helped protect the thread from rotting too quickly

[Steve Walker]

I bought a bag of beeswax pellets from Hobbycraft and melted a handful of them down into a puck. I just run a lighter flame over the edge for a second (probably not necessary) and then rub it on the thread. Seems to work for me.

[monkeyhanger]

Paul Little does the best wax I have ever used. He give it out as a freeby when he did a presentation at Durham Flyfishers.

Not sure if he markets the stuff. Pity!

John H

[JeffR]

Fascinating - there's obviously a "wonderful world of wax" out there! And there was me thinking it was just for "intimate grooming"

[haresearnotthere]

Another option is to look at pre-waxed thread. I use Uni, which comes in waxed or unwaxed. Just enough on the waxed to hold the dubbing nicely, without building up on heads, or clogging the bobbin holder.

[horses50]

I always thought that as well as useing it for helping with dubbing that it also altered the colour of the thread?