Recycling your hooks

[Pritts Apprentice]

This is definately one for the fly tyers only but it would be interesting to know how many of you re use your hook from an old worn out fly to make a new one. Taking in to account the hook is still in servicable condition, how many people take the time to clean away the material debris of the old fly and then reuse the hook for the next new one. In this throw away society of ours I would imagine when a fly is finished with its just chucked in the bin, I would draw the line out re-using the material itself though

[Wee Jimmy]

That'll be a big yes from me then........miserable git....

[flyinghigh]

I only really clean hooks for special hook like salmon doubles or trebles gold hooks etc that are either expensive or unusual but other than that too much trouble, last time I was bothered todo it I took a large chunk of skin off my thumb with the razor.

[wobbly face]

Must confess, I have done it but tend to find that the hook soon goes blunt and when sharpend tend to go rusty. Its also very fiddly, much quicker and easier to use a new hook.

[shpeil]

Definately. But then, most of my recycled hooks are not worn out by fish, but are rejected tyings, so the hook is still in good nick. I have been known to re-use materials. There's a limit to how useful that is though. Taking a pinch of marabou from a cat's whiskers' tail to use as breathers on a buzzer works, but harder with other stuff.

[Pritts Apprentice]

Sounds as if people find it fiddley and time consuming to clean the hook, which is as I thought. Looks like there is a niche in the Gizmo market for somthing which can easily strip a fly down to the naked hook. Any inventors out there that want to make themselves a fortune, now there's an idea!

[iamasmith]

Well, I haven't reused old flies yet but I have abandoned flies when a herl or thread broke at a particularly bad point. Usually with this there's no varnish etc. to really seal things up so I just use a craft knife to saw the dressing off along the top of the hook, dust it off and start again.

[Charliea1234]

Blowtorch ?

Charlie

[MaxMckinstrie]

Originally Posted by Charliea1234

Blowtorch ?

Charlie

Was just thinking that while reading this lol,

I also strip my badly tied flys, usually the ones that i tied when i started fly tying and are dreadfull , Hooks are getting expensive nowadays

[flyinghigh]

Originally Posted by Charliea1234

Blowtorch ?

Charlie

Blowtorch wouldn't work as it may damage the hook possibly due to it changing the molecular structure of the hooks but something like a candle or lighter may work due to the lower temp.