head varnish tips

[epoxy1]

can some-one give me some tips on how to apply varnish to a finished fly without making a mess ie getting the hackle covered in varnish,covering the hook eye. am i using to much
im using a dubbing needle to apply the varnish

[steve collyer]

I just use a needle & dip it into the varnish so that the tip barely breaks the surface tension.
You should then end up with a tiny bead of varnish on the tip which is often only enough to cover 1/2 a head on a size 12 fly!
A steady hand & obviously applying the varnish while the fly remains in the vice also helps.

[tinsoldier]

A hackle guard will stop u covering the fly with varnish if your applying to much ,simply put over the hook eye and this traps the fibres back and then add yer varnish.

[goldenolive]

tear a small piece of paper, pierce a tiny hole where the hook eye will go through.
push the paper over the head, this will shield the hackles from the varnish.

then use a needle to apply a thin coat of varnish.
varnish like sally hansen hard as nails is very good.

then get a hackle and strip off the lower half, then pull the stalk of the feather down through the hook eye to clean out the varnish remaining in the hook eye

[arkle]

If you are still having "issues" put a small bead of varnish on the tensioned thread just above the head of the fly before you whip finish.

[midlander]

Originally Posted by steve collyer

I just use a needle & dip it into the varnish so that the tip barely breaks the surface tension.
You should then end up with a tiny bead of varnish on the tip which is often only enough to cover 1/2 a head on a size 12 fly!
A steady hand & obviously applying the varnish while the fly remains in the vice also helps.

Ditto. For smaller flies use a thinner needle.