Drying even epoxy head issues...

[Flyfishsteel]

Hello, I just bought some clear drying 30 min epoxy to tie some saltwater flies, but I have one problem, the epoxy seems to drip down while drying and limits me to using the epoxy on the heads one at a time.

I thought I saw a rotating machine somewhere that rotated multiple flies so that the glue will dry evenly on the head. Where can I buy such a thing, or is there another technique out there?

PS: Or should I of bought the 5 min drying and have less dripping and rotating between flies?

Thanks for the help!

[Matt Burke]

I only use 5 minute on my heads. Just turn them on my nor vise by hand until they're dry and it looks good. I'd go nuts rotating that vise for thirty, plus not being able to get very many flies done up.

[kodiaksalmon]

You can find the drying motors in Cabela's, Madison River Fishing, Kaughman's, anywhere. I use both 5 and 30 minute epoxy on my flies. I built a little rack on my fly tying table for drying flies. It's just little paper clips that I hang the fly off of, and if the pattern allows, I'll let it cure on there. The epoxy will run a little bit down towards the tail of the fly, and will self level itself around the fly.

Jeff

[FT]

Any of the various rod drying motors would work to turn an epoxy coated fly while it is drying. The battery operated one from Flex Coat might be ideal for you. Also, you can easily make one for yourself with a rotisserie motor (you can get these at places like Home Depot and Lowe's) or one of the inexpensive low-rpm electric motors available from on-line suppliers of small electric motors.

I've been using a short section (18") of 1/2 plastic CPVC water supply pipe (easy to get at hardware stores) that has foam pipe insulation put over it. This makes it very easy to put a lot of flies in it at a time to dry, especially since the pipe insulation will slip when held, allowing placement of each epoxy coated fly without turning the drying motor off.

Using such a dryer is far easier and results in much nicer epoxy fly heads than babysitting and turning the fly in your vise as it dries. And you can mix up a batch of epoxy, coat the heads of many flies at once, and place each one on the dryer as soon as it is coated when held in the fingers of your left hand.

[ibn]

I've got a rotating disk, http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=5983&cat=500&page=2 - they work great, I use 30 min epoxy as well. I got mine at puget sound fly co. I'm sure you can order them online or get them from your nearest shop.

[AndreD]

Thhis may be of interest to you. I hope its ok to post this link. If not I will take it out.

http://globalflyfisher.com/tiebetter/epoxy_rotor/

Andre

[Backyard]

I've been messing with Loons UV stuff for a few months now... and love it!

http://loonoutdoors.com/uvproducts.html

You just squeeze it on and zap it with a uv light or let it rotate in the sun and it instantly dries completly clear with hardly any air bubbles.

[alpinetrout]

5 min epoxy is fine if you plan to burn through all the flies you use it on within the next 6 to 12 months. Otherwise it tends to turn yellow, even the good stuff that claims it won't. After a few years it will even start to soften slightly. 30 minute epoxy will stay clear a lot longer and dries harder. Also, if you're doing a batch of flies, the working time is much longer so you can apply it to more flies before you have to mix a new batch.

[Willie Bodger]

I've been messing with Loons UV stuff for a few months now... and love it!

http://loonoutdoors.com/uvproducts.html

You just squeeze it on and zap it with a uv light or let it rotate in the sun and it instantly dries completly clear with hardly any air bubbles.

So, you use the UV Knot Sense? Can you build up an epoxy-like head with that? I agree with alpine, not real crazy about the 5 minute epoxy...

wb

[Randy Diefert]

Mines a combination of FT's and IBN's. I got a battery powered rotisserie motor for $2.50 at a thrift store. Took a dowel rod and glued it to the chuck on the motor and took an 8" plate and drew the ouline on a sheet of Styrofoam and doubled that. Works fine for me and it was cheap (the best part).

[sano2b8]

I just went to Home Depot and got a rotisserie attachment for a weber bbq and put together a small stand for it from scrap wood. I skewer a piece of old foam or cardboard on the "skewer" and can turn a ton of flies.

I agree with the above posts, go with the 5 minute epoxy. Total cost, about 40.00.

Good luck,

sano2b8

[Dylan D]

So, you use the UV Knot Sense? Can you build up an epoxy-like head with that? I agree with alpine, not real crazy about the 5 minute epoxy...

wb

Yes, you can build up a head with it. It may take several layers, but it can be done. And in a minute or less with the little UV light you can buy.

[FT]

Another thing you can do (but the fumes can get to you and your fingers can get glued to the fly or each other very fast, so be careful) is get one of the medium viscosity or thick super glues at a model airplane store and a bottle of Zip Kicker (super glue hardening accelerant). Use a bodkin to put a drop or two of Zip Kicker on the area you are going to coat, then use a toothpick to put the medium or thick super glue on the head. It will set up almost instantly (it actually takes a few seconds) and your head is done.

I much prefer 5 minute epoxe and a turner of some sort because it is far safer and you don't have to worry about the fumes. But if you are only going to be tying 3 or 4 epoxy head flies, the above super glue with Zip Kicker method is not a bad option.