Tubes stuck on mandrel

[Oneweight]

Just started tying tubes and my first attempts look good....however, the tube is stuck on the mandrel and does not slide off. Fly looks great......but tough to fish with a post in it. Using the smaller mandrel from the H&H kit and micro tubing. Are my ties to tight or what am I doing wrong? Any suggestions?

thx

[Anil]

One question; are you using the HMH ‘Starter Tube Kit’ or the ‘Deluxe Tube Kit’? The problem may be slightly different because one comes with pins and the other has tapered mandrels.

If you are using the starter kit, I can think of several possible issues. Your pin may have an irregularity or nick in it. You may be pushing the tube too far onto the pin and forcing it around the bend (at the tip). Or the final possibility is that you are applying too much pressure with your thread, which compresses the tube. I doubt you are putting “too much” pressure, but it’s possible.

With the mandrels in the deluxe kit, there is less likelihood of an irregularity with the mandrel. However, because of the taper at the front end of the mandrel, you are even more likely to accidentally force the tube too far onto a mandrel than on a pin.

Both of the tools have a small ‘tooth’ on the front edge of the base. Instead of pushing the micro tubing all the way to the front of the pin or mandrel, leave a small gap. This ‘tooth’ will hold the rear of the tube in place, without having to jam the tube all the way onto the pin or mandrel. If you utilize the tooth, the mandrel mostly just adds rigidity to the fairly soft micro tubing.

If none of this sounds right, let me know. Maybe it’s something else entirely?

Anil
www.pugetsoundflyco.com

[ibn]

I have this problem pretty often, mine stems from "too much preassure" as anil puts it. I'm willing to bet that's your problem as well, it squeezes the tube and prevents you from sliding it off the mandril. what I do to get it off is grab 2 pairs of needlenose plyers, I grab the end of the mandril with one, and then I use the other one to genlty grab the tube and try to pull it off, it usually works, but sometimes it will jack up your wraps.

I've found that if I use fewer wraps I don't have this problem.

[Hywel]

Oneweight,

I think a common thought among (tube fly) tyers is to think that the mandrel itself is used to prevent the tube from 'rolling'. Doesn't the jawset or collet in a tube fly vise (or ring in a tube fly adaptor) serve that purpose? That being said, I use the mandrel soley as a means keeping the tube itself rigid.

As Anil alluded to, too much thread preasure may cause the walls of your plastic tubing to collapse. (The HMH Micro Tubing especially.) A trick I learned was to lighly coat the collet with silicone prior to inserting it in the tube. The silicone acts as a lubricant and makes it much easier to remove the finished fly - especially if you've been a little 'heavy handed' with your thread wraps.

Hywel

[Oneweight]

thx all and special thx to Anil for the Shock n Awe lesson last week. You guys have a killer shop and excellent service. Basically, a good group of dudes and will be back.