ceramic bobbin holder breaking thread

[Allison]

Hi,

I just go a couple of new ceramic bobbin holders and they are breaking the thread at the end of the ceramic tube. Suggestions??

[FlyGirl2007]

Is the thread fraying or just a clean snap?

When my thread frays it is because I have pulled too much thread out and have run a specific section of the thread against the sides of the bobbin too many times, causing the thread to fray.

If its a clean snap, it could be a couple of things. When you tighten your thread on the fly, are you pulling the bobbin holder parallel with the thread or at an angle? If at an angle, the bobbin holder is causing a point of high pressure, which can cause the thread to snap at that junction.

Another problem I have run into is that the prongs that hold the bobbin is too tight, which will cause the thread to snap. Depending what type of bobbin holder you have, you might be able to adjust the tension of the prongs.

Let me know if you have further questions. Hope this helps!
~FlyGirl2007

[flytire]

Hi,

I just go a couple of new ceramic bobbin holders and they are breaking the thread at the end of the ceramic tube. Suggestions??

take or send them back to where you bought them. try the new ones out at your local fly shop before you purchase them.

[Sourdoughs]

A few other thoughts on this, when I had thread breaking on me constantly:
* Check for any nicks in the tip of the bobbin. I had a non-ceramic one with a nick that caused real problems. I haven't had a problem with my ceramic ones yet, though.
* Are you using inexpensive (cheap) thread? I had real problems with old Danville, but no problems with Uni
* I found that I'd catch the tip of the hook and fray the thread without knowing it a number of times, then realized what I was doing. Is this possible?

[Calvin1]

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but to build on Sourdough's observation. I've been tying a lot of streamers lately, and I was using 6 ott Uni thread. I wasn't really having any trouble, but while in the flyshop buying some other materials, I went looking for 3 ott thread, thinking, why not? The local doesn't carry Uni 3 ott (maybe they don't make a 3?) so I bought Danville. With a thread supposedly twice as strong (or big rather) than what I was using before, the crap snapped any time I tried to put any pressure on it. Needless to say, I took the three spools that I bought and chucked 'em.

[Allison]

I'm using good quality thread, that's not it, but you've all given me a few ideas on things I might be doing wrong. I have a feeling the thread tension may be too tight. Thanks gang!!

[FlyGirl2007]

The local doesn't carry Uni 3 ott (maybe they don't make a 3?) so I bought Danville. With a thread supposedly twice as strong (or big rather) than what I was using before, the crap snapped any time I tried to put any pressure on it. Needless to say, I took the three spools that I bought and chucked 'em.

Good idea regarding the chucking part. I have found in my experience that Danville thread isn't worth anything. The real bummer is that they have a nice variety of colors...

Sorry to hear that you wasted some $. :eek:

~FlyGirl2007 :beer2:

[bfic]

For all who think their Danville thread isn't worth anything - you can send all your 6/0 to me and I'll take care of it for you.

It's become annoyingly hard to find around here, not even listed in many of the catalogs and thay changed the size designation from 6/0 to some equally meaningless denier number.

FYI - Uni 6/0 is very heavy thread for trout fly tying (IMO). I wont even buy the stuff normally. Here is a link to a thread comparision article:


http://www.flyfisherman.com/ftb/ssthread/index1.html


My personal favorites

Danville 6/0 (a.k.a Flymaster) - for general fly tying
Bennichii (12/0) - For chironomids and small stuff
uni 8/0 - if I have too because I can't find any Danvilles

I bought some UTC 70 to test drive but haven't had the time lately.

[Ron Eagle Elk]

I'm another fan of Danville Flymaster. Been using it for 40 years and have never had a complaint. If I remember correctly (and it's possible I don't) Danville Flymaster has close to the same denier as Uni 8/0.

I've started using the Gordon Griffith's 12/0 and 14/0 for small flies, and have always used Pearsall's Gossamer Silk when I can.

[nb_ken]

We've kinda turned this post from bobbins to thread. Sorry about that.

Anyway, Uni and Danville are 2 different animals.

Danville is a nylon thread. It will untwist and lie real flat. Exactly what you want for smaller flies, but not so much if you're looking to build up streamers. It's also pretty stretchy. If you understand that, you can make it work to your advantage.

Uni is a bonded polyester. It has a much rounder profile and less stretch. Seems to be the easiest product to find in fly shops around here and works just fine in most applications.

Get used to denier. It's a textile-industry standard. I think most manufacturers will be abandoning the totally-arbitrary ought system and labeling their thread with denier.