Washington Fly Fishing Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Fly tying tools

Jump to Latest
21 - 38 of 38 Posts
#22 ·
Nick Clayton said:
I'm a big fan of both the Rite Bobbins and the Stonfo Bobbins though I think I slightly prefer the Rite because the thread tensioner knob is easy to bump on the Stonfo while tying. Not a big deal but worth noting.

In the last couple of months I've added an Ekich Bobbin, a Smhaen bobbin, and a TMC magnetic bobbin. Expensive, but the Ekich is just amazing. Nicest bobbin I've ever used. The Smhaen is also fantastic, but again quite spendy. Haven't used the TMC much yet.

I have more scissors than I can count. My favorite to tie with daily are these from Wiss.

https://www.amazon.com/1570B-Quick-...KGJHM1TAC94E&keywords=wiss+snips&qid=1550783116&s=gateway&sprefix=Wiss+&sr=8-15

Super cheap, last a long time, and very comfortable. I tie with scissors in my hand and these are so comfy it's crazy. Not great for fine work but for cutting most materials, threads etc and standard use they are incredible.

Most of the other fly tying scissors on the market are pretty much identical with a different label on them so just pick a pair you like. I have scissors from Dr. Slick, Anvil, Loon, Rising, Coen, Tiemco and many others and they are all just fine.

My favorites are these from Tiemco. Expensive as hell but the nicest I've ever used.
https://www.amazon.com/Umpqua-Tiemc...null_1?keywords=Tiemco+umpqua+scissors&qid=1550783373&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

In general the Loon ergo tools are all very nice to use and not too expensive.

Ultimately I think it's hard to go wrong with most of the brands available these days.
Click to expand...
Best damn bobbin out there...
Image

Thread tension is achieved with the palm.
It's all about the "feel"...when tyin'. :)
 
#23 ·
FinLuver said:
Best damn bobbin out there...
View attachment 193948
Thread tension is achieved with the palm.
It's all about the "feel"...when tyin'. :)
Click to expand...
Meh the best is what feels best to you
I have lots of bobbins but I much prefer being able to set the thread tension where I want it
If the hand was capable of providing smooth constant tension all the time the blue water saltwater guys would use nothing but cheaper click and pawl reels when targeting GTs ;)
 
#24 ·
dogsnfish said:
Nick, which of the Ekich bobbins do you have? I have used the older metal style trout and steelhead for years and love them. I want to get another and was looking at the new version.
Click to expand...
I got the standard metal style with the ceramic insert. I debated back and forth about getting the newer plastic one but it only came in a stainless steel tube and I kinda wanted ceramic. Man the more I tie on it and become used to it the more I am loving this thing
 
#27 ·
Image


Image


When I tied commercially, I'd twist up 1500 dozen from Halloween to Easter and then more for my guide trips.

When I did tying demos for FFF and TU clubs the subject of tying tools often came up. I would tell guys the same thing, "They make a LOT of tying tools. Some wear out, some are cheap, some are expensive. Buy tools that suit you, but if you want to be efficient, get tools that fit your hands well. Like scissors. Buy ones that fit your hand so well you're not tempted to lay them down while you do other things because that wastes time. If you are fighting your bobbins or tearing thread; replace them.

The brands and styles are varied because fly tiers, as a group, tend to be gear heads. We tend to look for a product that makes the process easier or faster or whatever. The answer isn't universal; find what works for you and don't be afraid to ask a fellow tier if you could try out one or two of what they like.

Be prepared to have a box of tools that didn't work for you. I have a bunch of scissors that just didn't work.

Trapper
 
#28 ·
All of those items look all too familiar... Bought a set of those "magic" dubbing brush clamps used once...whip finishing tools...meh! my fingers turned out not to be so fat and clumsy after all...
 
#29 · (Edited)
Nick Clayton said:
I'm a big fan of both the Rite Bobbins and the Stonfo Bobbins though I think I slightly prefer the Rite because the thread tensioner knob is easy to bump on the Stonfo while tying. Not a big deal but worth noting.

In the last couple of months I've added an Ekich Bobbin, a Smhaen bobbin, and a TMC magnetic bobbin. Expensive, but the Ekich is just amazing. Nicest bobbin I've ever used. The Smhaen is also fantastic, but again quite spendy. Haven't used the TMC much yet.

I have more scissors than I can count. My favorite to tie with daily are these from Wiss.

https://www.amazon.com/1570B-Quick-...KGJHM1TAC94E&keywords=wiss+snips&qid=1550783116&s=gateway&sprefix=Wiss+&sr=8-15

Super cheap, last a long time, and very comfortable. I tie with scissors in my hand and these are so comfy it's crazy. Not great for fine work but for cutting most materials, threads etc and standard use they are incredible.

Most of the other fly tying scissors on the market are pretty much identical with a different label on them so just pick a pair you like. I have scissors from Dr. Slick, Anvil, Loon, Rising, Coen, Tiemco and many others and they are all just fine.

My favorites are these from Tiemco. Expensive as hell but the nicest I've ever used.
https://www.amazon.com/Umpqua-Tiemc...null_1?keywords=Tiemco+umpqua+scissors&qid=1550783373&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

In general the Loon ergo tools are all very nice to use and not too expensive.

Ultimately I think it's hard to go wrong with most of the brands available these days.
Click to expand...
Now have three Ekich bobbins...have had a great many other bobbins over the past 50 years but nothing compares to the Ekich for ease of use and quality. Pricey, but worth it. Pair an Ekich bobbin with a Norvise and threadpost is the shizznitz.
 
#30 ·
candr said:
I have tried a few different bobbins over the years. My favorite is the jvice - I like the design with the angled bobbin tube. I like to put a lot of tension on my thread when I wrap and this is when I have really noticed that a high quality ceramic tube makes a lot of difference particularly with the fine threads that I use more often. I prefer the bullet head bobbins for finger grip but they usually have very cheap tubes. I found someone online that sells very high quality ceramic tubes made in Japan. I cut off and then drilled out the cheap bobbin tube and epoxied the high quality tube in place with the tube at the length I prefer. Works really well and I can lay down tight wraps without breaking thread.

For scissors, they are spendy but Renomed makes very nice scissors that last a long time.

View attachment 193916 View attachment 193917 View attachment 193918
Click to expand...
Has the J Vice bobbin been discontinued? Can't find it on their site.
 
#32 ·
I like my Rite bobbins but I also have a bobbin with a little hole near the top that makes swapping threads really easy. Don't know who makes it, but wish I did. I just learned there's such a thing as a "pin vise" that nicely holds a sewing needle, so now I have an ever sharp, always clean bodkin:

Image
 
#34 · (Edited)
I use to ask for a new scissor every Christmas. I ran across these 4 years ago. Best dang finebpoint scissor i have ever used. Thumb finger hole is a little too small for me. But these sray sharp and are way better than any scissor i have founf in a fly shop. Im on year 3 now
Image
 
#35 ·
My scissors are Anvil & Dr. Slick products. I don't abuse them and I do touch-up the blades periodically. I prefer scissors with serrations along 1 blade for cutting hair. I cut wire/lead/quills/etc. when such is necessary with inexpensive craft store beading nippers that allow me to cut very close to the hook. I own no expensive bobbins; mine tend to be middle-of-the-road offerings, but I have a lot of them - I'd rather keep bobbins spooled with different colors/sizes/types of thread than take time to re-spool a bobbin frequently. I have a small section of surgical tubing on every bobbin (maybe 1/8" long, which slides loosely over the tube & stretches to fit snugly over the bobbin yoke); I pull it off and reinstall to lock-down the tag end of the thread when a bobbin is not in use. This effectively prevents loose spool wraps/tangles and the tubing also serves as a hackle guard when needed - I slide it off of the bobbin, along the tying thread & over the eye of the hook to hold errant fibers out of the way when finishing a head. This is inexpensive & works better than any of the various & sundry hackle guards that this old man has tried over the years.
 
#38 ·
Ask Your Dentist
An old shepards hook explorer makes into and excellent bodkin. A barbed broach is an excellent tool for manipulating dubbing on the fly. Scissors - I've got a pair because I can but I paid in excess of $100 for them. Old dental scissors that are no longer good for the dentist are probably dull and no good for fly tying - I've tried. Back in the day when analog x-rays were popular the lead backing could be used for lead head jigs (Re; Do it molds). A beaver tail burnisher is an excellent little tool for keeping the silk tight when wrapping guides. Its polished stainless steel and I haven't found it departed an unwanted color on the thread - I use agate as well

Doug
 
21 - 38 of 38 Posts
About this Discussion
37 Replies
24 Participants
Last post:
Meeshka
Washington Fly Fishing Forum
posts
1.8M
members
24K
Since
2000
A forum community dedicated to fishers, anglers and enthusiasts in the Washington area. Come join the discussion about safety, gear, boats, tackle, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General Fly Fishing Discussions Member Classifieds Fly Tying Saltwater Anadromous