Pearsall's brown gossamer breaks easily?

[CM_Stewart]

I've been tying a bunch of Stewart Black Spiders lately, and have had a real problem with the Pearsall's brown gossamer thread breaking. I'm sure it isn't a problem with my bobbin holder (Matarelli midge), as I use it for other colors of Pearsall's gossamer and only have the breaking problem with the brown.

The only saving grace is I've been tying them Stewart's way, and wrapping the starling feather around the thread does seem to reinforce the thread.

Anybody else having a problem with this thread?

[GlassJet]

Not brown, but i did once have that problem with an orange Pearsall's. I ended up throwing it away and getting another, putting it down to experience.

[letumgo]

I had that problem with a spool of red Pearsall's Gossomer silk. I was still able to use the stuff, but had to be delicate when tying materials in. It could be frustrating to finish a fly and break it during the whip finish operation. I may have replaced that spool eventually, because I can't remember having the same problem the last time I used my red silk.

[DNicolson]

I had this problem with Pearsalls Black a few years ago.
I subsequently read in a Skues book, that this problem
with the Black was quite common.
A chemical problem in the dye was suspected. It was suggested
that the Black was left in the dye longer than other colours.

[Klaas]

Maybe a spool that has been in the sun a bit to long?

Klaas

[Old Hat]

Maybe the silk worms came in contact with some DDT. I just tossed a claret with the same problem. Very frustrating. Never had a problem with any other color.

[flyfishwithme]

Remember the older thread (if you are lucky to have some) was dyed using vegetable extracts. Since the late 1900's alternatives have been used. I have found breakage to occur sometimes with my older threads (I have 50 plus spools in the older colours that are older than 20 years) and when this occurs I do two things (a) take a bit more care when waxing it and (b) if that doesn't work, I get rid of a few metres and it seems to overcome the problem.
Now, when not in use, you should also place the threads in a dark place (or tin/box) as they do fade in direct light.

[GlassJet]

Remember the older thread (if you are lucky to have some) was dyed using vegetable extracts. Since the late 1900's alternatives have been used.

Yes, and don't you think those colours are more pleasing? More muted, somehow...

There is something of a howler in Fogg's latest and otherwise excellent book, where he says that he uses Pearsall's so that he knows he is tying the flies in exactly the same colours as they were a couple of hundred years ago or whatever - which isn't the case at all - unless he too has a stash of the very old stock...

Andrew

[hankaye]

Remember the older thread (if you are lucky to have some) was dyed using vegetable extracts. Since the late 1900's alternatives have been used. I have found breakage to occur sometimes with my older threads (I have 50 plus spools in the older colours that are older than 20 years) and when this occurs I do two things (a) take a bit more care when waxing it and (b) if that doesn't work, I get rid of a few metres and it seems to overcome the problem.
Now, when not in use, you should also place the threads in a dark place (or tin/box) as they do fade in direct light.

Philip, you may have hit the 'nail on the head'. The Alternatives would be chemicals and as such will have a negative affect on the composition of the thread over time. When you mentioned that y ou strip-off a few meters and all is good. You have just taken off the layer that is soaking up the most oxygen, ozone and light.
Only things I can think of to help are, as you stated "Keep the thread in a dark place", and use one of those vacuum food sealer bags to suck the air out of the bag before storage.

[flyfishwithme]

Remember the older thread (if you are lucky to have some) was dyed using vegetable extracts. Since the late 1900's alternatives have been used.

Yes, and don't you think those colours are more pleasing? More muted, somehow...

There is something of a howler in Fogg's latest and otherwise excellent book, where he says that he uses Pearsall's so that he knows he is tying the flies in exactly the same colours as they were a couple of hundred years ago or whatever - which isn't the case at all - unless he too has a stash of the very old stock...

Andrew

Good point Andrew.
I have perused many books and manuscripts dating back over 200 years. I have even seen some threads from a collection which includes a Swarbrick manuscript. One thing for sure is that they were unbranded and slightly thicker than Pearsall's Gossamer. It was Edmonds & lee, in their book 'Brook River Trouting', that set the Pearsall's standard and that was in 1916. Before that who really knows.
My guess, from what I have read and seen, is that the threads two hundred years ago were probably embroidery threads and that many brands were probably used (if indeed they were branded).
The really only common thing between then and now is the use of wax to alter the shade (albeit it was used then to hold the materials together while tying them in your hand) and there are at least 50 recipes for wax that I have located (see the Reference Materials on wax)