Head Cement ???

[Izaak]

I would like to hear what head cements you have had good experience with, and what way of application you use. And is there any that do not discolor the thread? Or, if you do not use head cement, do you use an alternative such as wax?

[VERN-O]

Im typically a sally hansen nail polish guy using a squeeze applicator
For spey flies ill use a glossy head cement from orvis with a needle applicator
And finally I just got a clear cure goo uv set up....still in the learning curve with this one

[narcodog]

I use Sally Hanson's hard as nails. No discoloration that I have ever noticed. I never use HC on silk.

[Johnno]

Mainly Veniard's celliare or what ever it's called. I have always liked it.

That and Sally Hansen's as per above posts, now that I have found an NZ outlet for it..

To be honest it depends on the fly as to if I use cement or not for the head. Often I don't bother, just relying on my whip fish or a bit of residual thread wax (mainly wonder wax - still have a few original tubes of that )

As for foundation or body work again it depends on the fly or type of fly as to if I use any or not. Some I do and some I don't bother

[chase creek]

Normally, I use Sally's when I coat the heads, just a whip finish for fishing flies. When I use SH, I always use a round toothpick to apply it. I think I have much better control than with any applicator I've used. I keep a shot glass full of toothpicks on my bench. Nice thing is, when your done, no worry about the applicator tube clogging up, just throw it away.

[Kelly L.]

Johnno, you lucky dog. I have never been able to try Wonder Wax, as they don't sell it anymore. I think by the time I found out about it, it was already off the market. I started tying Jan of 2008.

As far as the question is concerned, I have a whole assortment of head cements. One that I positively don't want to be without is GRIFF's THIN HEAD CEMENT. Wouldn't you know they stopped making it now? I also find I like the black Pro-Lak very much. I may of spelled that wrong. I just started using Hard Headed too, and it is good for fishing flies. (water based, Mark R told me about it) I have Hard Head, it is pretty good. But I don't like the way it blobs out on you. After you open the bottle, let the stuff drip off your brush at least 4-5 times, before trying to use the brush, or you will be sorry. I always trim my brushes too. I like a narrow point. I don't like using bodkins too much to add head cement to my streamer flies. I also love Griff's Thick Head Cement, but they quit making it too. I have used Sally's, and still have quite a bit. I like it. I have Veniards in clear, and black. I like the black. The clear is not my favorite clear cement to use, but it does a good job. I have tried Super-Laq, and I don't care for it. These are just off the top of my head. I may have more in the tying area. I use Flexament as a glue, never as a head cement. I think that pretty well covers it. There are more cements I will eventually try. Some are hard to come by though.

[letumgo]

Yeah, that Wonder wax is rare as hen's teeth. I've been wanting some of that stuff for years, but am to cheap to pay the asking price on E-bay. Crazy expensive.

[hankaye]

Johnno, Howdy;;

Good to see ya back ..... How did the season go ?

Back on topic ... I've used some schalac (sp?) and some Sall Hanson Hard as Nails,
This last swap, I just did the waxed thread with my whip finishes. That's one reason
that prompted my question to Hans last week.... So, I'm still in the experimentation stage..

hank

[tie2fish]

I use Griff's Thin and Griff's Thick, depending on the application. The "Thin" is essentially undetactable when it dries on synthetic thread, and discolors silk only in the very slightest after drying. SHHAN does give a nice hard, shiny finish if one is patient enough to wait for it to dry completely, but woe if you happen to touch it too soon ...

[CM_Stewart]

Last time I tried to buy Grif's Thin I was told it was no longer made. Switched to Sally Hansons, which is thicker than the Grif's Thin.