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Wing stability

Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 8:05 am
by Fishnkilts
Has anyone tried that Feather Tuff product? I have read mixed reviews and then thought about using starch instead.

Would starch be a good choice to keep the wings in shape?

Re: Wing stability

Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 11:04 am
by Ron Eagle Elk
If your talking starch, like laundry starch, it washes out. I knew guys that used Dave's Fleximent and other glues. They smelled bad and didn't work all that well. My wife had some pretty good success with artist's fixative. It's a spray that is used to prevent smudging art works. Pretty tough stuff and completely clear.

Re: Wing stability

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2023 4:50 am
by Fishnkilts
Ron Eagle Elk wrote: Mon Oct 09, 2023 11:04 am If your talking starch, like laundry starch, it washes out. I knew guys that used Dave's Fleximent and other glues. They smelled bad and didn't work all that well. My wife had some pretty good success with artist's fixative. It's a spray that is used to prevent smudging art works. Pretty tough stuff and completely clear.
Thanks Ron! I'll see if our craft store in town has any.
I appreciate it.

Re: Wing stability

Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2023 5:21 pm
by Roadkill
Plain old hairspray might work, it was also used years ago as an artist's fixative for pastels and charcoal. ;)

Re: Wing stability

Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2023 5:18 am
by nfrechet
i think artists fixative will eventually wash out as well

there is no amount of fixative that's going to save those perfectly tied wings from the teeth of a trout or your handling trying to remove the fly from the fishes jaw

Re: Wing stability

Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2023 6:09 am
by nfrechet
Fishnkilts wrote: Mon Oct 09, 2023 8:05 am Has anyone tried that Feather Tuff product? I have read mixed reviews and then thought about using starch instead.

Would starch be a good choice to keep the wings in shape?
only in the vise

Re: Wing stability

Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2023 9:13 am
by Ron Eagle Elk
nfrechet wrote: Thu Oct 12, 2023 5:18 am i think artists fixative will eventually wash out as well

there is no amount of fixative that's going to save those perfectly tied wings from the teeth of a trout or your handling trying to remove the fly from the fishes jaw
Agree completely and is the reason I used folded or rolled wings on wet flies.

Re: Wing stability

Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2023 6:10 pm
by Fishnkilts
My bad, I am asking this question for the flies I do not plan to fish. It will be used for the flies I plan on showing at the tying expo.

Re: Wing stability

Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2023 2:54 am
by nfrechet
Fishnkilts wrote: Mon Oct 16, 2023 6:10 pm My bad, I am asking this question for the flies I do not plan to fish. It will be used for the flies I plan on showing at the tying expo.
only for show

then you wouldnt need to spray anything on the wings

Re: Wing stability

Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2023 10:01 am
by hankaye
'kilts, Howdy;

Take along something you can generate some steam with. Should
something get disheveled looking then you can steam the fly and
it should return to it's normal shape. Old tip I'd read about here.

hank