FLYMPH FORUM

I want to make a confession of being politically incorrect. One is not supposed to mention tools - especially not expensive tools. I was struggeling for years winding fragile feathers onto hooks, often breaking them due to lack of steady hands in critical moments. The more I focused on being relaxed, the tenser I became. I tried various pliers and even used my fingers (!), but nothing worked well. Eventually I became better but not good.

Ta, da! This changed two years ago. I bought a dirt un-cheap hackle plier which has aided me a great deal - in fact I am almost good at it now. I wish somebody had pointed me in that direction years ago. If you have the same problem you can probably find another solution. If not, try C&F revolving hackle plier. It might work for you too.

When you have read this post - just delete it!

dd

Yup I agree. Got three of them for some reason... Bloody fantastic!

I bought one for my wife a year or so back. I "borrow" it when she's not looking.

REE

Really? I just use the medium and large J Dorin tear drop style and love it. I have toyed with a couple of the rotary type things and they felt awkward, would take some getting used to, and I didn't spend any. If you say it makes a difference...I may have to check those out.

I'll make a confession though while we're at it. I have about 7 of those C & F hook boxes...5 of them all stacked up nice and neat on my tying station. So efficient...worth every cent. I'm not going to confess how many of their fly boxes I've picked up...that would just be indecent.
Okay...Now it's Narcodog's turn. Come on Bob...I know you've got a collection, I just wonder what you feel guilty about. Time to confess.

w

William - Your tying area is way too neat. You obviously need to be doing more tying. My new tying desk is already a mess.

I'm a big fan of rotary hackle pliers. Money well spent, it you ask me.

I suspect it's a gadgets type past time we all enjoy. Like William I use the tear drop style pliers almost exclusively. I've seen a few fellows using the rotary style pliers at shows and they do look pretty handy. But then I think of Hans trapping a soft feather with one of those clips designed for holding small wires that one might buy at Radio Shack and I ask myself why I need more than what I have. Great little past time we enjoy isn't it.

Regards, Jerry

William Anderson wrote:Really? I just use the medium and large J Dorin tear drop style and love it. I have toyed with a couple of the rotary type things and they felt awkward, would take some getting used to, and I didn't spend any. If you say it makes a difference...I may have to check those out.

I'll make a confession though while we're at it. I have about 7 of those C & F hook boxes...5 of them all stacked up nice and neat on my tying station. So efficient...worth every cent. I'm not going to confess how many of their fly boxes I've picked up...that would just be indecent.

Okay...Now it's Narcodog's turn. Come on Bob...I know you've got a collection, I just wonder what you feel guilty about. Time to confess.

w

William,

This is exactly the neatness I expected from you. I can live without them spectacles you don't have.

I only say that these hackle pliers made a difference for me, with my not so well controlled hands. You, and most people, seem to do well without them. I have tried a lot of different types and would have been more than satisfied with the simple clip Hans uses - if they had worked for me. I can almost say that I needed those hackle pliers. Those hook boxes of yours I don't need, but I want them. I really do. We'll see where that ends up.

I would not mind more pictures from your tying station. I need a role model...

dd

It's more self indulgent that I'm comfortable with...but I'll make a new thread. I'm proud of it's current configuration and it changes all the time.

thanks for asking.

Well, since we're confessing..... forgive me father, for i can't believe how neat some of these guys are ........my main two (the middle, and furthest to the right) tying desk, of the three executive desk we have linned up end to end.....are always a huge mess............i don't even bother to try and keep them neat.........just clean 'em up to a degree every now and again, and in no time flat they're a complete mess again.....
i have 17 vises set-up in my tyin' room with enough tyin' tools to outfit a dozen tyers or so.............i'm a tools junkie. Must have 20 different hackle plies.....but bout the only ones i use is the Way Mo Better than radio shack style clips i got from Jack Gartside years ago..........don't even look at those.......i'll have to pull out my pistol. Outta the 50 bobbins (actually bobbin holders as you know) or so i have, only one is a C&F.....i love it.....but i seem to use the Rite Bobbin(s) the most at home. i have a half dozen or so of those.
The room outside our tyin' room, which is even bigger than the tyin' room is also just as filled with flies and allllllll kinna other stuff. It has three big fly bins filled with commericial flies (i and others tyed), that are for sale.....and it's all collaged just like the other room.....and it serves as a tackle room for my wife's tackle. All those rods in the main tyin' room are my rods.....her's are in the other room. Eventually i'll post pics of that room.....the other than the main tyin' room. It's basically a little fly shop were we sell ONLY flies, nothing else. Oh.....well.....my wife's artwork is also for sale. The room outside the main tyin' room is also a kitchen, with a seperate bathroom and the guest bedroom. The entire house, upstairs and down is one big art gallery as well.....gettin' close to 400 pieces of fly fishin'/tyin' artwork, a darn good portion of it procurred in an effort to support conservation causes......silent and live auctions at all the different dinners, banquets and shows over the years.
Jeeze.....if i could only get that uncapped tube of Vinyard's tying wax out from under that one desk..........
May i go in peace now?

to see pics.....go here. http://www.pureartflytying.ning.com/profile/misako then scroll down quick.....pics are outdated.....room is on another level now.....but you'll get the idea.....