FLYMPH FORUM

DNicolson wrote:Thanks again Mike, you have triggered off my fly tying reflexes with so
much excellent advice. Now for some experiments. TTFN

My pleasure Donald.

TL
MC

I only just stumbled on this thread and it is very insightful. Thank you Mike.
Funny this is that I have been using this method for a while now but not with floss silk.
Recently I was given a large box of lad Pearsall's Gossamer and Floss. The Gossamer is valuable and I have just placed the Floss aside. Time to get out the blender me things. What really now interests me is what can I do with tis dubbing on a nymph.
Goodbye, off the the flytying table....

Therein lies my problem, I have been stripping silk from gossamer using velcro - must see if i have any silk floss in the recesses of my tying stuff

error , stripping from marabou.

tried marabou in the blender, might have another go with smaller cuts 1/8 to 16th inch and see what happens

Mike Connor wrote:.

If you use a blender then you don't need any other special preparations. Just cut the floss into lengths and drop them in. They will separate out perfectly.
TL
MC

Yeah right


I cut some marabou, untwisted as best as possible - cut into 1/16th strips - placed in blender - whizzed for thirty seconds a few times - result- same as it went in except for being clumped together . ? is it the fault of the marabou, the blender or mrs o wondering what i was up to. or maybe im just thick .

Otter, Howdy;

When I was a young lad, my Mom used to say, when things didn't work out as expected, that I "wasn't holding my mouth right."

Never was sure which was the correct position .......

Please let us know when you have found the correct mandibular position.

hank

Otter wrote:

Mike Connor wrote:.

If you use a blender then you don't need any other special preparations. Just cut the floss into lengths and drop them in. They will separate out perfectly.
TL
MC

Yeah right


I cut some marabou, untwisted as best as possible - cut into 1/16th strips - placed in blender - whizzed for thirty seconds a few times - result- same as it went in except for being clumped together . ? is it the fault of the marabou, the blender or mrs o wondering what i was up to. or maybe im just thick .

Well, all I can think of there is that it must be the blender. Can you use water in that blender? Is it designed to blend liquids etc? If so, add a little water and see if that solves the problem. On some blenders it seems that some stuff just gets "whizzed around" without being broken up and blended. This is especially so with small amounts. What I actually use for this is not a "blender" but a coffee grinder. I can't use water in it, I have to use dry material, but it seems I do have fewer problems than those who use blenders.

TL
MC

The plot thickens, it is indeed a small coffee grinder Im using - not a blender as i stated earlier

Never the less I used the velcro which unfortunately negates any real control over staple length and tied up a few PO with various amounts of touch dubbing - interesting results and they will be dunked in a glass of water this evening to learn a bit more.

Otter wrote:The plot thickens, it is indeed a small coffee grinder Im using - not a blender as i stated earlier

Never the less I used the velcro which unfortunately negates any real control over staple length and tied up a few PO with various amounts of touch dubbing - interesting results and they will be dunked in a glass of water this evening to learn a bit more.

Ah what a tangled web we weave, when first we struggle to achieve!

OK, to get the results you want and actually "improve" them, use a screw top or similar container. Put an inch or two of water in it, a couple of drops of washing up liquid and some coarse "sharp sand" or fine gravel. Shake this vigorously for a while. This will break up practically anything even thread clumps. Also, it has some interesting and useful effects on various materials. One of these is that it "frays" the fibres, and also "tapers" the ends of cut fibres. This looks a lot more "natural" when used and the properties of some materials are also affected. It will take the "shine" off various furs etc. Just decant the fibres and water through a sieve, rinsing the gravel a few times by shaking it up, this suspends the fibres in the water and the gravel stays in the bottom of your jar.

This will also "blend" various colours and even quite dissimilar textures more or less perfectly. The "roughened" fibres are also easier to dub and they look more attractive than "cut ends". Also they are more "mobile" as a result of the treatment.

This is also saves electricity! What more could one ask?

TL
MC

Mike Connor wrote: Ah what a tangled web we weave, when first we struggle to achieve!

TL
MC

Otter:
O day and night, but this is wondrous strange!

MikeC:
And therefore as a stranger give it welcome.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Otter,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

Otter:
Jam jar, jam jar, wherefore art thou !!!!

MikeC:

Should the jar, the silk not blend
to a nunnery, should go my Otter friend