Best brand of thread for splitting?

[AllenOK]

I just recently "split" some thread for dubbing, instead of trying to wrap a noodle. I used some Ultrathread, 140 denier. I liked the results. Now, of course, I need to pick up some more thread. What are some good brands?

[ScottP]

UTC 70 works great; Danville 6/0 is excellent, too. Lots of folks really like Montana Fly Company thread; need to give it a look myself.

Regards,
Scott

[AlanB]

There is one thread that is designed for splitting. Split Second Thread by Marc Petitjean. Not as easy to get hold of as Danville's and UTC, but is available on line.

If you are looking at a thread, one test is to hold the spool between your ring and little finger left hand and the heal of your left hand, and the end of the thread with your right hand index finger and thumb. Then run the nail of your left index finger up and down the thread. This will show you how easily you can spread the thread. If it spreads easily over your finger nail it will split easily.

The best needle for splitting thread is one made from a "ball end" sewing machine needle. They are designed to go through thread without damaging it. I use one that is just pushed into a 1 1/4 inch brass Slipstream tube (you need to grind down the thick end a little, do it on a slow taper so it locks into the tube. For the engineers, like a Morse taper). I use mine just for dubbing techniques, I have a standard bodkin for applying the UV resin I use.

If you file the other end of the tube into a taper, by putting it into a drill chuck. and gently resting it on a fine file or Emery cloth, you get a half hitch tool. It is handy to throw a half hitch on after finishing the dubbing so you can have an anchor point and flatten the thread too take out the excess twist. Once you get used to the split thread technique you will not need to do this, but I find it gives beginners confidence.

Cheers,
A.

[ScottP]

Picked up a couple spools of the MFC 6/0 at Lakestream as soon as we got into Whitefish. Great shop, btw; Rob Weicker has put together some excellent tying videos http://www.lakestream.com/category/fly-tying-videos/ He's going to be doing one for the Coffey Sparkle Minnow shortly, which should be nice. Anyway, the thread is really good stuff; the 6/0 seems to be about the same thickness as Uni 8/0 but it lays flat and splits easily.

Regards,
Scott

[MSD53X]

Thanks for that link Scott. I liked a lot of those videos

[johnstoeckel]

I haven't done much thread splitting, so can't comment from first hand experience. However, a buddy of mine who does quite a bit of split thread dubbing says that Veevus thread is really, really good (http://veevus.dk/en/6-thread). He gave me a spool of 14/0 which is sitting on my desk until I can muster up some additional courage.