Bending Rubber Leg Material

[Al Beatty]

Hi Group,

This past week I spent at the ISE Show in San Mateo, Calif. where Roy Powell (from Danville, Calif.) demonstrated fly tying in my booth for a couple days. He showed me his method of bending/shaping rubber legs that I though was really innovative as I've alway bent them by tying an over-hand knot. Sometimes positioning the knotted leg was a real pain in the ... (you pick the body part!).

Following is Roy's method:
Place a small drop of super glue on the tip of a bodkin then apply it to the rubber leg material on the opposite side you want the bend. Let the super glue set for about 15 seconds. Slowly stretch the rubber leg material then slowly allow it to relax. The leg is bent! A gentle stretch forms a 45 degree angle and a more agressive stretch forms a 90 degree bend.

Take care & tight lines - Al Beatty [url=http://www.btsflyfishing.com:2fe73]www.btsflyfishing.com[/url:2fe73]

slick.
I'll give that a try.

mgj

[drolfson]

I'd say it still would. Especially with an image or two.

Don

[Hans Weilenmann]

Al,

Thanks. Will have to try that

Another method is demonstrated by Oliver Edwards in one of his videos. Position the nymph in the direction you want the joint to drop due to gravity pull. Come close to the outer side, but do not touch the rubber strand direct, with the hot tip of a cauteriser tool. Instant 'elbow'.

Cheers,
Hans W


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=== You have a friend in Low Places === [url=http://www.danica.com/flytier:e9fb0]http://www.danica.com/flytier[/url:e9fb0]



[This message has been edited by Hans Weilenmann (edited 09 February 2005).]

[flytackle]

Here's an example of fun with the superglue/rubberleg trick:

I tied this one 2 seasons ago and have noticed that the superglue does lead to a faster degrading of the rubber leg material - still, it's keen and worth it! Tight lines, Alec

[lou t]

In a class given by Oliver Edwards, he recommended that when you use this technique for "bending" legs, you use one "worn out" battery along with a full (or almost full) charge battery to decrease cauterizer tip heat and get better control.

Al. Do you use the liquid or the gel type super glue?

Thanks for the tip.

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Michael (Wooly) Woolum
State Certified Hunter Education Instructor
Hickory, MS

[old geezer]

AB Thank you, This wil help with Eleuthera crab patterns as well as any other legs.

Appreciate it

Philip

[Bob S]

Hey Al:
It was great to see you at the San Mateo show. You come up with alot of tying tips and I take notice. Roy Powell is certainly one of the very best tyers and is known in California if not elsewhere.
My Danvise sure holds a hook, and is a darn good bang for the buck. I like it!!

One of my tips is for rubber legs. I stretch the rubber when tying it in. When relaxed it usually comes back at the angle I tied it in at.
Bob Scheidt


Bob Scheidt

[bones]

the Glue leg bend is very "trick"... Speaking of trick...Al's new vise is real neat as well.

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harry mason
[url=http://www.troutflies.com:5a595]http://www.troutflies.com[/url:5a595]