Did not mean to hi jack one of the other threads so started a new one.
Frank,
Okay, get your red pencil out. There is one item of fly tying where I will say (this is going to show some WWE history and high-lite one of its performers, lol), “It’s the best there is, best there ever was, and best there ever will be”. Now, this might start a war but I’ve got a lot of irrefuteable ammo and allies so if it’s a war someone wants - let’s hear what they have to say. Overton’s Wonder Wax - Best there is, best there ever was, and best there ever will be. Nothing else has to be said!
There’s a recipe on the web (it might even be an faol article, but I … don’t think so) about how to make a Wonderwax substitute. I bought all the stuff. Haven’t gotten around to trying it yet. If I remember correctly you heat olive oil, bees wax and bow rosin together. No hog warts or black snake eyeball powder required.
Interestingly…there is s Montana company selling something that LOOKS LIKE Wonderwax in small tubes, for use as a lip balm. I tried tying flies with it. Fish would notice the fly, swim up to inspect it and then swim away in a panic–because (I’m guessing) of the strong peppermint smell.
You get no argument from me about your opinion of WONDER WAX! I ENDORSE IT!!!
If you would like to read what I consider to be a very hilarious story about tying wax, you should read the passages in Harry Darbee’s book “CATSKILL FLYTIER” about the time he and Elsie, and the Dette’s made a fresh batch for their flytying operation and put it out on the back porch of the boarding house the two young couples lived in for the night, and that was owned by a sweet little old widow lady.
People must really like it. Someone (I think it was on this board) recently auctioned off a tube and it brought $30. I’ve got a tube myself that is practically unused. I’m going to hang on to it to help pay for my grandkids college tuition.
What do the fish have to say about it compared to the other waxes? Betcha won’t catch more fish using it over any other brand. Myself, I like BT’s dubbing wax. The fish seem to like the flies I tie with it and that all that matters. :mrgreen:
At least in my case, the fish do not tie my flies. Don’t know about anyone else; so, can only speak for myself.
Seriously, they only way your question can truly be answered is for you to have, or have had, the opportunity to use Wonder Wax, as well as many of the others, including some of the ‘home-made’, for which there are numerous recipes. Once I discovered Woner Wax, decades ago, I discarded all of the others I had at the time. I have no need to try the ones mentioned here as I still have an ample supply of Wonder Wax.
This is simply an example of personal prefernce. One needs to try more than one, and then select the one that works best for them.
Dubbing wax. I think I’ve owned probably a dozen types over the years. Admittedly, most of them got tossed out of boredom since I really only use it to touch dub selective patterns. I appreciate the various “hi-tack”, “low-tack” properties I have owned…but can’t say I have a “best”. The stick of Orvis wax I currently have is about 3-4yrs old now…will probably have it for quite a while.
I get the feeling that Overton’s is the Holy Grail of wax. Probably never will never see it in person. I have been using an old tube of BT’s clear wax & a very slightly darker wax by Gehrke’s for a number of years now. I did wax my thread for dubbing flies but It made the dubbing a little soiled looking. As another sight member mentioned touch dubbing is about all I use wax for. As for BT’s & Gehrke’s Its functional but no doubt there’s something better out there.
Flickfly
Just to give you a hint of the quality of WonderWax, in an article by Al & Gretchen Beatty, they write about how ‘touch dubbing’ is made so much easier and better using WW. Also, and this was asked by another, and I paraphrase, ‘What makes WW so different from other waxes and so good?’ My response is this: You only need swipe your thread 1x with WW to create a fine film that will hold the dubbing. Thus you can ‘touch dub’. Other waxes typically must be swiped several times and will almost melt on the thread and create clumps. This clump further melts into the dubbing and looks terrible. Adds weight to the fly and effects performance. Lots of available formulas and homemade waxes that are good too. However, none (my own included) have gotten to the level of quality that WW established.
[b]If anyone who has used WW for a reasonable amount of time can attest to a different brand or homemade wax that is its equal, let’s hear it.
Bought a tube of Wonder Wax years ago. Haven’t used anything else, so I have nothing to compare it to. It’s still fairly fresh after all that time. Now comes the question. If it’s that good, and everyone wants it, why isn’t it still being marketed? Somebody die and take the recipe with them, or is it just too expensive to produce?
There IS a history behind why the production of WW stopped. From what I understand it was not a happy history. I think you were close with your 1st guess. Given production costs today, your 2nd guess is probably on target too. Like you wrote, a tube of WW retains its quality and lasts for years. How many tubes can the maker expect to sell vs. produce and how much will he make? A tube today can sell for $45 or more (true) but if mass produced the supply would dramatically drive the price and profit down. Actually there was talk of WW being produced again but that plan went nowhere. At least not then. Maybe sometime in the future?
Actually taking Lew’s point even further, the more likely explanation is it is not worth it because practically no one uses wax anymore.
I find arguing about the merits of tying wax to be akin to arguing about choosing the best flint to make arrow heads…I’m sure it mattered at some time in the past (grin).
