Part Fifty-eight

Trucos de montaje

Needle Your Flies
By George E. Emanuel


No, I don't mean stick your tongue out while pulling on your cheeks and trying to say nah, nahnah, nah nahnah!

Rather, use a needle of the hypodermic variety to apply glue to those little no see-um imitations that are often so effective, yet so frustrating as well. Pictured is a size 18 Parachute Hendrickson with a Hi Vis Wing.

This tip comes to us from Dan Ruppert, a.k.a. old rupe, or just plain rupe. It was conveyed by Ladyfisher, who saw it last year at the Fish-In, and Osprey a.k.a. Ron Koenig who also uses this technique.

The needle in the picture appears to be a diabetic type and size needle, and should be readily available from your doctor or pharmacy provided you properly explain your intended use and purpose. If they are not available through those channels, as some states do not allow their sale over the counter, you might want to ask a friend or family member who takes insulin if they could let you have a couple of these. You might also try the local farm store, animal department, where these needles are use to inject medication in animals.

Now, either Dave's Fleximent, or Sally Hansen's "Hard As Nails" will work in the syringe, but they must be thinned well. Seems like a 50/50 thinning is about right. Daves makes thinner for Fleximent, and nail polish remover or plain old acetone will thin the Hard As Nails. (Be careful of the fumes with the acetone and thinners, they can be highly flammable.)

Having thinned the material sufficiently to flow through the needle, it is a very simple matter to apply glue anywhere you want it, in the proper amount so as not to make a mess of your fly.

If you can get into the head on a parachute from above as pictured, it is a safe bet that you can reach anywhere you need a spot of glue.

By burying the needle in a cork after use, you both protect yourself from possible injury or self-injection, but also the glue will remain fluid for a considerable time and the needle will not clog.

Thanks rupe. It just goes to show you never know who is watching, or how far an idea can travel!

If you have any tips or techniques, send them along, most of this material has been stolen from somebody, might as well steal your ideas too!~ George E. Emanuel (Chat Room Host Muddler)

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