Trucos de montaje

Thread
By Steven H. McGarthwaite

Thread is the second most important item we use when tying Flies! When tying flies we follow a recipe. The recipe lists (in the chronological order), the materials that will be used to make the different parts of the fly.

    Hook:
    Thread:
    Wing:
    Tail:
    Ribbing:
    Body:
    Collar:
The first item mentioned is the "Hook," either by brand name/model number, and the size range. The second item mentioned is the "Thread," either by brand name and/or size and color. Just what does 3/0, 6/0, 8/0 mean anyway? What is the difference between waxed and unwaxed thread?

Are all threads are not created equal! The choice of materials used as thread fiber will cause different textures and thread breaking strength. Silk is weaker than Nylon, Kevlar and Gel Spun Polyethylene (GSP) are the strongest of all. The choice of material used will determine the weight of the thread and also is partially responsible for whether the thread is flexible or stiff. Nylon will stretch, Polyester will not. Kevlar is stiff, while GSP is flexible. Dyed Nylon gives bright vibrant colors, while Dyed Polyester is more drab and dull. Cotton takes dyes well, but is prone to fading with sunlight. Some materials absorb water, while others do not. Each material has it positives and negative characteristics, which may make it the thread to use or not use.

Materials

1. Cotton: Cotton is a natural product created from the seedpods of the cotton plant. The seeds are removed in a machine called the cotton gin, then the short fibers are stapled (interlocked together and twisted into a thin fiber yarn). Cotton thread is strong, and is easy to dye, but color retention is a problem.

2. Gel Spun Polyethylene (GSP): GSP is similar to Kevlar, but is stronger and more flexible than Kevlar. GSP is made of continuous extrusion fibers, is very slippery and the use of AC Glue is recommended when using GSP in fly tying. GSP is used to make Spiderwire™.

3. Kevlar: Kevlar is a man-made product that is stronger than Nylon or Polyester. Kevlar is made of short fiber filaments. Kevlar thread should be considered when strength of the thread is a priority. Kevlar is also more expensive than either Nylon or Polyester.

4. Nylon: Nylon is a man-made product that is a substitute for silk. Nylon was created in the 1930's. A continuous extrusion fiber is used to make nylon. Nylon is somewhat lacking in the qualities that make silk desirable, but is less expensive to produce. Nylon thread has the ability to retain the dyes that produce bright vibrant colors. Nylon is stronger and more abrasion resistant then silk. Nylon thread will stretch when under extreme tension before breaking.

5. Polyester: Polyester is a man-made product that is similar in use to nylon. Polyester can be produced by either a continuous extrusion fiber or as short fiber filaments. Polyester thread does not stretch as Nylon thread does because of this lack of elasticity; polyester will break without prior indication when under extreme stress. Polyester thread does not give the same bright vibrant colors as nylon thread does when dyed.

6. Rayon: Rayon is a man-made product that is a substitute for silk. Rayon is made from continuous extrusion fibers. Rayon is used primarily as floss in fly tying in place of silk floss, having bright vibrant colors. Rayon fibers are prone to breaking from abrasions. Rayon thread for sewing is used mostly for embroidery work using a different thread construction.

7. Silk: Is a natural product created from the cocoons of silk worms. The silkworm cocoon is dipped into hot water to kill the silk worm inside; this also hardens the silk fibers, for easier handling for a continuous silk fiber. Then the cocoon is unraveled to collect the thin fibers to create the silk thread. This is a labor-intensive process; silk is more expensive than thread made from other materials. Silk is preferred in the tying of "Classic Atlantic Salmon Flies" even today. Its colors are bright and it has a smooth translucent sheen. The color and sheen qualities of Silk are how other materials are judged in Fly-Tying. Silk is not considered a strong thread in comparison to other thread materials.

8. Wool: Wool is a natural product using short hair filaments from the hair of animals. Wool has a fuzzy texture to the surface of the thread/yarn. Its use in Fly-Tying is mostly restricted to body construction in lieu of dubbing materials or other materials.

Thread Construction

Besides the different materials used in the manufacturing of thread, there are different methods of Thread Construction. The choice of thread construction is of great importance regarding the breaking strength and flexibility of the thread. These different methods can change the thread structure, effecting how the thread lays on the hook and ability to hold material being attached to the hook. Using thread that will allow you to best tie the fly pattern is a choice of thread material and thread construction. The most common methods for constructing a thread are:

1. Air Entangled Thread: Air entangled thread is also made from continuous filaments, such as polyester or nylon, which are intermeshed using high-speed air jets. The yarn then is twisted to create the thread.

2. Core Thread: Core thread is made by spinning a wrap of cotton or polyester fiber filaments around a continuous extruded fiber of polyester fibers to create a single yarn fiber. Then two or more of these single yarns fibers are twisted to create the thread.

3. Monocord Thread: Monocord thread is made from continuous filaments which are not twisted and can be soft or bonded in the final thread finish. An example of soft monocord thread is the rayon or silk floss used in fly-tying.

4. Monofilament Thread: Monofilament thread is made from a single continuous nylon filament. In fly tying it is better to use the sewing nylon monofilament than the nylon tippet material monofilament we are all use to using. Sewing monofilament is more elastic and will stretch when tying, helping to hold the material more secure.

5. Spun Thread: Spun thread is made from short fibers filaments that are intermeshed to create a continuous yarn fiber. Two or more yarn fibers are then twisted to create the thread.

6. Textured Thread: Textured thread is made from continuous filaments, such as polyester or nylon, which are intermeshed using mechanical means, then are heat sealed to ensure the thread shape.

7. Twisted Multifilament Thread: Twisted multifilament threads are twisted together to make the thread. Twisted multifilament thread can be soft or bonded depending on the final thread finish.

Thread Finishing

Once the thread is constructed, there are different ways to apply the final thread finish. The final thread finish is what makes the thread more suitable for its intended use. Color can be added, lubrication or a sealant can be impregnated into the thread material, the surface of the thread can be encapsulated, even polished or heated to better bond the fiber materials.

1. Bonded: Bonded is the process where multifilament thread is treated with a special resin that encapsulates the filaments forming a tough, smooth protective coating on the surface of the thread. This bonded process helps the thread to resist abrasions and secures the filaments.

2. Gassed: Refers to cotton thread, which is passed through a flame to reduce the fuzz on the thread surface. This gassing also helps to increase the cotton thread sheen.

3. Glaced: Glaced is the process where thread is treated with starches, waxes, and special chemicals under controlled heat and then brushed or polished to a high luster. Resulting in a glossy, hard finish that protects the tread from abrasion and helps secure the thread ply.

4. Mercerized: Used with cotton fiber thread. The cotton thread is treated with a caustic solution, which causes the fibers to swell to allow dyes to better saturate the cotton fibers. Mercerization increases the cotton threads luster, as well as increasing the thread strength.

5. Soft: The thread is dyed, then a sealant may be applied. The sealant may help lubricate the thread, seal the thread from contamination, or help the thread better grip other thread material.

Index of Thread (Construction-Fiber-Finish)

Selecting the correct thread to use for the task requires three factors to be determined. Thread Construction-Fiber Type-Thread Finish, will determine which thread you should use.

Index of Thread (Construction-Fiber-Finish)
Thread Construction Fiber Type Thread Finish
Spun Cotton
Wool		 Soft, Mercerized, Gassed, or Glaced
Soft or Gassed
Core Cotton/Polyester
Polyester/Polyester
Kevlar/Polyester		 Soft, or Glaced
Soft, or Glaced
Soft
Textured Polyester
Kevlar		 Soft, or Glaced
Soft
Air-Entangled Polyester Soft, or Glaced
Twisted Multifilament Nylon
Polyester
Silk (thread)		 Soft, or Glaced
Soft, or Glaced
Soft
Monocord Silk (floss)
Nylon
Rayon (floss)
GSP		 Soft
Bonded
Soft
Bonded
Monofilament Nylon Soft

Sizing of Thread

Tying thread uses the old system using zeros that was used for determining the thickness for silk thread diameters. 000 was used to say 3/0 thread, 000000 was 6/0 thread, and 00000000 was 8/0 thread. All those zeros do not have any accurate meaning using today's man-made materials. Using today's man-made materials, it is better to use the Textile Industry Standards of "Denier" and the breaking strength of the thread. Denier has to do with weight, not diameter of the thread.

Denier=The weight in grams of 9,000 meters of thread.

If you have a brand of thread that is available with different Denier Ratings the one with the smallest Denier Rating would have the lowest weight. Because it has the same Construction-Material-Finish, it will also have the lowest breaking strength.

Thread Brands

There are many companies producing thread for fly tying. There are many other companies also producing thread, designed for other uses, which can be used in fly tying. Here is a partial list of Fly-Tying Threads, their weight in Denier, and breaking strength.

Benecchi

Benecchi tying thread is Twisted Multifilament, polyester material, and is unwaxed (Soft).

Benecchi
Name/Size Denier Break Strength
8/0
10/0
12/0		  
 
 		 1.75 lb/0.79 kg
1.50 lb/0.68 kg
1.00 lb/0.45 kg

Danville

Danville tying thread is available in various construction methods, is nylon, and comes either waxed (Glaced) or unwaxed (Soft).

Danville
Name/Size Denier Break Strength
Flat Waxed
Flymaster+
A Monocord
3/0 Monocord
Flymaster 6/0
Spider Web		 223
237
 
116
79
30		 4.19 lb/1.90 kg
3.81 lb/1.73 kg
3.25 lb/1.47 kg
1.62 lb/0.74 kg
1.00 lb/0.45 kg
0.25 lb/0.11 kg

Gudebrod

Gudebrod tying thread is available as polyester, Kevlar and monofilament thread.

Polyester is available in Monocord, polyester, waxed (Glaced). Kevlar is available in Core, Kevlar/Polyester, Soft. Monofilament is Nylon, Soft.

Gudebrod
Name/Size Denier Break Strength
Kevlar
3/0
6/0
8/0
10/0		 200
 
 
 
 		 8.00lb/3.63 kg
2.38/1.08 kg
1.94/0.88 kg
0.94lb/0.42 kg
0.56lb/0.26 kg

PEARSALL

Pearsall is the maker of silk thread and silk floss. Their silk thread is Twisted Multifilament, Silk, and Soft.

PEARSALL
Name/Size Denier Break Strength
6/0 Silk   0.50 lb/0.23 kg

UNI

Most of the UNI thread material is polyester, they also sell kevlar, monofilament and GSP. UNI is in the process of switching to the Denier System for thread weight, the GSP is already marketed in Denier weight.

The polyester thread is twisted monofilament, bonded, soft (unwaxed), or glaced (waxed).

The kevlar thread is monocord, kevlar/polyester, bonded. The monofilament thread is nylon, bare.

UNI
Name/Size Denier Break Strength
Big Fly
3/0
Kevlar
Cord 7/0 (GSP)
A+
A Nylon
Neon 1X
Poly II
6/0
8/0
Cord 12/0 (GSP)
Trico 17/0		 400
213
200
100
 
 
240
 
135
72
50
40		 6.25 lb/2.84 kg
2.50 lb/1.13 kg
8.00 lb/3.63 kg
8.00 lb/3.63 kg
3.75 lb/1.70 kg
2.75 lb/1.25 kg
2.25 lb/1.02 kg
2.12 lb/0.96 kg
2.06 lb/0.94 kg
1.00 lb/0.45 kg
2.75 lb/1.25 kg
0.25 lb/0.11 kg

WAPSI

WAPSI uses the Denier weight for all thread measurements. All WAPSI thread is nylon, and comes in two construction methods, monocord and monofilament.

WAPSI
Name/Size Denier Break Strength
WAPSI Ultra 280
WAPSI Ultra 140
WAPSI Ultra 70 		280
140
70		 4.38 lb/1.98 kg
2.06 lb/0.94 kg
1.00 lb/0.45 kg

Spools

Different makers of thread have their own spool designs. I dislike the Danville thread spools the most because of the difficulty in reattaching the thread to the spool for storage. I like the WAPSI Ultra threads spools for their new construction idea for attaching the thread tags for storage.

This article has covered most of the different thread material, thread construction methods, and thread finishes. Each is a contributing factor to selecting the right thread for the art of fly-tying. ~ Parnelli

Please check out the Fly Tying Section, on the Bulletin Board, here at FAOL too.

If you have any questions, tips, or techniques; send them to publisher@flyanglersonline.com

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