Wasn’t aware of this one…
May give it a try but will use my electric air compressor …not sure why it is better than a coffee grinder?..maybe some materials won’t curd up as some do with the grinder.
Step #1: Cut dubbing material
Step #2: Insert into a plastic bag
Step #3: Make some small holes
Step #4: Blow in some compressed air
Step #5: Side seam of bag blows out
Step #6: Watch dubbing fly all over the room
Step #7: Go get vacuum cleaner
Step #8: Try to clean up mess
:):)
Actually it looks like it did a decent job.
Larry —sagefisher—
;);););)
.
Step #9 clean mixed dubbing out of vacuum.
Eric
Because it doesn’t require a coffee grinder. Almost all of us have a spare plastic bag and most probably have some source of compressed air. I made a mixer our of a nut can and a metal clip using a machine screw for a shaft, powered by my rototool.
My coffee grinder tends to burn certain types of synthetics if I’m not careful, so maybe the compressed air technique would be worth a try on them.
However, I think I’ll stick to the coffee grinder for natual fur. I think it works very well for them, and at less cost than using cans of compressed air, and probably less potential for making a mess.
If I didn’t have an air compressor I wouldn’t want to spend the $$ for compressed air cans…pretty soon a coffee grinder would be paid for.
Good point about burning some…been there.
Some people like to spend more time fussing around in preparation for tying. The fish could care less about the effort we put into mixing our dubbing. Just pinch and fold an until you have a decent mix.
Actually that’s Charlie Craven’s method, which has been around for quite a while…
PT/TB 
PT/TB,
Yup, he mentioned that at the start of the video. Good thing I had the sound cranked up or I would have missed it.
REE
I have 3, or maybe it’s 4, coffee grinders for making dubbings. Reason I have so many is because I just couldn’t pass them up at the garage sales @ $1.00 or less each. I also have 3 or 4 ‘rotiserie motors’ from yard sales @ about the same price. Great as a drying surface for flies(just attach a styrofoam plate) and finishing rods. As for the problem mentioned about some materials melting or balling up - Very short bursts of the motor, just a split second pulse. Every so often, wipe inside and out of the housing with an anti-static towelette.
Allan
Those are Craven Images.
The fellow in the video says that he learned this from Craven’s book. I think the video is the young fellow using Craven’s technique.
pittendrigh,
I’m REALLY glad I didn’t start worshipping them then. 
Don’t know if that’s how you meant it, but I’m still chuckling.
REE
Juan Ramirez, who is featured in the “Hatches video” also goes by the monicker THE HOPPER JUAN…he’s a CO guide and fly tier who ties some really good patterns…
http://hopperjuan.blogspot.com/
PT/TB
Step #9: Throw away $tree plastic bags.
Early observation…
I don’t think this method will work well for yarn…the grinder seems to do better.
Both methods have their place, A grinder will also soften tough materials. The air method will protect delicate ones. Used a grinder for years, I know I could pinch and fold but that takes a lot of time and when I make up a colour I need to make a lot of it. I’ll give the air method a go if just to add synthetics into natural dubbing.
Before I do I must repair the vacuum cleaner!
Cheers,
A.
I cant think of a reason to spend $$$ on a can of compressed air. Oh wait. Maybe I can use it to clean the keyboard on my PC aswell. hmmmm.
Looks like Juan was using a plastic bag that had previously held items purchased at the fly shop. Good double use of resource. Thats gotta suck for the environment.
I have been using Charlies method for years. Threw my coffee grinder out years ago. I mix enough dubbing for as little as a half dozen flys (depending on size). Also, I dont have to worry about melting synthetics when I dont use a short enough burst with the grinder.
I cant say it is better than a coffee grinder or worse. I can say it’s an alternative, and one that I prefer. Just my opinion.