Perhaps this was posted before…I did a search and nothing “directly” pertaining to this popped up. Soooo…I’m looking for a consensus on “The Best Head Cement”.
Is there a standout? I’m very limited as to what is available so a source for the best would be good to know. Thanks…Standing by :O)
Your question is alot like “what is the best automobile” lots of right answers. More information on what type of fish you fish for, what type of flies you tie etc would be helpful.
For General use I suggest you go get a bottle of Sally Hansons clear nail polish cut the brush in half width wise and shorten it by a third. (if you cant find SH buy what ever is cheepest at the local store)
I say this beceause it is inexpensive and works.
Ill sit back now and watch the fun.
Eric
I like Sally Hansens Hard as Nails, it can be purchased anywhere they sell Nail Polish. I get mine from Walmart. John
My favorite, when I use a head cement, would be the water based head cement by Loon. I don’t use HC often, as 90% of my flies live only long enough to be hung up in the willow trees!!:rolleyes:
My favorites is Griff thin. Is it the BEST hc, for my use it is.
Salmo,
Depends, of course, on your definition of ‘best’.
First, decide what you want the ‘head cement’ you use to actually do.
Do you just want something to hold the thread in place? Does how it ‘look’ matter? Whether or not it penetrates? Do you have an aversion to useing solvent based chemicals?
CA glues like Zap, Bondini, the super glues, are very strong and hold thread well. Not really ‘pretty’ and if they stray from where you put them, can casue problems with the rest of the fly. Expensive stuff in the long run, too. Best thing about these, you can use it in place of a whip finish or half hitch where it’s difficult to tie a knot…
The nail polishes, Sally Hansen’s type stuff, work well for looks, and are strong, but don’t penetrate very well unless you thin them. Again, costly because it comes in such small containers, but not too bad. A good choice if you want to add ‘shine’ to materials or build up shiny multi coat heads.
You can buy the stuff made for fly fishing and sold as ‘head cement’ from catalog houses or your local fly shop-many different ones, with many different properties. Thick, thin, solvent or water based…etc…Again, pricey but they work.
Lacquer. You can get a quart of ‘gloss brushing lacquer’ at any paint store, WalMart, hardware stores, etc… More trouble to get it ready to use, as you’ll need a container to ‘use’ it from. Nice thing about this, with some lacquer thinner and a couple of small bottles, you can have thin head cement AND thick head cement from the same material just by adjusting how much thinner you do or don’t put in it. Makes very shiny, durable heads with multi coats, holds thread well with just one application. Due to it’s properties, it leaves little solids behind, so it adds less weight to the fly when that’s an advantage. Most cost effective over the long run, a quart of lacquer will last even a prolific fly tyer five to ten years…
If solvent based chemicals are a problem for you, you can use clear acrylic ‘lacquer’. Found in the craft sections at big box stores or at the local art/craft/sewing shops, it’s inexpensive and works fine. Only drawback is that it dries a bit slower than the regular lacquer.
I use several different chemical ‘head cements’ based on the application. If I had to use just one, it would be the lacquer.
Buddy
SALMO your location and the flies you must tie would look great with what I use on large flies-- as others have added, SallyHensen red or black and clear nail polish as a final coat. The area head cement that most use is FLY-TITE derived from plants and ethyl alcohol. BILL
I second the FlY-TITE, although I have Sally Hansons and Rumpf.
Salmo : I prefer Cellire for my flies . You should be able to get it from Bryant Freeman in Riverview , New Brunswick…Frank
It depends on the application.
Griff’s Thin for general work and most fishing flies
Several coats of Griff’s followed by Sally Hanson if I want a smooth shiny head
Several coats of Griff’s; followed by Sally Hanson, Rumpf or Hille; followed by Pro Lac for show flies
There is going to be way to many answers to this question and none will be alike because not everyone who ties flies ties them for the same reason. Some tie flies to fish with and just about any head cement will work for them. Some tie flies to never see water or get wet. They will be on display under glass, at art shows, etc., and that will require a different head cement if any is used at all. The best head cement for you will be whatever works on your flies and meets your requirements. Good luck finding it. No, I am not going to tell you what I use and I will not make a recommendation because what I tie may not be what you tie and where I use my flies may not be where you use your flies. You will need to just experiment with the different types and use whatever works for you.
I make my own, head cement, so I’m going to go pour a short one and stay out of this!
100% agree. I penetrates better than any other it gets deeper. Ive wrapped and head glued it let it dry with Griff’s thin, umpqua, wapsi, and a another brand that I cant seem to remember the name of (it also has a green lable?). Griff’s penetrated deeper in to the thread and its bond was equal to the others. I also like Sally’s on some flies to make them a bit more durable in the rocks. But as often as flies are lost / destroyed by fish. I think they all work fine. I use Griff’s.
I use Sally Hensens on some of mine. Many don’t get anything.
On some of the bead head flies I tie I put some zap-a-gap on them. That seems to make them more durable.
Find what works the best for you and what you like the best. This is like picing a rod, reel or the best fly to use. Persona; preference.
Rick
Salmo,
The perfect head cement is one of the holy grails of fly tying (the other being the perfect hackle pliers). I have worked with many fly tying cements without being particularly impressed. Cellaire is nice for glossy built up heads like those on many salmon fly patterns but I wouldn’t want to use it on size 24 blue wing olive patterns. It is also extremely difficult to obtain in the US but you should be able to find it in Canada. The loctite company makes a product called easy brush super glue that has recently crowded out most of the other goops from my tying bench. It is packaged better than any fly tying product I have found. The applicator brush is a bit thick but is easily trimmed down to suit your preferences. It is versatile, strong and quick drying and in the US you can find it in just about any hardware store and in Wallyworld. You can leave it open for a week or two and it won’t dry out (nothing else that I have found has that property). The only drawback is that you must be very careful with it. It is a real problem if you get it where you don’t want it. I hate it when I superglue hooks to the jaws of my Renzetti Master. :mad:
I’m with fwalsh. I like cellire. It sticks well and gives a shiny head if that’s what you want. Sally’s is good too. Cellire seems to need less thinning.
SweetStreamS
I use griffs for my small flies and sally hansons for my larger flies. That being said a lot of time I use nothing at all.
I use Dave’s flexament by Umpqua. I have went through a couple of bottles and need some thinner, but spending $3 for an ounce of thinner just drives me nuts. I tried to buy some toluene to thin it, but found a gallon of it for $13, but I don’t need a gallon. I then found a quart at Ace hardware for $8.50 and thought, you have to be kidding me. Maybe it is time to just buy a different head cement.
I could try a new head cement or Sally Hansons or find a better place to buy the toluene. Then again, I have a tube of Shoe Goo and that with the toluene could whip up some home grown HC.
So what do you think?
Rick
That’s what I do ,Rick. I use Shoo Goo / Goop for lots of things so end up with a partial tube that is getting too thick to use so I cut it open salvage the thickened stuff and cut it with toluene.
You can make whatever thicknesses you desire.
I don’t use Flexament for heads though.
Where is the best place to buy that stuff?