So I got a new bobbin from Cabelas (Cabelas brand for those counting) last time I was at their store. Unfortunately the darn thing is better at cutting thread than my scissors. Any way to help solve this issue outside of throwing it in the trash and buying a decent bobbin?
If the store isn’t that far away, I’d take it back and ask for a refund. If a bobbin won’t allow thread to flow through it smoothly without damage, its useless in my opinion.
I agree with Fishin’ Fool; if it came out of the package with a nick in the tube, send it back.
Regards,
Scott
If you can’t do what the others suggested and you have a lot of time and patience, take some jewelers paper and have a go. I did it once just because I didn’t have anything better to do. It works.
I agree with fishin’ fool, but if you can’t return it try to fix it. if it doesn’t have a ceramic tip it may have a burr in the steel shaft. Try using very fine steel wool and polishing the inside of the tube. Or better yet, I remember reading somewhere about making your own bobbins, and I think part of that article showed how to set a bead in to the tube of the bobbin which would shield the thread from any burrs in the steel. If you aren’t going to return it may as well try to fix it, if you break it you really aren’t any more worse off that before you started.
I found the link to the home made bobbin instructions, in it describes how to set a bead in to the end of the tube:
http://www.flytyingforum.com/index.php?showtopic=37091&st=15&p=322659&#entry322659
since nobody asked and assumes its the tube thats cutting the therad, i’ll ask this: is it the tube thats actualy cutting the thread or are the bobbin arms holding the spool too tight and you are “breaking” the thread instead of “cutting”?
you can spread out the arms to hold the spool a little less tightly.
glue in a glass bead on both ends of the tube is another fix.
return them to cabelas and buy a good tiemco ceramic bobbin holder or even the new marc petitjean bobbin holder (man is that one sweet piece of tying equipment)
What Normand said. Buy a quality bobbin. Use that one for wire or lead.
go find a set of files at HArbor Freight. They are used to clean the ports in welding equip. I don’t know what they are called, but they are tiny and round.
a very small burr could still nick thread. I suggest a remedy using what you already probably have at home, toothpaste (the white kind) and an eraser. Put the toothpaste on the eraser and ‘grind’ the tip fo the bobbin into the eraser. You don’t have to press hard, just keep twisting it back and forth. The inside AND the outside of the tip will become polished.
I bought a Cabelas bobbin once too and had the exact same problem. I returned it (they were very nice about it) and bought a Griffen instead. No more store brand bobbins for me. Plenty of other tools may be fine, but I’m done with cheap bobbins.
Unfortunately I was in SLC when I bought it. Now back in Wyoming. So it’s a 5 hour drive! I’ll try the bead option, that may get it passable. It’s not a tension issue. I thought that at first too.
If I can’t get it working, I’ll probably just use it to hold wire. It cost me a whopping 3 or 4 bucks I think. Next time, I’ll buy a name brand one. sighNo issues with Cabela’s. Just got unlucky with a bad product. Live and learn I guess. The tip feels sharp when I run my finger across it. So I don’t think it’s a burr. It’s almost like they filed the end to sharpen it up.
Paul
In “Tying Tips” are three articles I wrote, two are about Thread, and the other is about Bobbins. All have to do with the bobbins and spools used. Different manufacturers use different size spools. I only use two different size spools, The Gudebrod spools for my 3/0 thread, and Waspi spools for the 6/0 & 8/0 thread. Both have smooth edges in their spool rims, that cannot cut the thread. I save all my empy spools from these two manufactures.
I also keep a sliver of hand soap at my tying bench to lubricate the bobbins sprockets that hold the thread spool.
PS: You also can break your thread by not allowing the bobbin to hang beneath the hook shank, allowing all the twists in the thread from the wrapping to unwind. ~Parnelli
There articles that I wrote for FAOL’s “Tying Tips”
“Bobbins” found at http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/tyingtips/part209.php
“Bent Bobbins” found at http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/tyingtips/part192.php
“Thread Spools” found at http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/tyingtips/part207.php
“Twisted Thread” found at http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/tyingtips/part112.php
“Thread: A thesis on thread construction” found at http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/tyingtips/part211.php
I have experienced all the same problems with different bobbins I have had over the years.
I have a tendency to be a bit heavy handed, which is not the bobbins fault. Wear at the tip will eventually cut my thread.
Constantly having to bend the bobbin arms so as to get the tension I need for tying. I wanted something better.
While attending a show, several years ago I had the opportunity to try a test drive on the “Marco Rite” bobbins.
Both Kenny & I use them today and have for a couple years. I prefer the regular ceramic tube model.
I like the fact that they are made here in the USA.
We like them so much we are now dealers for them.
I will add info on the Classified forum. w/ pict.
The reason we have added them is because we like and use them, and feel our customers and friends should have the opportunity to get them easily.
Denny
Well, some of the cheeper stuff you buy will have a tendency to do excatly what problems you’re dealing with. You get what you pay for. I’ve never had a problem with the Griffin ceramic bobkins cutting my thread even down to the smallest, but tension has a great deal to do with it, you can’t crank on it too tight with the smaller thread you’re in trouble. Just be mindful of the materials you use and the tools as well. Good Luck
I started using Rite bobbins 9-12 months ago, and they’re my go-to bobbin now. I use the Standard model for 95% of my tying… The other 5% I tie with a ceramic bobbin loaded with 6/0 chartreuse or black Uni. The Rites are kind of expensive, but well worth it if you tie a lot in my opinion!
One point that has been overlooked is that of a spool of ‘rotten’ thread! The test for this is to simply pull the thread directly from the spool with the spool in your bobbin and see if it continues to break under tension comparable to what normally have been applying. This will also shed light on the role tension is playing, if any. Years ago, I purchased two spools of a name-brand thread and had to throw both away because of ‘structural defects’. Some time after that, while on a business trip, I was visiting with the proprietor of a fly shop and happened to mention my recent experience. He ‘excused’ himself and stepped into his ‘back room’ and emerged with a brand new 12,000(?) yard spool of #20 backing and proceeded to break it as easily as one breaks 6/0 tying thread. Getting a bad spool of thread can, and does, occur.
Hope you get a speedy solution to you problem.
Frank
It is known that long exposure to direct sunlight will break down thread material. Also even the brand names sometimes have faulty products that somehow, get through to the consumer. If the manufacturer has morals, they should be glad to replace the faulty thread.
I remember while talking with Al Campbell at the 1999 Fish-In, he told me that he lubricated the bobbins ends (that hold the spool) with ear wax!
As for the bobbins, most of mine are bent, I bent them on purpose, so the the spool fit into the cup of my hand while dressing hooks. I know just by feel that the thread bobbin is feeding the thread properly. I even wrote a tying tip column about it, called Bent Bobbins (which I mention before and my earlier post on the topic…
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/tyingtips/part192.php
BEFORE
AFTER
Then the thread has a straight shot through the tube on the bobbin, and is not entering the tube at an angle. ~Parnelli
Yes this is a good solution but it can also weaken the bobkin, but if you don’t cramk on it too hard it will ho;d up
Try what I did with Bass Pro. The
bobbin I bought was junk, I wrote them and they sent me my money back without having to return the Bobbin.
I got a batch of cheap bobbins one time as a promo gift. I soon saw why they were giving them away. I was going to pitch them, but I decided to make them wire bobbins instead. So now when I need wire for a fly, instead of cutting off a length and wasting what I don’t use, I just tie the wire down and use as much as I need and clip it off- no waste. Works especially well when making Copper Johns or other wire bodied flies. When done, I just bend the wire end back and I don’t have to worry about my wire spools unwinding. I stand them in a bobbin rack and they are easy to access by color and dia.