I am looking to get a nother bobbin or two and i would like some help, i am new to the tying game so any help would be great. I will be tying just trout flies and was thinking ceramic, from what i understand they are very smooth and easy on the thread. Thanks, Travis
ps, i also am looking at scissors too, the kind you can keep in your hand while tying.
I tie with S&M bobbins; not ceramic, but never any problems and I love the way they fit in my hand. Inexpensive, too. Just my opinion.
Regards,
Scott
where did you get them from?
Get a good quality ceramic. Look for smooth, rounded edges. One with sharp edges will cut the thread faster than a plain one.
I am going to have to order them, the shop around here only had two different ones, non-ceramic.
pm me your snail mail i’ll send you sissiors and a bobbin no ceramic though. i have been given a few things from members hear and would love to pay it forward.
I like the Rite bobbins…they cost a little more but have a nice tension adjustment screw on the side so you can set the resitance you want. Very nice ceramic tip.
http://www.ritebobbin.com/about-us.html
For scissors I like the DR. Slick micro tips 3 1/2 inch.
http://www.cabelas.com/p-0001094316589a.shtml
Hope this helps,
John G.
Thanks for the links John
You can find S&M bobbins on Ebay. I have purchased S&M bobbins from this gentleman before and he is a straight shooter. You will not be disappointed. If they are good enough for AK Best, they are good enough for me.
I have three bobbins. One is ceramic, cost about $15 and is just about the least comfortable thing I’ve ever tried to work with. I don’t know exactly why it doesn’t fit right in my hand, but it doesn’t.
The other two I bought at a local store (with about five square feet of fly tying stuff) for around $3 a piece and are not ceramic. None of these bobbins cut or fray my thread but the feel of the el cheapos is so much better.
I’m entirely willing to believe I just got lucky, but then again I’m now a lot less willing to pay $15 since all that price bought me was a tool that makes my hand cramp.
If you decide to buy an expensive one online, buy from some place that will let you return the bobbin if you hate it. Not fraying the thread is obviously priority one, but a close second is actually being able to use it comfortably. And if you intend to keep your scissors in hand too…
I’ll secong the scissor suggestion that Fishnfool made. I love the Dr. Slick micro tips. I’ve been using the same pair for about 7 years now. Still very sharp.
I prefer ceramic tubed bobbins. VEE likes the Rite Bobbins and is after me to get her some more for her birthday, anniversary, whatever. For tying with Pearsalls silk I use the Wasatch Micro Bobbin. I have a few of them. http://www.flytyingtools.com/webpages/tools/bob_woodTrim_ceramic_micro.html
For regular tying I like the Nor-Bobbin http://www.nor-vise.com/products/productpages/newpages/bobbin_Kit.html and the Ekich bobbin, though I’m still getting used to tying with it. http://www.automaticbobbin.com/
Jeff’s comment about the tool feeling good in your hand is a good one. If I don’t like the “feel” of it, I won’t use it.
REE
I’d also recommend a ceramic bobbin of some sort. I’ve got a few less-expensive ones and use them quite often, but just upgraded again and bought a standard size Rite bobbin. For tying strictly trout flies, the Rites would be tough to beat in my opinion! The only thing I don’t like is that it takes a bit to change spools of thread… but I keep mine loaded with black or brown and use my other ceramic bobbin if I am wanting another color.
I have 3 of these and like them a lot.
http://shop4.mailordercentral.com/hookhack/prodinfo.asp?number=3901005
I bought mine years ago, but it looking now, I don’t see the old short-tube model that I prefer anywhere, and the Wasatch that Orvis sells seems to be a bit high-priced. Looks like you’ve received some great recommendations from others here.
Regards,
Scott
The Griffin ceramic bobbin is the best bobbin I’ve used to date. No matter what brand you use I would recommend going with some sort of ceramic. As for scissor’s Dr. Slick is hard to beat. I think they really are the standard of quality at a good price in fly tying today.
Sierra trading post has some really good prices on the DR Slick products. I love their products, and believe me I tried a bunch of different scissors until I just broke down.
Rick
i guess i’m old school and use the tiemco ceramic bobbin holders. (thread spool is the bobbin)
you can get an updated version of the s&m bobbin holder from bear lodge anglers, a sponsor here
In the world of bobbins…
…what the heck does S&M stand for? The original company that made them? Short & metal? Simple & mobile? Silk & Mylar?
GOOGLE found this
“I live about 10 min. from the old S&M fly shop who sold out to John Marona. The S&M bobbins were developed by Walt Stockman and Charlie Malley the original owners. The tooling for stamping the frames was developed by S&M many years ago. The frames and tube are brass with nickel plating.
John was forced to close his shop when the building lease cost went astronomical at renewal time. This is a very common small business story in southern New England.”
I guess I should apologize for not thinking of Google, but thanks for the answer…Stockman & Malley…good stuff! 