When I twist wire in my dubbing twister it breaks before the dubbing rope is twisted. But, if I take it out of the twister, hold one end by hand, and insert a weighted dubbing twister in the other, I can twist it into a rope manually before the wire breaks. Any ideas as to what could be wrong?
I think that what happens is the dubbing twister starts twisting the wire closest to the spinner/hook end first and causes the wire to break before the remainder of the wire is twisted along the bri=ush. Also, I have dound that not all of the wires twist up the same, even when using the same size and brand of wire. In Ultra wire for example, the brass wire seems to be more brittle and wants to break before the brush is fully twisted while the olive green wire is softer and twists up nicely every time. To prevent the wire from breaking too soon, it helps to lift the brush off of the platform as soon as possible to complete the twisting. This not only allows the wire to twist me evenly along the entire length, but it also makes a much fuller 360 degree round dubbing brushes.
Jim Smith
The trick is to use my ‘Rope-dubbing’ technique that does not twist the thread or wire at all when ‘roping’ the dubbing. Therefore the thread or wire will never break.
This will also allow you to modify the rope in any way you want before you wrap the hook. You can rope the dubbing so tight it forms segments, or rope it loosely to give a smooth body, or fluff it out for a bushy look.
Other dubbing methods work, obviously, but they all take more time and don’t work for all types of dubbings and fibers, plus peacock and hackles. Along with tying in a fraction of the time, the RD result is neat and durable. Rope-dubbing is a ‘master-method’, and tiers then apply the method to all manners of materials for custom appearances in their own designs.
See Denny’s review in the articles section. He has my DVD, which includes 24 applications of the method to different materials.
Could someone show a link to Denny’s review? I searched the “articles” section and couldn’t find it.
Thanks,
Dave
It’s the first one that comes up when searching “rope dub” on the home page…
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/showthread.php?41594-Dubbing-twister-problem&p=415398
As for the wire breaking when doing a dubbing brush be sure the wire doesn’t have a kink in it.
Also when you remove the wire you are now releasing some tension and allowing the wire to twist under less tension.
What Jim said…
Also twisting platforms can be made to allow some"give" to the wire as it is twisting.
I believe Don is talking about doing dubbing loops directly on the hook and not dubbing brushes that are made with a dubbing brush platform. That rope dub technique is indeed a nice one.
Duckster,
I am not doing dubbing loops. I dub right on the hook tying thread or tag wire and the technique allows me to make brushes or tight dubbing without ever twisting the wire or thread.
On my site, I list many advantages of the technique, and one of them is ‘no loops’.
Don,
I "m sorry , I misspoke , I know you don’t…I have your dvd…thanks for the correction.
Am I correct though in stating you weren’t referring to making dubbing brushes on a platform twister ?
Try loosing the screw on the end opposite the twisting knob. It lets the wire slide through as the tension is increased.
I had to play a little with the one my son built me.
Duckster,
Yes, you you are correct in saying that I wasn’t referring to making brushes in a ‘brush-maker’. Thanks for getting the DVD. Would like to see some of your work and learn what your challenges are.
Hi DonO. I would like to try your method, but I have no idea what it involves. I’d like to be able to know if I might like it before I spend $30.
Thanks,
Bruce
Bruce,
I had that exact thought before I purchased the DVD…did a lot of Googling got info…but the fact is you won’t know till you try it…“Try it you’ll like it”…IMHO
If you’ll read the reviews on my DVD page, you’ll get an idea of the value of the technique. http://www.fantasyflies.com/ropedub_dvd.php Looks towards the bottom.
The expertise of these tiers run the range from the best to the beginner, from professional to novice, from good friends to people I’ve never met. Google picks up every comment and mention of my name or ‘rope dubbing’. Any negative comments from dissatisfied buyers would be there. But just the opposite is true- the majority of the buyers are eagerly awaiting Rope-dubbing DVD #2. I have an open email address and respond to all comments about my DVD or the technique, and to date I have not had one negative comment- just great reviews (except that one English buddy didn’t like the music between scenes- LOL). Al Beatty just gave it great reviews in the Fly Fisher Magazine (FFF).
I’ve been demo’ing the technique for free for 10 years at shows all across the country. The DVD was in response to requests over and over by those who needed to watch me do it in order to copy it properly, especially to let go of old habits. The technique is not hard at all, but it’s the dozens of ways to apply it that tiers could never remember after the show. I would guarantee your liking it, but everyone does that nowadays. So I just let the buyers and tiers do the speaking for me, like Denny here on FAOL.
I’m not jealous over the technique, as I allow tying instructors to teach it at will in their classes. I just ask them not to publish or You-tube the techniques as that would hurt DVD sales, and I have a lot of money invested in the DVD, having it professionally produced. All have complied so far.
Bruce,
I re-read your comment and would address the comment ‘what it involves’. What it involves is a combination of absolute simplicity with a little bit of manual dexterity. And I have fingers like ball-park franks, so don’t worry that you don’t have what it takes. I can ropedub segments on flies down to size 28 Mustad and #32 Tiemco.
Also, ‘what it involves’ is about 40 seconds to tie a 3-color segmented caddis larva with 3 colors of ice dub. Ultra-simplicity and dubbing control is the key. And what works with one dubbing works with all dubbings and fibers and even belly-button fuzz.
Don,
Is the DVD still on sale for 25% off? When I go to the site, it says 25% off at the top of the page but the order box shows the regular $39.95 price.
Dave
Yes, it’s still 25% off. $29.95 + $5. S&H. I get most orders via Paypal- the fastest. I have a couple going out today that I can add more to.
Lastchance,
To answer your original question…
I think I know what’s happening to your wire.
As you twist two strands of wire together, the overall length shortens.
If your twister doesn’t have a way for the overall length of the wire to shorten as it’s being twisted, the wire will break. That’s one adjustment that many of the ‘home made’ twisters forget to build in.
I don’t know anything about Don’s technique, but the other ‘rope dubbing’ techniques I’ve seen use way too much material for me. I do use a lot of wire dubbing brushes…I see no need to change as they work very well for what I’m doing.
Good Luck,
Buddy
As I indicated above…I agree with Buddy about shorting…but believe it may have a lot to do with the qualities of the wire used…I have one of Jim Smith’s platforms that does not allow for shortening and only had one or two brushes break anywhere but at the ends…those had kinked wire…and I’ve done a great many brushes on it. I twist to breakage and as stated have had no problems…breakage occurs randomly it seems at either the near or far end.
Just for the fun of it I have made some other stlye platforms and have incorporated a means for the wire to shorten…just in case…actually I don’t really notice any difference.
I leave the wire about 2 inches long behind the post away from where I wqindf on my dubbing boarde. By loosing the screw therf the wire slips through. Don’t break the wire now.
When it comesout of the wahsers it is done.
Rick
Don,
I just placed an order for the DVD, but it went through showing the regular price not the sale price. I assume the sale price will ultimately be used.
Dave
I emailed you and offered you $10 cash-back with the DVD or a dozen and a half or more different rope-dub flies for samples. Your choice. You’ll get 4 or 5 samples anyway.
Thanks, looking forward to your comments.