http://www.westfly.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=375490&page=1#Post375490
Interesting , Norm…thanks
I have questions …
Is it really that revolutionary?..does it do anything any different than when you use say a Cal Bird dubbing tool for a dubbing loop?..maybe a little more convenient…
In that thread are they saying there now is a Nor-vise bobbin that accepts regular thread spools?
I dont see much in the way of it being any more revolutionarier than a bent up paper clip! one tool instead of two??
Gene trump mentions something about the use of regular thread spools with his retractable bobbin. could be something new. nothing on the website though.
I could be very wrong about this, but it appears that the rotation is not on the center axis and might be a little more difficult in containing the materials at first.
Just a thought.
I like it.
But I’ll just modify an existing bobbin I have and see how it goes.
That ‘off center’ spin is what makes it work ‘better’ for my interests. I think I’ll get a better material distribution and more thread around it rather than ‘along’ it this way.
Should be great for peacock herl, which I use an awful lot.
We’ll have to see.
Buddy
Pretty cool tool. I would just make one with a paperclip though, like norm said.
So there are 3 lengths of thread in the wrap instead of two like when you use a regular dubbing tool. Thus if you brought your thread down to a regular tool and wrapped it around the tool once you would be in the same position when you spin the regular tool (plus bobbin).
I think the hook on the bobbin would drive me nuts when I DON?T want it there.
Since the “loop”, after forming, is now intimately attached to the thread coming from the bobbin there doesn’t appear to be any way to STOP if you have made up too long a rope and want to not use it all. You can’t cut it off without cutting off your winding thread also. ???
I think Ray hit the nail on the head about cutting your wrapping thread.
Dave
Seems you’d just pop the loop off the hook at any time you feel you have the desired amount for your fly body…I don’t see where the hook would be in the way when retracted either…I’d want the retracting ability of the hook though…so I’d wait till the tool is commercially availabe…or contact Mitch…Just a few thought’s. :rolleyes:
Now how’bout Mr. Mitch getting intouch with Mr. Enlich (sp) and perhaps I could kill me two bird’s here with the proverbial single stone!
Ray,
I was interested, so I cobbled one together.
The ‘hook’ is out of the way for regular applications, but I’d only use this bobbin for flies where I wanted the ‘brush’ in any event. Mine has the loop ‘fixed’ in position, where the fancy store bought one slides, so I’d think that it would be less ‘in the way’ than mine is.
I found that I didn’t have to ‘use it all’ as far as the brush went. After you’ve wound on as much as you need, I found that you could relax the tension and the loop would come away from the tying portion of the thread easily, almost automatically (I was using peacock herl) once it was released from the hook. I’d just tie down the material, cut off the balance of the brush, and go on with the fly.
It’s a useful device for one particular fly I tie an awful lot of. If you don’t ‘need’ it, then I’d think it was superflous.
Buddy
i got this tool as a stockin’ stuffer for christmas.
really- it is great for certain applications and flies- it is slick and well made- i live right down the road from Mitch’s shop- so i have been able to see what this tool is capable of first hand… he also has a video that is worth watching.
for me it’s worth having.
Clarkii.
i dont believe thats a true statement
the dubbing loop is created in the normal way and the hook on the side of the bobbin is only a twister. so you actually end up with 3 strands of thread.
If you look at pic #6 in the series it shows the end of the loop moved to the notch in the hook, and the hook extended. This is the position for winding the materials on the shank. The hook rotates like a rotating hackle plier. The material is wrapped on the shank and tied down as you go with the extra thread coming out of the bobbin. Pic #7 shows the loop unhooked, the hook slid back down, out of the way, and the end of the loop tied down without changing tools, and no unravelling.
I’ve only been using this for a couple weeks, and I’d say the biggest advantage is the ease at combining materials in the loop and wrapping the hook shank, without the extra dubbing loop tool or shepard’s hook. The only slight disadvantage is having the extra length of the bobbin hanging down when spinning the loop, but that can be dealt with in several ways.
In the video, Mitch goes into several other applications like using wire, floss or tinsel for the loop, and how to tie bunny hair hackle flies. I haven’t tried those yet, so can’t comment on the learning curve for those practices. And if you’re happy with your paper clips, I admire your patience and dexterity.
Bill
Bill, this looks clever and may have appeal but please explain to me how this effects how materials are used differently in a dubbing loop…
Here is a quote from the WestFly thread…
" It takes some practice, but after a while one starts to get ideas for materials that can be combined for bodies of all types of critter imitations."
I just don’t understand how it makes what materials or techniques go into the dubbing loop any different…how the loop is twisted and wrapped yes…
I would submit that the same materials can be put in the loop whether you are using a shepard’s hook or this new tool.
If it’s different than that I’d like to know.
Ya got me there, ducster. Like I said, I just started using it and watched Mitch demo it in his video and in person. The ease of combining materials over other tools became apparent as I used it, giving me more ideas for spun bodies. Works for me.
I posted about it to share with other tyers. You can decide if it’s really “different” or not, based on your experience (even without trying it).
Bill
They will be available commercially from Wasatch. The current fly tyer has an ad for them in the magazine on page 17. BUT! when I just went on their website they still say it is coming soon. http://flytyingtools.com/webpages/tools/bobbin_whiler_mitchs.html
Interesting to me that Fly tyer would have an ad for a product that isn’t even availabe yet??
It’s done all the time really - they advertise, then see how much interest is shown before they manufacture the product for stat purposes etc, and sometimes if the product shows a popularity plus they adjust the price to suit, sometimes higher sometimes lower.
Jeanne
…that if you do not correctly judge the length or amount of material you place in the loop, your stuck. If you overestimate the length or amount of material it appears you have to cut the loop and the thread. How would one then tye off the loop on the shank?
It’s like applying dubbing in the the exact amount and spun on the thread to the exact length of the body, every time, or, just forcing the material onto the shank till you run into the bear thread for the tye off.
I tend to like this style of tool which can be used like Mitch’s and IMO has more flexibilty.
http://ns33014.ovh.net/~dessaign/biendebuter/vdloop/loop.html
Bones,
You really can separate the loop from the thread easily, so the overestimation isn’t a problem.
That being said, do you happen to know where I can buy the tool shown in the video?. I really like how that one, in particular, works.
Thanks,
Buddy