Can my fellow members please steer me in the right direction? Is there a prefered epoxy and specific method to use for finishing fly heads with epoxy? I am just getting into this epoxy head thing and need some advice from those who have gone before me. I have all the equipment, just need a little know how before I make a mess of things. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I have found that the Devcon 30 minute epoxy works best for me. I used to use the 5 minute stuff, but the working time was just too short for more than a couple of flies. Also, the longer drying epoxy does not yellow as fast or as badly as the quick dry stuff. I prefer the individual 9 ounce bottles because you can control the amounts much easier than the “twin tubes” and you probably will need some sort of a drying wheel if you use the 30 minute stuff. You’ll find you use it more than you expect on all sorts of patterns.
Jim Smith
Tulip Fabric paint has hit the fly tying world with a bang lately!! Tulip can be shaped into sheets, molded into many shapes on a hook, painted with nail polish, glued with epoxy, glued with super glue, and mixed with epoxy to give you any color you desire. Tulip comes in a variety of colors, with or without glitter. Tulip being water soluble, can be diluted to make it as thin in consistency as you desire.
When mixed with epoxy, use it sparingly! I suggest testing a little with the epoxy you are using to make sure of color and setting up time. I use Zpoxy on most of my flies. Devcon is also a good epoxy source. Epoxy will go yellow to light brown in time. Tulip might slow this process down, or maybe stop the process altogether.
John
[This message has been edited by JAd (edited 23 April 2005).]