Hi Folks,
I have noticed that most of the SW patterns/ receipes I have been reading call for use of either epoxy or Zap-a-gap/Super glues etc. I am wondering if the use of the hot melt type glues is avoided because of lack of durability? Some are pearlescent and are available in an array of colors which would be ideal in many cases if the flies would hold up. Thanks in advance for your help.
Nope they are used in Saltwater tying to. Been using it for many years. Ron
use hot melt glues instead of epoxy for heads on my saltwater flies. Have been for years and it works great.
I have many different colors, with and without sparkle. I find that it is best to have a gun for each color. most of the guns I have I picked up for $1, have about a dozen. You can also get a little melting pot for the glue sticks at a craft store use it to dip flies, even mix your own colors and add sparkle. I find it easy enough to work with the guns and usually just do that.
To attach eyes, just heat the spot with the gun tip and stick on. They don’t come off.
The only thing you have to get used to is dealing with the strings that can form when you pull away. I use a tiny circular motion when applying and make sure the area is hot before I pull away. If you have strings or little imperfections, you can trim them with a razor knife and or reheat the spot using the gun without feeding or a soldering iron.
You might want to cover the feathers with aluminum foil, at least 'til you get use to it. This will keep strings from accidentally getting on them.
Joe
Hi gerri,
I use hot glue on a number of flies but I must caution - if you leave a box of them in the back window of a car on a hot day…! I’ll let your imagination fill in the blanks. It only happened once, now I make sure they are stored in a more appropriate place. Take care & …
Tight Lines - Al Beatty [url=http://www.btsflyfishing.com:99924]www.btsflyfishing.com[/url:99924]
Just a passing thought, but have you guys ever made use of the fact that powdered artist’s pastel chalks (the non-wax kind)work for coloring epoxy. They work because they are inert and don’t affect the epoxy chemistry. And the color won’t chip off like paint. I’ve done it for salvaging, otherwise screwed-up, Thunder Creek streamers with tan heads and yellow eyes.