That’s a risk I’m willing to take. If she would wander by the tying desk at night, she’d have to be sleep walking anyways!
tried the flame trick, the deer hair and herl went up quick, still had to use the knife to remove the thread but it was quicker.
Eric
Hi All,
I’m also a cheap sort, and reuse hooks. I use a knife to cut off the material.
Regards,
Gandolf
Now, how do you ever cast? 
OK … do the flame trick OVER A KITCHEN SINK where, 1) you have somewhere for the burning pieces to fall, and 2) you have water to put out … ummm … what ever needs to be doused! DO NOT, repeat, DO NOT attempt to do over your lap especially when wearing shorts.:shock: Nope … that’s all.
Yep sure do, stick em in the vise and use the ol scapel and the stuff comes right off. With prices as they are you have to.
Fatman
saltwater hooks cost as much as a buck a piece
I use them 'till they’re done
I’m with the razor blade crew. Salvage just about all hooks except the damaged ones and those incorporating wire for weight. Definitely salvage beads, especially the few tungsten beads I’ve bought. Hadn’t thought about burning the materials off, and not sure I want to try it, given Betty’s warning.
John
I think Cary is willing to spend what ever needs be spent on hooks, to spare the house and ER team from the results of my coming in contact with sharp things and flames!!:shock::rolleyes:
Wow, I thought I was the only one. I sit down, get a small blade and start cutting off the old flies. I gotta box full of hooks waiting to be reused…
I prefer to use a blade to remove the material, BUT when the fly is wrapped with lead a blade is a pain.
I actually use an old pair of scissors, cheapies. I try to use a razor to remove the material, but often times it simply won’t get through.
This is all Fantasy Island for me. It’s hard to clear off a hook that is 20 feet up a tree.
(I’m getting major deja vu here. Haven’t we done this thread a time or three?)
Betty, Bactine!
Ed
Ed mine were so bad they didn’t make it up the tree, they were from when I first started tying, I didn’t think that I had progressed until I went through my boxes. now they are rapidly becoming hooks to be used again.
Eric
I haven’t started reusing them but I do have a cigar box full of trash flys that I intend to strip one day.
Buy some Mustad 3366 hooks and you won’t think about reusing them because they are so cheap ($2.95 a hundred.)
Good luck,
G
I have nieces and nephews that tie with me all the time,they get to keep their favorites but the rest are reused
G