Being a commercial fly tier, time is money! Using poorly made and ineffective tools can be frustrating and very time consuming…
The other day I was having a lot of trouble with a couple of my “new and cheap” bobbins. One had a nick or burr somewhere in the tube and the thread would break repeatedly no matter how slight the tension and I couldn’t find or fix the problem… Finally I gave up and switched to the other “new” bobbin and that wasn’t any better. No matter how I tried I couldn’t get the thread tension adjusted to my liking and one of the legs had a bad twist in it such that the hub would not set flush to the spool. Yeah, I got them cheap but in the end I paid the price, junk! I was so mad that I just through them in the trash. I should have known better.
I’ve had my share of bobbins over the years and I’ve had quality and thread tension problems with most of them. It was time for a change. With fly tying tools, like most tools, you get what you pay for and I never paid more than $10 or so for a bobbin.
Half Hitch Mag
It was time to try the rite bobbin. A little pricey I thought — but again, you get what you pay for, right? So, I decided to buy two of the “Half Hitch Mag” rite bobbins and I’m so glad I did. Bottom line, these bobbins are great! They are easy to use and the precise thread control is like butter, not to mention the half hitch function. I’ve had them in constant use for over a week and have not had a single problem or thread tension control issue… I think I’ll get a couple of the ceramic tube rite bobbins next…
I agree with you, the Merco Rite Bobbins are great. I have been using them for many years now, from the shorty to the half hitch mag, all great. The ceramic ones are just as good.
I really like the rite bobbins, now have 5 of them. Nothing I’ve tried so far has given as finite thread tension control and I also find them easier to thread, just insert the thread into the bottom of the tube and suck the thread through. No need for bobbin threaders and more. I also like the way they fit in your hand.
I can’t tolerate not having metal on both sides of the thread spool. You and Richard can keep those goofy contraptions, and I’ll stick to my ceramic-lined Griffins.
The Rite bobbins are good, I used them for a few years (also tying commercially). Then I discovered what they don’t do. I now use a lot of split thread techniques for dubbing and CdC. What you can’t do with a Rite bobbin is spin it. Well you can spin it, but they are so unbalanced they don’t spin well. In the end I changed back to TMC and Griffin ceramic bobbins. If you don’t use these techniques then they are great. They do what it says on the tin. The new whip finish bobbin looks good, though I would prefer it to be ceramic lined, and available in the smaller sizes.
Marc Petitjean’s new bobbin holder looks good. It has a tensioning system and a lot of other features. However, it is twice the price of the Rite bobbins. Having 4 bobbins that only get the spool changed when empty and several others for threads I don’t use as often it would take an investment of several hundred pounds to change. Thats a lot of flies to sell! Marc is a friend and has offered me one to try. I’m afraid to try it. I might like it!
Yes I’ve seen that one elsewhere. Can’t seem to find it on the J Vice site though. Its in the price list $30 is still a lot for a bobbin. How well does it spin? That is the important question for me.
Cheers,
A.
Edit: Found it now. Its under the “News” section.
A.
I can’t think of one bobbin that will do everything I want to do, so I own several different styles of bobbins.
The Rite bobbins are fantastic tools for their applications. I use mine (I only have 3) for spinning deer hair and other techniques where applying heavy thread pressure is required. I’ve not found a wishbone type bobbin that will do this even close to as well.
I have several different brands of the common metal framed wishbone bobbins in several sizes and with and without ceramic tubes.
I have some odd contraptions that I’ve acquired over time that all have a use of some sort.
I’d never consider having only one ‘type’. Primarily because I can’t think of why that would be an advantage to anyone?
I’m still trying new ones when I run across them. Primarily because I can’t think of a good reason not to?
I’m certainly not a minimalist when it comes to tying tools.
I have several of the ceramic Rite Bobbins when Merco in Sunnyvale, CA still owned and manufactured them. They are an excellent bobbins and to control the wobble when spinning just place the thread tubes between your index finger and thumb. Since switching to the Automatic bobbin from Nor Vise years ago I seldom use the Rite Bobbin any more except for use with my travel vise while on fishing vacations.
No, you would have to tie with it. Hardly any friction if any? Thread touches nothing until it enters the tube. I suppose a tiny amount where it enters the tube. Certainly not more noticeable than other bobbins
I just went to that site to look at the tools. Very nice looking vise and the bobbin identified is not the one in the photo you offered. The site identifies his favorite gadget as being an Ekich Automatic Bobbin($90US). The bobbin photo’d on that site looks nothing like yours. Are you sure that’s where the bobbin is from?
Adjustable thread tension (while wrapping!), fast threading, built in dubbing loop feature, perfectly balanced when spinning - this bobbin does it all!
It’s so quick to thread, you only need one bobbin - good thing - they’re like fifty bucks.
