A few of you may have noticed my thread in the other section about making spoon flies. Well, I finally found a few good recipies and last night tried making a few.
Instead of using epoxy I used “Sally Hansen Super-Hard Topcoat.” After a few layers the spoon flies started to firm up a little like I wanted them to, but having not fished them, I’m a little worried that the Sally Hansen might not hold up.
What are your thoughts? Should I have gotten the epoxy instead?
Thanks.
Hi Okie,
Experience is the best teacher buddy.
You tell us after you fish them.G That
said, I like Sally Hansens as a head cement
but for durable fly/lure creations, I like
to use epoxy. I normally get the 5 minute
stuff from Wallyworld and have had very good
results. If I’m doing a lot of flys/lures,
I will pick up the 2 ton epoxy as it dries
much slower and I can do more flies from a
single mix. The problem isn’t having to
mix more, but once the first batch starts
to harden, your brush is history. Warm
regards, Jim
Jim,
Have you ever tried rod wrap epoxy for even longer work time?
…lee s.
Hi Lee,
No sir, not yet anyway.G I generally
stay with the products from Wallyworld where
I can. No flyshops close and postage is a
killer.G Warm regards, Jim
I’ve been using the Sally Hansens hard as nails top coat, or similar harndner, on my balsa poppers for years and I’ve been quite happy. I started making my own poppers early on in my fishing years because I was VERY hard on them. The sally stands up nicely, for me anyway LOL.
“There’s a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore like an idiot”
Some time ago, because we all like and use SH, I made several phone calls to them. Figured their advertising department or somebody might like to know that a whole industry likes their stuff. I was really disappointed at the ‘attitude’ I got from them. It was though they were insulted and really could have given a crap less. Sorry to say that my opinion of them has dropped a lot since then. Oh, I will continue to use SH, but am sure open to anything that may replace it.
Years ago, ‘Testers’ used to make ‘Hot Fuel Proofing’, a brush on liquid for model airplanes. Anyone ever use it for head cement?
[This message has been edited by J Castwell (edited 31 May 2006).]
Lately, I’ve been using Loon’s UV Knot Sense on flies where durability is a big issue. It’s been superb, but would get pricey if I had to do a lot of flies or coat big areas. I’ve mostly done warmwater stuff with built up heads and sinking ants, that sort of thing. Besides being tough, it cures in seconds, but not until exposed to UV or sunlight.
hmmm, may have to look into that. I tie a big eyed streamer ‘Marble Head’. would it work in this? [url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw/62998fotw.html:4aaea]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw/62998fotw.html[/url:4aaea]
Hey JC,
I know just what your talking about with
the Testors Hot Fuel Proofing stuff. I used
it many times on both flying models as well
as flies. It had a bad habit of leaving me
with a headache though. I definitly like
the Sally Hansens better.G Warm regards,
Jim
tks jh, just a thought, 
JC, I haven’t used the loon personally yet, but I have seen a local tier use it in demos quite a few times. I think it would work fine for the Marblehead, but as mentioned, it might get fairly expensive for a large head. Most of the time I have seen it used as shell back on scuds and nymphs where you only need a drop or two.
Fish more, work less!
JC -
I’ve been tying your “Marble Head” (using bucktail) for years. Glad to finally know what to call it. 
Also performs well as a bendback.
“Catch 'em all ~ Put 'em back!”
Haveing done many hunderds of epoxy flys and related parts. I can say yes; rod finish is a very good way to toughen and enhance the end results. Haveing said that I also will tell you its not the best idea for small quanity endevors. If your only going to do two or three of a pattern its not worth the trouble. Just like rod finishing your going to need the tools and working knowlege to achive the desired results.
Captn. Paul Darby
I fished a couple of my spoons yesterday at the park, just to try them out.
The Sally Hansen didn’t hold up as well as I had hoped. Maybe I didn’t let it set up for long enough (two days?), but it sort of got soft and started to rub off.
Any more ideas?
Hi Okie,
I kind of suspected the results you got
based on the ones I’ve had. The little
bottles of Sally Hansens Hard as Nails is
my first choice for head cement, but for
adding durability or shine to to large flies
or lures, epoxy is hard to beat. I
particularly like the quick gratification of
the 5 minute epoxy.G Warm regards, Jim
You might consider “Wet & Wild” nail polish as a substitute for S H’s…price is similar and if there’s a difference in properties I haven’t noticed it.