I am interested in trying to make some thick/bushy dubbing brushes like the EP crustaceous or shrimp brushes for tying saltwater flies. I have a dubbing spinning block and know how to do the fine ones with regular dubbing and wire for freshwater nymphs. I have tried using about 3/4" segments of poly yarn instead of dubbing but the wire will not twist very tightly and trap the yarn before the wire breaks. Does anyone know how to make this type of heavy/bushy dubbing brush? Any help is appreciated.
ducksterman- I have actually seen those videos when I started thinking about trying to make my own brushes, but I wanted to make them much thicker and bushier. Chewydog-I will continue to experiment and try heavier wire. If anyone else has actually figured out how to make something like this: http://epflies.com/index.php/fly-tying-materials/materials/ep-crustaceus-brush-w-micro-legs.html
let me know.
Salt_fly
I believe that the trick is to use softer wire and a variety of different fiber lengths in the dubbing mix. The softer wiret will not break as easily when it is twisted allowing you to twist it tighter and the shorter fibers will provide the bulk at the core of the brush while the longer fibers the thick bushy look. Ducksterman is also correct in that lifting the wire off the dubbing block when you’re twisting will give you a much fuller 360 degree dubbing brush.
I would bet the bigger problem is simply thinking you need more material in the brush than you really do… Those brushes are sparser in person than the photo tends to show…
