In about the last year there was a tying tool introduced that a wire shaped like a bow with a hump in the middle to mount in the vise. I can’t even remember if it was to tie extended bodies or articulated flies. Anyone know what I’m talking about and where to find one?
its on the renzetti website
http://www.renzetti.com/product.php?productid=16378&cat=316&page=1
Duckster
Here’s the link to the article from Fly Tyer.
http://www.flytyer.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2993&Itemid=0
I use an old darning needle but the ones in the article look really cool. I’ve got some heavier wire at home I might just try and bend some up.
Fatman
Hold on I think I’ve got a tip coming up…thanks you guys are good.
Was looking for a spring for another project and saw these on this plate hanger for $1.98 at Wal-Mart…2 springs for less than one from Ace…got it home and it occurs to me the springs will work well for a vise material holder and that the hooks should work for the Detached Extended Body pins referenced above.
What do you think…the price sure is right?
They do come in 3 sizes.
Hey if it doesn’t work you could always hang a plate with it…
…I’ll duck now! 
seems to me a large paper clip would be so much cheaper and accomplish the same thing as the renzetti nonsense
nice plate hanger
Hmmmm… A guy could make a bending jig, whip those up and sell them for $9.99 and STILL make a killing.
This Renzetti device is totally ridiculous IMHO.
After the thread is wound on their pin and the tail attached, the ‘starting’ thread that is to the left - on the upper hook thing - is totally redundant, cut it off immediately.
Secondly, when I learned to make extended bodies it was on a sewing needle - or a darning needle if you want larger flies.
Put the eye of the needle in the vice, it is usually nice and flat there too.
It is easy to remove the body from the needle as the needle is tapered - you can even improve your odds there by putting floatant on the needle first.
You do have to watch the point of the needle, but a few rubs on an emery paper will take care of that if you want.
And how much does a pack of needles cost ?! go to the $1 store.
If you heat a needle red-hot with a lighter you could probable even curve it and the temper it in a glass of cold water.
PS - I do like the idea of cheap springs for material clips though, but maybe they can be bought alone for even less.
I have to agree. The device from Renzetti is way over priced. $37 shipped for bent wire. I also learned on a needle.
when someone makes a tool for a size 22 BWO extended body i may be impressed. until then there won’t be any foam on my tails. i am still using the pin method from Stalcups book,Mayflies
A heavy needle can be gotten for a song. If you need a bent thingy, you can make one from a heavier duty paperclip like Norman suggested. I’m looking at a lamp shade right now as I type this, and can see some brass wires that support the shade that might work in a pinch. LOL!! Clip a piece of wire off your neighbors fence! Man, I’ll bet I could come up with lots of ideas, if I put my pointy head to the task. Heck, I’ll bet your neighbors snow-blower has something on it you could adapt? The aerial off the postmans jeep? Hmmmm? Gonna go before I get in trouble.
Best regards, Dave S.
neccesity, the mother of invention
I’m all for homemade tools, so if see a 3" piece of wire for $6 that they say I need, I will certainly look for a way to make it myself first for under a dollar. If I can that’s $5 I can spend on material I CAN’T make myself. For those of you that scoff at the 3pack Renzeti product for $18, I certainly none of you are tying on one of the 4 or 5 hundred vises you insist is 5 time better than a $100 vise. Just sayin’
That’s an interesting tool.
But I think there is a better way to tie extended bodies.
Go to the women’s sewing store. Wear sunglasses and look over your shoulder
a lot–and make sure no one notices you when you rummage through the panty hose (makes great wing cases).
Then go to the needle rack. Get a few packages of #10 and #13 ultra-thin beading needles.
Put a needle horizontally in the vise. Tie the extended body on the needle. Whip finish.
Slide it off the needle. Now you have a modular fly-body part that can be mounted
on a short-shank hook. Those bow-tie deals a far more clumsy and awkward,
because you end up swapping hands for each thread and/or material wrap.
Question: Does posting a link to a commercial site that’s not a sponsor constitute commercial advertising? Careful Norm, you’re treading on dangerous ground here.
The link was in answer to a specific question. I don’t have a problem with that.
bb
i’m usually on your side, but stirring the pot isnt gonna help your cause
Just wanted to see where the line is drawn. For what it’s worth on the other thread, the link that was removed in my second post, I was just replying to a question of where his flies could be seen. Nuf said.
Back on ‘topic’, it seems that many missed what I see as the true ‘inovation’ in these tools…the ability to ‘curve’ the body with thread tension after you mount them to the hook.
I’ve already figured out a way to do it with a needle, but the concept itself is a solid one.
As for an extended body on a #22 mayfly? Easy, just get some varigated thread (I use some old Gudbrod ‘Classis Twist’ I still have left over), and use that to ‘furl’ an extended body…but if you use a #22 hook, and add an extended body, it ain’t a #22 anymore…so why not use a larger hook tied conventionally and hook the fish better?
Buddy