Jim Smith, of Conyers Georgia, sent me a “Turbo Dubbing Brush” jig. I have been interested in these Dubbing Brush/Boards, since reading about their use, in “The Fly Tier’s Benchside Reference to Techniques and Dressing Styles” by Ted Leeson & Jim Schollmeyer, published by Amato Publications (FAOL Sponsor. If you have this book the various uses can be found in Chapter 10, Section 4, of the book.
It is a very well throughout design that, is simple to setup and use, with little touches to make use easier on the tier. Example is the non-slip matting that is secured to the bottom of the board, for secure placement on the table top, during operation. Effective yet simple design spring clips to hold the threads (or wire), while constructing the dubbing brush.
Now I just have to clear the table top of other stuff (housekeeping) to try this Turbo Dubbing Brush, on some fly patterns. I will post more later.
If anyone else has tried Jim’s “Turbo Dubbing Brush” please tell me what you think.~Parnelli
WarrenP demonstrated one that was a gift from ohiotuber during our visit to Tulahoma, TN last June.
Quite an interesting and well made aid to fly tying.
I received one of Jims fine Turbo Dubbing Blocks when
he visited me early this past spring. It is as you
say, a well thought out and well constructed fly
tying tool that works better than any I’ve seen. I
am most impressed. I can turn out dubbing brushes
in nothing flat.G
I believe he keeps a few extra on hand that he sells.
He can be reached at jwsmiths@bellsouth.net. I try
to watch the fly swaps and when I see his name on a
swap, I try to jump in. Fantastic tyer and he seems
to come up with a lot of unique and effective
patterns.G I had the opportunity to fish with him
for almost a week this year and you couldn’t ask for
a more personable companion to chase bluegills with.
Warm regards, Jim
I usually try and tie flies each evening before going to bed, but, have discovered that sometimes that is not the “stress reliever” it ususally is. Since receiving the dubbing brush maker, I will just sit and make up several dubbing brushes to be used later when I am in the tying mood. They are a real time saver and sure a lot of fun experimenting with different material to make dubbing brushes. For instance, filling the groove with dubbing material and then laying a hackle on top and spinning it all together. I enjoy using mine and I feel it is well made and thought out. I really appreciate receiving it as a gift from “ohiotuber” and Jack. I use the ultra size ribbing wire which comes in several different colors which adds to the effect of the dubbed body. After you have “played” with it for awhile and you learn any new tricks, please post them here so I can try them.
I got one from jim a couple weeks back and have puttered about with it a bit…the brushes make for a great simi seal leech. with the wire loop adding weight for quicker sinking. where I found the tool to really excel is in making scuds. I don’t really like dubbing scud flies, a process I find tedious at best. with the dubbing brush though you can dub and tie a perfect scud in no time. that’s about my only experience w/ it to date as I’ve got a lotta other projects to complete at the bench. cool well crafted tool. reasonably priced as well.
I built a little dubbing brush jig based on pic’s in the Flytyer’s Benside Reference. I had a lot of fun spinning real cool dubbing brushes. But I am challenged in finding uses for them!
Aside from some caddis patterns and woolly worms I can’t seem to think of patterns to make.
I have found many patterns that a dubbing brush makes easier to tie and some patterns that I think you must use a dubbing brush to tie. I use them on nymphs, flymphs, softhackles, scuds, dragonfly nymphs, crawfish patterns, leaches, and even some streamers. The dubbing twister allows you to use material like marabou feathers or full-length fur to make dubbing brushes. I have one leach pattern where I use rabbit fur cut off the pelt and laid perpendicular to the wire. When I twist it up, I get a nice full brush almost 1/2 wide that makes a nice large profile body that moves in the water. Use your imagination and play around with it. I think you’ll begin to see many applications and new ways to use traditional materials in your patterns. I have invited several of the people that use these dubbing twisters to post their findings and patterns on this BB so that we can share information. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions.
Thanks dude, I got mine today. Great litte tool. I made a brush with it and it works the way it’s supposed to. Can’t wait to tie up some rediculous streamers with it.
I use a Nor-Vise for my dubbing brushes. I have another screw-in spot for the bobbin holder to give me extra length. Then I use a long piece of foam supported by a pedestal to lay the materials on. Works fairly well.
I just ordered one of Jim’s Dubbing Twister Blocks. While I was researching the use of dubbing twisters I came across a web site from the Czech Republic, it’s Siman Ltd. On their site they have two videos, one on using a similar spinning block to the one Jim makes, and the other is a video on Bas Verschoor tying seven different patters using dubbing brushes and softdub loops. The tying video is very good.
I don’t visit the Fly Tying board often, so if this has been covered before, I apologize.
Started using mine today…in the spirit of Jim’s request here are some of my thoughts…
Would you agree that this has much in common with the Pettijohn Magic Tool?
Also certainly a form of dubbing loop that we tie right on the hook…any real advantage?
Anyone tried somehow creating a brush out of actual peacock herl?..I’d really like that…
What do you do for sources of wire? and what is the largest gauge you find works?
Here’s what I’ve done so far…
Used a spool of gold 32 gauge wire from the craft store…24 yds…economic and worked well
Used a thinner gauge copper wire from an old piece of extension cord…I get most of my wire from various cast off sources…so I don’t buy copper wire…
for the twister you need about 2ft/brush…
this was a little bit of a hassle with the extension cord but can be done…
striped a little of the end …and used a utility knife to slit the wire insulation longitudinally [doesn’t have to be perfect] and then pull the wire bundle out…unfortunately the bundle is twisted so the individual wires are hard to get out…untwisting the bundle isn’t too hard and then you have a good supply of what seems a good gauge…
Any other ideas for easier sources of wire of at least two feet Plus???
Actually it looks like the color of the wire doesn’t matter…correct?
You can do more with it than a dubbing loop, like use wire. Mostly what I got it for is to make brushes for streamers which I then use the way I would use chenielle on a wooly bugger type fly. Only now my chenielle is made with crazy metallic dubbing and rubber leg materials and feathers. You couldn’t jam all that in a dubbing loop. For production tying it is better because for certain ties you can make a brush long enough to do more than one fly. The flies are also more durable.
I like it because it helps me to be more creative and use materials in new ways.
Those are the pros. The cons are really just the money end of things. You can build one, which I always wanted to do but never got around to it. If I built one I would incorporate these features:
A gyroscopic twisting handle that was big and easy to grab. One flick of the wrist would set the gyroscope spinning and the brush would be done.
A tray that drops out of the way. You load the materials into the tray, spin the wheel a little bit, then drop the tray out of the way to really twist up the brush. This keeps the materials from getting bunched up and locking too many fibers into the center of the brush. I have seen them with this feature.
A long tray. A tray that you could make a finished brush 2 feet long with. Don’t know for sure that this would work, but it would be nice if it did.
One trick to using them is to load your wire onto a spool and use a bobbin-makes things faster.
I have posted a photo of the dubbing twister that I make. It is the result of me designing one for my own use because I didn’t want to spend $80 plus shipping for the model offered by Siman. I refined the design over the first few models and it worked so well for me that I decided to make a few for friends. I think that Benjo did a good job stating the advantages of using a dubbing twister over just a dubbing loop. The dubbing twister that I sell works well for production tyers however it was designed for the average person that ties for themselves, some friends and perhaps a local shop. Benjo also made some good points about a faster dubbing twister for professional tyers. I am toying with the idea of a motorized version, but I have not built one yet. I sell the one pictured here for $30 plus actual shipping. If you’re interested in getting one, please send me either an email or a PM on the BB.
