What's In a Head?

Fly Patterns
1

Perhaps some of you can tell me something. In almost every fly I see tied where head cement is used, for example the very nice one by ScottP below, there is no mention of the name or type of cement. Now if none is used, no problem. However, if the tier uses cement, why not include the name of the cement and the number of coats used to get the neat shiny head. I wonder why that information isn’t part of the recipe? I mean we all can’t be using S.H. Hard as Nails:cool:?. Just asking.

Allan

2

I think ScottP generally includes the comment :SHHAN in his fly recipes. That’s an abbreviation for Sally Hansen’s Hard As Nails.

At one time I seem to recall that he also went into more detail regarding which specific type of the Hard As Nails product he used and how it was applied. If he reads this, perhaps he can explain this further. That’s something I’d also appreciate hearing it again from him.

3

As John said, SHHAN stands for Sally Hansen’s Hard As Nails. I use that on every fly I tie, and note it in the instructions; can’t speak for what others do.

Regards,
Scott

4

back in the mid sixties I started using gudebrod rod varnish. some time in the late nineties, early 2000’s they sold out to rod dancer, so now I use rod dancer rod varnish. gives a durable high gloss finish. the only issue I have with it is, that after you open and close the bottle a couple of hundred times in a 3- 6 month period it tends to thicken. when this happens it has a tendency to lay on top of the thread and not penetrate into the thread. this allows moisture to get in between the varnish and the thread and give the fly head a cloudy appearance. the solution is to only fill your finish bottle a third of the way and when it starts to thicken, empty and clean your bottle and refill it.

5

For years I used solvent based Angler’s Corner head cement. It was great for creating smooth glossy heads with a minimal number of coats. But much like John’s experience with the Gudebrod varnish, it thickened quickly and had to be thinned often. I didn’t care for the water based version. Now i use several coats of Sally’s when i want a glossy head.

6

I use Sally Hansen’s as well. Cheap, readily available just about anywhere.

I’ve seen a few videos of different BIG articulated streamers, where the tyers are starting to use Loon Flow UV resin as a head cement.