zonker strip cutters

All about flies Fly Tying
1

Anyone out there cutting there own zonker strips? I know a person can buy the cutters … I was just curious as to how well they worked. Can you cut the strips any thinner than 1/4 inch; I would prefer some about 1/8 inch.

I know I can buy the zonker strips already cut and cross-cut, but I do have 2 rabbit skins that I’d like to cut into strips.

Thanks for you input and help.
Greg

2

Personally, I have not had a problem with a sharp razor blade held in hand. I have made strips as thin as 1/8", and as thick as 1/4" without too much trouble as long as I take my time.

It is hard to explain, but you cant put the skin on a table and cut it as you will end up cutting hair too. I will try to explain how I do it.

Imagine the skin as a piece of letter paper, hair running from the top to the bottom of the paper, with the hair side down. I place the right edge under a heavey book on the edge of a table, and hold the top left corner with my left hand out from the table so I dont cut the table top. I place my right elbow on the book to lock the skin in place, and with my right hand, cut the skin from the top left down to the bottom to the desired thickness while trying to keep the skin taught with the left hand as I cut. Just be careful, go slow, and try to cut as straight as possible. The edges of the skin usually do not produce the best strips, but by the second or third cut, I can get some pretty good strips.

Have fun, Jeff

Tis my time on the water, in the mountains, and in my driftboat where I can see things as they really are.

3

I use a seam-cutter. You know the type that you can buy at a dept store or fabric store for a buck. It doesn’t cut the hair, and it slices the rabbit hide as thin as you want.

4

Good morning Diane,

Do you have pictures of this cutter?

Have a nice day,
cfc.

5

I use a “rig” of my on design and it works well for me. I took a pack of those business card magnets that you can get at any office suppy store. I then insert double edge razors between the magnets so that only the corner of the razor is exposed. I can vary the width of the zonker strip by the number of magnets between each razor blade and I can make zonker strips down to about 1/8 inch. I usually set it up with enough razor blades so that it cuts five zonker strips on each pass. I find that the easiest way to use this “rig” is to clamp it to the side of the drawer on my tying table with one of those large spring clamps used by woordworkers. I then hold the rabbit skin very tight between my hands and draw it down across the razor blades fur side up. I can turn a hide into zonker strips in about 3-4 minutes. I hope that this idea helps.

Jim Smith

[This message has been edited by James Smith (edited 15 March 2006).]

6

I’m sorry, it’s called a “seam ripper” in stores.
[url=http://www.joann.com/catalog.jhtml?CATID=82300&PRODID=12099:f21b7]http://www.joann.com/catalog.jhtml?CATID=82300&PRODID=12099[/url:f21b7]
The above is a picture of a seam ripper, but I bought mine at a dept store for 97 cents.

[This message has been edited by DianeID (edited 15 March 2006).]

7

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[url=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/ducksterman/IMG_0002-1.jpg:ec79f]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/ducksterman/IMG_0002-1.jpg[/url:ec79f]

[url=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/ducksterman/IMG_0001-2.jpg:ec79f]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/ducksterman/IMG_0001-2.jpg[/url:ec79f]

Here’s a short thread on the subject…[there’s a better one I’ll try to find] and here are some pictures of three different types I made…one is like the one Jim Smith describes…wonder where we got the idea?

[This message has been edited by ducksterman (edited 15 March 2006).]

8

I guess it was this one…
[url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/Forum5/HTML/004249.html:9d2cb]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/Forum5/HTML/004249.html[/url:9d2cb]
[url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/Forum5/HTML/004640.html:9d2cb]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/Forum5/HTML/004640.html[/url:9d2cb]

9

I use a seam ripper and it works very well and gives you the option of cutting a cross cut or zonker strip plus you determine the width. You can pick them up at any store that sells fabric and sewing supplies (Wal-Marts, JoAnn Fabric, Hobby Lobby, etc.) Very inexpensive and easy to use. Punch through from the hide side of the skin and just push it to get the desired length you need.

Warren

10

Thanks for the pic diane,

Gonna have to go and steal my better half’s sewing tool; or should I say; new fly tying tool.

Might even blame the strange disappearance on the kids; LOL!!!

Have a good afternoon
cfc

11

Very helpful, everyone. Thanks for all the input. I guess the seamripper will be my first choice. If I’m not happy with that method I’ll try the magnetic business cards/razors method. I’m just not sure I can cut these things with a single edge razor by itself. But I just might give that a whirl also. Thanks again evereyone.

12

Been snareing rabbits since the show stuck around. I cut the fur off, dry them, and the neibour, he guts and cleans them and they make rabbit stew.

Now i have an idea to make the strips.

Nick

13

TRY this for thinner strips. Use the magnets but drill a hole through them , place a popcycle stick for a holder on the outsides and line up the holes with the openings of single edge razor blades and put screws through them to hold them solid.
I made a homecutter with pieces of yardstick with single edge razor blades between them. the end of the yard sticks were angled. I saw this in an early -mid 70’s?? copy of FlyTyer. I am in the process of making a “mega” cutter for leech patterns using basswood strips.

Randall Sale

14

The cutters I described also work very well for cutting foam strips for bugs and flys.

15

I use a carpenter’s T-square as a straight edge, and a double edged razor blade to make the cut. Works well enough for me.

Mike D. [url=http://battenkill.tripod.com:0b974]http://battenkill.tripod.com[/url:0b974]