Thread Wax

[afishinado]

Video about applying thread wax to stop materials from slipping or spinning. I've never used it, but it looks like a good idea >

 

[dc410]

I still have my original container of Overton’s Wonder Wax that I purchased over 40 years ago when I was in High School and just learning to tie flies. I still use it frequently, particularly when dubbing fur bodies. I bought it back in the day to help me dub on muskrat fur to tie muskrat nymphs. It does work and the stuff literally lasts a lifetime.

 

[Baron]

That is very helpful and also funny. I really like mcPhails tutorials but often wondered why he didn’t have that ugly Mole removed from his hand if he is going to get into the video business. Lol. Now I know why.

 

[afishinado]

dc410 wrote:
I still have my original container of Overton’s Wonder Wax that I purchased over 40 years ago when I was in High School and just learning to tie flies. I still use it frequently, particularly when dubbing fur bodies. I bought it back in the day to help me dub on muskrat fur to tie muskrat nymphs. It does work and the stuff literally lasts a lifetime.

The video shows how to and explains why to use thread wax, not dubbing wax.

 

[Baron]

I missed that. Time to watch again, although I use elmers stick at this point. Works very well.

 

[Baron]

I missed that the first time, although I use elmers stick at this point. Works very well. I will order some.

 

[Bamboozle]

A piece of plain old beeswax is all you need to give some grip to your thread. If you keep a small piece in the palm of your hand it stays warm and pliable.

(A good pre-waxed fly tying thread helps too.)

I am still using chunks from a big bar a beekeeper friend gave me when I first started tying centuries ago.

I has other uses too like tightening up loose metal ferrules, it is a satisfactory dubbing wax for many natural furs and of course it is unsurpassed for waxing bees... ;-).

 

[Baron]

Ha ha. Waxing bees. I have been using Elmers glue stick. I open it at the beginning of a session and leave the cap off. It gets a slightly thicker surface as it dries. It works well for dubbing I think. I know it made me a more confident dubber. I also have Burts bees. A beeswax product That keeps my lips soft for when the wife is around.

 

[redietz]

I use tying wax all the time. It's especially helpful if you tie with silk, which is, to coin a phrase, smooth as silk. With wax, it only to take a couple of turns to start it on the hook without slipping.

Another place that I've recently discovered that it really helps is in tying parachute flies. Unwaxed (or lightly pre-waxed) thread tends to slip down the post when you're first wrapping it. Heavy waxing really helps prevents this.

Waxing a thread well also eliminates the need for head cement.

I make my own wax from pine resin (rosin), beeswax and oil. There are videos out there on how to do that.

 

[Bamboozle]

Baron wrote:
I have been using Elmers glue stick. I open it at the beginning of a session and leave the cap off. It gets a slightly thicker surface as it dries. It works well for dubbing I think. I know it made me a more confident dubber. I also have Burts bees. A beeswax product That keeps my lips soft for when the wife is around.

Again, don't confuse waxing thread to hold dubbing materials versus waxing thread to prevent slippage in basic tying operations.

Glue sticks or dubbing waxes like Overton's are really overkill to prevent thread slippage as they are softer and tackier to hold dubbing fibers. Save those for dubbing.

I don't know if today's "hot brands" of tying thread are pre-waxed as I haven't bought tying thread in ages because I have a double lifetime supply of my favorite brand. However, In the "old" days, most spools of thread sold as "fly tying thread were pre-waxed which in my experience is usually adequate for preventing slippage.

In other words, if I'm not dubbing, I don't usually add additional wax to my thread. The exception is when I use silk thread as a body material which is technically embroidery thread and NOT waxed. In those situations, I sometimes wax it to achieve a certain look.