Dubbing Spinner

[knotnot]

Hi,

Was wondering if anyone uses a Dubbing Spinner or even the Turbo Dubbing Block ?
In the info I have read , wire is used for the process.
For my dubbing loops I just use the thread that is being used for the fly.
Do you have to use wire in the Block ?


knotnot

[phearless]

knotnot there are many ways to do up a dubbing loop.
I use the frugal man's ( scottish version ) of a dubbing block with wire.
For using fur, marabou etc. it is the way to go.
The ability to have the dubbing brushes all ready to go as you tie is excellant.
Polar bear is a favourite for this.

My dubbing block consisits of a piece of 2x6 pine with two faucet washers that are offset at one end.

One in the center about 2" from the end and the other off t one side an
inch or so farther up.
Simply wrap the wire around the offset washer a couple of times.
Around the centered washer and down to the bottom where I will clip on a set of hackle pliers to hold it there.
Now wax the wire, or not. Lay the material on the wire the desired length all the way up.
Now keeping tension on the wire put your dubbing twisteron the wire where the hackle pliers were clipped on. Any one will do but I like the Renzetti style.
Bring the wire back up to the centered faucet, around and back up to the off centered one.
Wrap around this one a couple of times to hold it and cut off.
Now holding the dubbing twister off the board but touching it, hng the board off the table a bit to do this, strat twisting and slowly lift the wire off the block and Voila, the loop wil start to spin. This way you can control the speed and fix any burps as you go,

Have fun.
Hope this helps.
I will post a pic if I can find my block.

[rmpearson12]

Thanks Fred I was thinking about making a dubbing block and a picture would be great. I have used the commercial Turbo Dubbing Block and it is not to hard to make just have to find the spinner, but your way sounds alot easier to make.

Ross

[johnk]

I can see the benefit of using these dubbing blocks.......but all my commercial leeches are size 10 and 12 and I am anal about thin bodies on microleeches. Now to use a dubbing block for this application would I not have to use much thinner wire? If so would the wire not break when subjected to the strain of twisting?

I bought an overpriced spinning block when Roots FlyTying brought them out about 10 years ago but couldn't get past the bulkiness. They really sold me on the product when they were spinning peacock herl. Did I give up on it too early before becoming adept?

[johnk]

I can see the benefit of using these dubbing blocks.......but all my commercial leeches are size 10 and 12 and I am anal about thin bodies on microleeches. Now to use a dubbing block for this application would I not have to use much thinner wire? If so would the wire not break when subjected to the strain of twisting?

I bought an overpriced spinning block when Roots FlyTying brought them out about 10 years ago but couldn't get past the bulkiness. They really sold me on the product when they were spinning peacock herl. Did I give up on it too early before becoming adept?

[phearless]

I use very thin wire and have some nice sparse bodies.
You will break a few until you get the hang of it.
Use very little dubbing.
I also pick it out as I go to achieve the sparseness, sometimes picking out half of the dubbing i started with.
In the end you end you will have some very easy to use dubbing brushes that are indestructable once wrapped on the hook.

[johnk]

Sparse dubbing will not be a problem as I already do that iwht the thread loops. I will just have to get used to how far to push the wire tension. So by willickers I'm gonna give it another shot!

[knotnot]

Thanks for the info everybody.
Hey Fred can you post a pic if ya get a chance.?
I have an old electric toothbrush that i could connect to the spinner.
Probable spin way too fast but it would be funny.

knotnot

[phearless]

Hey johnk,
Usually what happens is the wire will break right at the spinner at the moment of ultimate tightness, if that is a word.
generally that is good.

knotnot I can't seem to find my dubbing block.
I will have to draw a picture or build another one.
Maybe tomorrow.

[professori]

I made my own dubbing lock and posted instructons on this site (somewhere). I'll try to find it. John, the balanced leech I posted (and included in the leech swap) is made with a wire dubbing brush. If you use fine wire, it doesn't seem to bulk up much, and I have had no breaking issues.