Acetate Floss

**behemoth** · February 2nd, 2009, 09:28 AM

I've been trying to use this floss for tying bloodworms, but the acetone (Nail Polish Remover) just turns the floss white. Is there a trick to this that I'm missing?

**24_7Fisherman** · February 2nd, 2009, 10:28 AM

perhaps buying Acetone from the fly store will help. Nail polish remover has other ingredients for cleaning nails off, im fairly sure. I have used acetate floss before and have the proper acetone and it worked just fine.

you could also try using Uni-Floss as its already a little shiny and you wouldnt have to mess around with acetone

**Rick Baerg** · February 2nd, 2009, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by 24_7Fisherman

perhaps buying Acetone from the fly store will help. Nail polish remover has other ingredients for cleaning nails off, im fairly sure. I have used acetate floss before and have the proper acetone and it worked just fine.

you could also try using Uni-Floss as its already a little shiny and you wouldnt have to mess around with acetone

Yes, acetone can also be found in the hardware stores, its very cheap and I have never had a problem with what you have discribed behemoth!!

If I remember correctly it was like 5 bucks for a big can. Acetone also works great for cleaning the cork off your rods, makes it look brand new

**behemoth** · February 2nd, 2009, 12:26 PM

Thanks, looks like Nail Polish Remover is not the same thing.

**rmpearson12** · February 2nd, 2009, 02:21 PM

Nail Polish remover has oils in it to protect the
hands Acetone will dry out the skin very fast.
Like Rick says go the hardware store, a life time
supplt for five bucks.

Ross

**bronjuan** · February 3rd, 2009, 11:01 AM

What am I missing here? Have I been using floss incorrectly all these years?? :doh:

What is the "correct" way to use acetate floss with acetone??

**phearless** · February 3rd, 2009, 11:28 AM

The idea is to tie the body of your fly with a rib and dip the body in acetone to "melt" the floss. It makes it hard and shiny and envelopes the rib.
Time is very short in the acetone.
After it has hardened, which happens very quickly, tie the thorax and rest of the fly if required.
You can do some neat things with it.
Use 1 strand tied in at front of fly. Tie rib in at butt, running the length of the fly. Wrap floss to butt and tie off with rib. Do not trim floss. Rib the fly forward and tie off. Now spiral floss forward in 1 thin layer covering rib. Make sure you twist the floss each turn to keep it laying flat and thin. Tie off.
Now dip the body in acetone and watch what happens.
The floss more or less melts off the rib and it looks like it is part of the body.
Different underbodies give you different effects as well.
Tinsel under thin floss then dipped is nice.

have fun and let's see some pics.

**WAYVIK** · February 3rd, 2009, 01:14 PM

Acetone can also be used as a thinner for those little bottles of enamel you paint models,eyes etc.

**johnk** · February 3rd, 2009, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by phearless

The idea is to tie the body of your fly with a rib and dip the body in acetone to "melt" the floss. It makes it hard and shiny and envelopes the rib.
Time is very short in the acetone.
After it has hardened, which happens very quickly, tie the thorax and rest of the fly if required.
You can do some neat things with it.
Use 1 strand tied in at front of fly. Tie rib in at butt, running the length of the fly. Wrap floss to butt and tie off with rib. Do not trim floss. Rib the fly forward and tie off. Now spiral floss forward in 1 thin layer covering rib. Make sure you twist the floss each turn to keep it laying flat and thin. Tie off.
Now dip the body in acetone and watch what happens.
The floss more or less melts off the rib and it looks like it is part of the body.
Different underbodies give you different effects as well.
Tinsel under thin floss then dipped is nice.

have fun and let's see some pics.

One of my hot little chronies that I used to tie for Pass was tied in this method with the exception I would thin out the floss to half the denier and wrap tan acetate floss over silver holographic flashabou which would basically create a "dirty" Chromie. Use silver or black wire rib and Bob's your uncle. I no longer tie with acetate floss as it is more of a pain. Now I just use tan scudback over the flashabou for the same effect.

As already mentioned acetone works great for thinning out Hard As Hull.

One final note: Most guys dip in acetone for too long. One or two seconds is plenty.