Re: [VFB] Guderbrod Thread Question

[Henk Verhaar]

On 1 Oct 2006, at 14:15, Paul Marriner wrote: Speaking of "ouch", I must correct my Dutch friend. Polyester and nylon fly-tying threads, are twisted, how many twists per foot varies greatly. I invite you to check a spool of Gudebrod polyester, and you'll find it's twisted. For those who are wondering what twist we are speaking of, it's not individual filaments twisted together like a miniature rope, it's the entire thread twisted. To demonstrate this, take a foot-long piece of thread from the spool, hold it by one end and look at it. Does it appear perfectly flat, or can you see "flats" and "edges" showing that it's twisted? Now attach that piece of thread to a hook, being careful not to add twist. Now split the thread. Run the bodkin point down the thread. Does the thread resist in spots or the free end turn? Once again this demos twist. Paul, I stand corrected. Let's put it this way, Gudebrod thread has less twist per length than UNI? UNI-Thread (not the nylon or numerous other thread products) is lightly bonded (at the thread manufacturer) You sure about that (that the mfx does the waxing)? That would mean they do something for UNI they don't do for their regular thread, right? to help the filaments stay together (think industrial sewing machines). It looks to me as if the Gudebrod is as well but I can't be certain. The bonding is easily broken by running the "shank" of the bodkin along the thread. Any difference in splitability (good word eh!) is almost certainly the waxing process. Almost all UNI-Thread sold is waxed (W on the label). This wax (it's NOT sticky for dubbing) is intended to further resist fraying but also to add gripability (2 for 2 eh!!). However, it's certainly not difficult to split. I know, although Gudebrod splits more easily than UNI. Cheers Henk ==========================Heisenberg was right!======================== | Dr. Henk J.M. Verhaar           |                                   | | Environmental Fate and Ecotoxicology Specialist                     | | Fly Tier                        | web:    www.xs4all.nl/~flyrod     | | Stichts End 17                  | e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] | | NL-1244 PK Ankeveen             | phone:  +31 35 656 2128           | | the Netherlands                 | ICQ:    15727113                  |  ==========================Uncertainty happens!=========================