Pete Your closing signature says it all "TIGHT WRAPS" One tight wrap is better (IMHO) than 3 slack ones.
Put the thread on tight first time around and it is unlikely to come apart. And no I don't put varnish or head cement on my fishing flies for the same reasons you list. KP _____ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Peter Gramp Sent: 17 November 2006 01:03 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Is head cement required? was:[VFB] RE: Thinning Flexament If I remember the MSDS (it's 6am, so I likely don't...), Dave's flexament uses a 25/30/45 % mix of (I think mineral spirits, but forget) to MEK (methyl-ethyl-ketone) to tolulene. While acetone is often misnomered the 'universal solvent' in some chemical circles, it truly isn't... Some things dissolve and/or dilute easily, others don't dissolve at all. COuld be, but the original bottles mentioned chlorinated solvents. It still smells like there is at least some PCE in it... Apologies - while I didn't look it up, my brain had a giant magnesium-filament bulb turn on when you said PCE -- I *think* that it is 25% PCE, but am likely wrong again. I hereby pass ye ole buck and say 'i'm not a chemist, i'm a biologist' ;) no offense intended to the fellow biologists... Ok, so back to the changed topic: I say that head cement can't hurt on a tied fly, but agree that it is an extra step that may not be needed. While often beneficial, such as for holding a fly together longer, i do agree that a well-tied fly/ whip finish will be just as good. By the time one of my flies gets its whip- finish loosened to the point of needing head cement, it's been snagged in a tree or on a hidden rock or the likes. Just my 2 cents... Any other opinions - is head cement needed or just a cover-up for sloppy/ shoddy work? Tight wraps (I'm heading to the tying room myself), Pete
