Curt - NC Posted February 24, 2014 Report Share Posted February 24, 2014 Guys, I have searched the forums and found nothing about this specific topic anywhere, so hopefully someone here can help me out. I tie my jigs with wire and living rubber. I don't use silicone, at least not at this time. I have a pretty good method down, but I think if I used a bobbin and spooled wire it would cut the time by at least 30 - 40%. Have any of you used a bobbin for tying jigs or flies with wire? If so, what brand/model of bobbin and what type of wire works for you? I have been craft wire from craft stores. I can't remember the diameter off the top of my head, but it's something like .020, I think. Very easy to work with as far as not being too unruly, but it only comes either on a card, in a loose coil, or on a small spool that has very large holes in the end, not the typical sized holes of a spool. So if anyone knows of a bobbin that's good for use with wire, as well as a wire that works well with a bobbin, please let me know! Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 I tie a lot of hair jigs and I have an assortment of bobbins but I wouldn't use them for wire but if it is on a spool I guess 26 gauge wire may come out ok. You need to get a metal tube with no ceramic insert, the ceramic bobbins are good as they are smooth so the thread doesn't get frayed or cut when tension is applied with the bobbin so a cheap bobbin and look for a larger one used for jigs or saltwater flies, more likely they will be cheap as all the good ones are ceramic. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LedHed Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Cheap saltwater bobbins should be fine. Might end up putting a groove in the tip - but with the wire it shouldn't matter much. Check out McMaster Carr for SS wire... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt - NC Posted February 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Thanks guys. Really appreciate the input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clemmy Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 Curt, Two fly tying companies make a bobbin specially for wire and lead. Renzetti makes a "lead and wire" bobbin, and Griffin makes a "material" bobbin. You can do a search for either. Both are metal tubes without insert, but have a flared end to help the less flexible wire come out smoothly. Clemmy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
