Question for the fly tying brain trust

[BilletHead]

             Ok guys I like to tie some flies with collars with fur instead of hackle. Some I say not all. Especially squirrel nymphs. Usually take fur mix and into split thread or dubbing loop. Tease hair and spin up.    I have messes with all kinds of clips to use like the petitjean magic tool. None worked with a darn so how many have one and how do you like it? Thinking I should get a set. 

     Speaking of squirrel I finished up tanning and softening a fox squirrel a few days ago. Pulled a grey out of the pickle/tanning solution this morning and am stretching and softening it now. It has some of the longest guard hairs I have even seen. At the base some measure an inch long .  I plan on keeping more next season in fall and winter when they are prime and tanning a few more. I built an armored feeder for my little friends. Have not shot one off of it yet. I prefer to hit the woods spot and stalk. This little guy was out back a few days ago getting a snack. I figure I owe them for what they have given me 😏.

   BilletHead

[fishinwrench]

Bob Gaston made a clamp from popsicle sticks, a clothespin and a big O-ring.  Worked better than the Petitjean tool.  The wood made working with the fibers easier than the slick clear plastic stuff.   

He'd rub a bit of wax on one popsicle stick edge (or just lick it), tap it down on the material to pick it up, then clamp it and put it into split thread.    He called it "Lickety Split".  😃

 

[tjm]

That is too complicated for my small skill level, but I saw a video some where, that used a blue foam block with a slot in it and a bulldog clamp that looked just about as effective at folding feathers and removing the stems. If you have tried the foam block, and it didn't work, I guess that just leaves the Petitjean tool.  I used to just touch hair to waxed thread and make a loop to twist.

[BilletHead]

             This is why I am asking. 

  @tjm and @fishinwrench between the two of you I got a combo idea. Out to the shop I go!

   BilletHead

[tjm]

Not the video that I remembered but a sbs
http://www.pechetruite.com/Mouches/cdc-dubbing1.htm
http://www.pechetruite.com/Mouches/cdc-dubbing2.htm

[tjm]

Finely found another thing in the endless bookmarks; a method of using hair in split thread with out clips. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=199&v=A5hjYvj9AMw

[BilletHead]

            All righty then,

   Had a pretty powerful clamp and it has a magnet on it. For clamping and holding papers I suppose. Used the popsicle stick idea. Stuck them on the craft foam that has one stick side,

Lined them up in the clamp foam side together and used 2 ton epoxy to glue on clamp,

  To further straighten my clamping edge I used 100 and 220 grit sandpaper and worked to a knife edge,

  So with the foam I have some cushion and grip for material.  I will mess with this for awhile and see how it goes. One thing about the petitjean clear clamp would be seeing the depth of material easy while clamping,

   BilletHead

[Flysmallie]

7 minutes ago, BilletHead said:

            All righty then,

   Had a pretty powerful clamp and it has a magnet on it. For clamping and holding papers I suppose. Used the popsicle stick idea. Stuck them on the craft foam that has one stick side,

Lined them up in the clamp foam side together and used 2 ton epoxy to glue on clamp,

  To further straighten my clamping edge I used 100 and 220 grit sandpaper and worked to a knife edge,

  So with the foam I have some cushion and grip for material.  I will mess with this for awhile and see how it goes. One thing about the petitjean clear clamp would be seeing the depth of material easy while clamping,

   BilletHead

We were talking about this this morning. Maybe a couple pieces of lexan 

[tjm]

That looks like an invention.

I'd have found a chip bag clip easier to locate and would have used masking tape to add grip and soften the bite. Someone on a forum suggested plastic freezer bag clips, but I've never seen those, he had one with ~8" jaws. The slotted foam block was to hold the feather or hair in position for clamping, foam block made from a flipflop, the cdc was inserted with a credit card.

Lexan would be good I think, plexiglass is in my shop.

[Gavin]

Why don’t you use your fingers? A half hour of practice with someone who knows how and you will never need any of those gizmos. Greg “Sparkleminnow” Coffey taught me how.