Wing Burners

[Rick58 0]

Does anyone use them, looks interesting.

[flytire 0]

had some. never used them. got rid of them.

[SalarMan 0]

Ditto to flytire's comment. For years I've used curved toe nail clippers and finger nail clippers.
They never see see anything else but the feathers to be shaped...NO mono, nails, etc.!!!

[Rick58 0]

I'll have to give that a try, thanks for the tip.

[DFoster 0]

I have one from Cabela's.  I think I paid $7 for it.  I only use it for classic Adams wings and it works well. Tying an Adams with hackle tips will give you better results. If I was tying a display fly or one to post on the forum that's what I would use.  From a practical perspective, the wing burner saves hackle.  I fish with every fly I tie and because the trout don't seem to notice the difference I use burnt wings on my fishing Adams. 

All that said there are so many gadgets out there to support this sport both on the tying side and the fishing side it's overwhelming.  Some of them work, some don't and some work for some. My advise is to learn using the basic equipment before moving on to gadgets (A wing burner is a definite gadget).  With some experience you'll be better able to figure out which of them are most likely going to help your tying or fishing before you buy.   

[Bryon Anderson 0]

The ones I had worked well, but I decided it was more fussing around than I needed or wanted to do. The wings do look pretty when they're done.  As DFoster noted above, though, the fish generally don't care, and I mostly fish parachute dries now anyway. My set tends to come out every few years around this time of year, when I'm bored and want to tie something a little different. Plus, you never know - you might find yourself in a situation where having that "little something" different in your box might convince a stubborn fish. 

[sandflyx 0]

still use them

[Rick58 0]

Those look nice.

I got a set of Perfect Hatch Mayfly Wing Burner for $11.00 I'm going to try. I did this one and trimmed the feathers with nail clippers, as SalarMan said.

[rscconrad 0]

I’m in the wing burner camp

[Gene L 0]

I read here about using nail clippers to shape a wing.  Can someone illustrate this or give me a link which will explain it?  I'm at a total loss.  I can see how burning with a wing burner tool would work, but I'm lost in the nail clipper school.

[gillage 0]

9 hours ago, Gene L said:

I read here about using nail clippers to shape a wing.  Can someone illustrate this or give me a link which will explain it?  I'm at a total loss.  I can see how burning with a wing burner tool would work, but I'm lost in the nail clipper school.

@Gene L

Check out this YouTube video: (screenshot above)

Cutting & Burning Wings by Al Beatty

And/or:

YouTube link:

How To Tie: Cutting the Perfect dry fly wings

[Gene L 0]

Thanks, gillage.  I'll give it a try.  I've seen other videos of that tyer and he's the best on a Norvise except Norm Norlander.  My confusion came from the fact that I have toenail clippers which are straight edged; no curve.

[Rick58 0]

On 2/16/2025 at 12:22 AM, Gene L said:

I read here about using nail clippers to shape a wing.  Can someone illustrate this or give me a link which will explain it?  I'm at a total loss.  I can see how burning with a wing burner tool would work, but I'm lost in the nail clipper school.

That's an excellent video explaining. That is the one I found when I tied the Adams.