Stilljerkin 0 Report post Posted June 9, 2015 Ok I think it's called a dubbing brush but anyways today I used craft fur an just normal fly tying wire. Well it worked for the most part just the wire is kinda weak can't twist it as tight as I would like cause it breaks. So I was wondering what kind of wire do you guys use. I'm guess copper wire is not what you want. Steel wire is what I think would be ideal but I was just checking. An also for you guys who have played around with this before what gauge wire works best for you? Iv watched YouTube videos on making them I don't really have the right set up yet wanted to see how I liked it an how well I could do it so any pictures of your set up on laying the wire out an putting your material on then twisting it all up that would be great help. Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bellevue.chartreuse.trout 0 Report post Posted June 9, 2015 Google dubbing brush jig/s. I've seen 28ga. to 32ga. used. I haven't quite gotten to play around with this yet but have a dubbing brush 'jig' made - just need time to use it. I've read that when it gets twisted enough, it will 'break' at one end or the other. BCT Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted June 9, 2015 use the search function on this site and search for "stainless steel wire for dubbing brushes" and you will find a thread regarding wire or GOOGLE "dubbing brush wire" and search the results uni makes dubbing brush specific wire in .003, .006 and .009 thousandths of an inch diameters Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kudu 0 Report post Posted June 9, 2015 I use what you use. Just use a bigger gauge if it is breaking too easily. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stilljerkin 0 Report post Posted June 9, 2015 I went to the craft store a few hours ago an got 28 gauge steel wire an some wax at the fly shop (that really helps also) an it turned out just like I was hoping for. Thanks for your help. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bellevue.chartreuse.trout 0 Report post Posted June 9, 2015 The thing is SS (stainless steel) wire will not or should not rust and wear out. But that also depends on how quickly you lose flies tied with a dubbing brush too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gene L 0 Report post Posted June 9, 2015 I use very fine copper wire. It twists up nice, is small, and once it twists up, it will break off. It's about .000380 in diameter, and not strong at all. It was given to me (1/4 pound) by a guy who builds electric motors, but it's finer than I've seen in motors. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stilljerkin 0 Report post Posted June 9, 2015 Your wire is .00038 thick?? Now that's some small stuff. I'm machinest so I deal with them number everyday but I think the smallest iv ever seen Is we have half thousands shims (.0005) an they are like nothing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bellevue.chartreuse.trout 0 Report post Posted June 9, 2015 Gotta be a decimal place off .. or two.. otherwise.. breakage.. me thinks...just too easily... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted June 9, 2015 Your wire is .00038 thick?? Now that's some small stuff. I'm machinest so I deal with them number everyday but I think the smallest iv ever seen Is we have half thousands shims (.0005) an they are like nothing. Got to it before I did. 0.00038" is read as 38 one hundred thousandths of an inch. I don't think you could see a wire that thin. Just having fun, Gene. Probably meant to type 0.0038" - almost 4 thousandths of an inch ... which is actually thicker than a piece of paper. Big difference that decimal point can make. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gene L 0 Report post Posted June 9, 2015 Your wire is .00038 thick?? Now that's some small stuff. I'm machinest so I deal with them number everyday but I think the smallest iv ever seen Is we have half thousands shims (.0005) an they are like nothing. Got to it before I did. 0.00038" is read as 38 one hundred thousandths of an inch. I don't think you could see a wire that thin. Just having fun, Gene. Probably meant to type 0.0038" - almost 4 thousandths of an inch ... which is actually thicker than a piece of paper. Big difference that decimal point can make. Yep, wrong zero. It's 38 gauge wire, which is .00400. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bellevue.chartreuse.trout 0 Report post Posted June 9, 2015 'order of magnitude' Mike..... makes a significant difference.. yep... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ditz2 0 Report post Posted June 10, 2015 Come on fellas! Give the guy a break. Most folks don't work with such small measurements. I am sure he meant .0038". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kirk Dietrich 0 Report post Posted June 10, 2015 Stilljerkin, if one end of your brush making jig has a spring on the rod hook or a way to feed one end of wire into the twisting brush, it should not break. Any wire if twisted enough will break, which is why most dubbing twister machines have one end that "gives". If both ends are set stationary and you start twisting, it won't be long before one of the wires snaps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted June 10, 2015 Come on fellas! Give the guy a break. Most folks don't work with such small measurements. I am sure he meant .0038". That's the problem, Ditz. He was getting breaks, and he's trying to prevent them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
