Debarb Pliers- Can anyone recommend a brand?

[skeet3t 0]

You guys that pinch barbs streamside- have you ever had a hook break? As stated earlier, I pinch my barbs before tying. I even pinch barbs on other hooks while fishing for fish other than trout.

[epzamora 0]

I started going through the same search two years ago. after a year of pondering, i started just smashing the barb in my vise before i start tying. so much easier and no need to buy another specialized tool. so many of those as it is. and these days, i rarely if ever buy a fly.

 

in my experience, hemostats/clamps only work on small hooks (16 and smaller), hopefully micro barbed. otherwise they just don't offer enough mash.

 

eric

fresno, ca.

[Dave G. 0]

I don't do a lot stream side, as I said I use my vise. But of the ones I have done stream side or even at the vise, I never had one break from bending down the barb. I've had the barb break off on an old series 94840 Mustad before they retooled ( those hooks were almost like cast steel and ground flat on the sides around the bend and with ground points on them). I broke a hook in my vise once reshaping it into another configuration but that had nothing to do with barbs at all that I can remember.

 

We bend down the barbs when in the the boat mostly anyway and those are on store bought lures for trolling. I used to bend fly barbs down stream side but a long time ago, well unless I happen to forget to do it at the vise of course.

[Losthwy 0]

Epilogue-

 

I just ordered the pliers from Amazon like the one flytire posted (thanks) for $16.38, Xuron model 485FN. They seem well suited for pinching barbs at the fly tying bench. Hobby Lobby, Harbor Freight, and Cabela's did not carry models I believe were well suited for the task. I agree with some who said about hemostats being a poor choice.

[flytire 0]

79580 size 6 streamer hook.

 

barb mashed down with.......HEMOSTATS

 

what more is needed

 

 

before dismissing hemostats give it a try for yourself

[Dave G. 0]

My wife snapped one side of a hemostat trying that ! Maybe ours are finer than some, I don't know. But they work great for extracting a hook from a fish.

 

There may be hemostats and then there may be H-E-M-O-S-T-A-Ts !

[DrLogik 0]

If you want the absolute coolest looking de-barb pliers, in my opinion (retro, functional and utilitarian), get an old pair of Kraeuter duckbills on eBay. Ever watched Oliver Edwards' fly tying videos? I'm 99% positive that's what he uses to. I have three pairs and love them. Here's a pair on eBay now:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-KRAEUTER-FLAT-NOSE-DUCKBILL-PLIERS1601-5-VINTAGE-TOOL-/131768191725?hash=item1eadff0aed:g:bKwAAOSwP~tW3Puj

[flytire 0]

i also have these somewhere in my fishing gear but i can clip the hemostats just about anywhere

 

 

it all boils down to whatever works for you. who really cares anyway

[Gene L 0]

Someone cared or they wouldn't have asked for recommendations.

 

I've used hemostats but they have to be heavy to apply enough pressure, In my experience.

 

I have a pair of NN pliers non-serrated that are better than MY hemostats. Non-serrated is the way to go, as serrations (I think) weaken the point with uneven pressure. You'll compress the point too much to get enough compression on the barb with hemostats. YMMV.

 

A vise is simple if your vise will do it. Some don't seem to work so well, like the Regal.

[rstaight 0]

I used a pair of needle nose pliers for a long time. What I an using now I got at Bass Pro Shops.

[Crackaig 0]

Not a recommendation of a particular tool, but an appropriate how to.

When you debarb hooks crush the barb with the pliers length ways on to the point not across the point. Pliers do not close level but with a scissoring action. If you put them across the point there is twisting force being applied to the barb. As the barb is cut into the wire of the hook the root of the barb is already a weakened spot. Apply twisting motion to the barb as you squash it down and the hook may break at that point. With the pliers end on to the hook you eliminate the twist.

 

Cheers,

C.

[126lineman 0]

These work well for me, smooth jaws.

[bowfin47 0]

For almost 15 years, I have been using Xuron Model FF-1 flat-jawed pliers to de-bard everything from 6/0 stainless to 22's... I've tried a wide variety of pliers and none hold a candle to these Xuron flat-jawed pliers.

 

I inherited them from one of the best tyers to ever come out of Texas, Michael Verduin (See: "Cap Spider" on You Tube). He loved these pliers and had used them for a number of years before he passed...

 

I know several other tyers who also purchased FF-1's back in the mid-90's and sill use them pliers for de-barbing.

 

Serrated pliers and forceps may work, but they lack the control /precision of FF-1's.

 

Spend the money and purchase some Xuron's... You'll be singing their praises and using them 20 years...

[retrocarp 0]

[Losthwy 0]

Xuron flat nose pliers is what I purchased shortly after posting this a while back. The flat nose is sturdy enough for 4/0 hooks and small enough for the small midges.