flytire 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2018 heres one for the older tyers on the forum i was reading one of herters books and some fly patterns referenced using "cellulose enamel" (or "celluloid enamel") on the back of some flies i did a research on the internet before posting the question here but all i could find was that it was a paint? of some kind. very little info available i found this photo so does anybody know what it was? fancy head ccement? what would be a substitute? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rockworm 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2018 The Brits have a product called Cellire which is based on cellulose and solvent. It makes a fantastically hard, shiny head. Comes in clear, black, red, and probably other colours. IMHO much superior to regular head cement for making showy, "professional-looking" heads. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FIN-ITE 34 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2018 https://www.finewoodworking.com/2005/09/13/all-about-lacquers With regards to lacquer, it's what is used on fine stringed instruments. Polishes great and each additional coat "burns" into the preceding one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dadofmolly 0 Report post Posted July 10, 2018 Dug out my bottle from my old Herters stuff. Contains Toluol and petroleum Distillates. Directions on bottle says it is a high gloss finish; dipped, sprayed or used for finishing heads on flies. As I remember it, was used after head cement for a high gloss finish which head cement didn't do at that time. Was also used as a final finish on wood plugs after paint job. What I have came with a kit for painting plugs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted July 10, 2018 Here's a VERY good article on cellulose use in paint. It's from an automotive paint information source, but the basis for the paint remains the same through all uses. https://www.proaerosols.com/news/the-benefits-of-cellulose-spray-paints/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dadofmolly 0 Report post Posted July 10, 2018 My guess as a substitute would be something along the lines of a UV product. I did find some flies I tied way back when but did not use the enamel on them. I used it primarily on plugs as a hard coat on top of paint. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted July 10, 2018 i think a permanent marker on the back of the fly and coated with a uv resin would probably equal the same effect as the celluliod enamel without having to wear a hazmat suit during the application Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rockworm 0 Report post Posted July 11, 2018 I have used Cellire for quite a few years. As for noxious fumes or toxic side effects its certainly not as bad as regular head cement. I can't vouch for any of these sources, but a quick Google search found: https://bogdangawlik.com/product-eng-7943-Veniards-Cellire-Varnish.html https://www.stoneriveroutfitters.com/fly-tying/fly-tying-materials/veniards-cellire-finish.html https://www.flytyingcompany.co.uk/cellire-varnish-clear.html https://www.performanceflies.com/product-p/v-cell-15.htm https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Veniards-NEW-Cellire-Varnish-Fly-Tying-Materials-5-Variations-/261760010134 https://www.amflytying.com/veniards-cellire-varnish-487-p.asp Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjm 0 Report post Posted July 11, 2018 Nail enamel would be equivalent if based on nitro cellulose (it was once). I think the difference between nitro cellulose lacquer (head cement) (clear nail polish) and nitro cellulose paint/enamel is in pigmentation. Anything that dries hard and shiny would be a substitute. They used to call it dope in model making and I think Testors was (may still be) an example of the stuff. It would be cut with "lacquer thinner" rather than mineral spirits. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted July 12, 2018 Looks like some head cement still contains nitrocellulose. https://www.theflyfishingforum.com/forums/fly-fishing-how-to-s/371599-head-cement-thinner.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites