Clearing eyes of debris

[Guest]

Anyone else use a heated bodkin to clean out the eyes of flies of unwanted feather or hair remnants? Am I the only one, I'll tell ya, it works like a charm.

 

steve

[Steeldrifter 0]

Never tried heating the bodkin steve but thats a good idea....esp with the way i always seem to glue the eye shut on my trout flies!

 

SD

[pacres 0]

I use the bodkin, but it just never occured to me to heat it up Duhhh. I'm gonna give it a try.

[Guest]

I have one of the old plastic melting tools. Runs on 2 AA batteries and the tip heats up. I use it to clean up any problems, the only thing you have to watch is you don't catch the thread with it.

 

Fatman

[Philly 0]

I use various size sewing needles when needed to clear out or open eyes. Hold them in a small pair of pliers while I heat them.

[Guest]

Every so often I crowd the eye, leaving ends or whatever I can't trim off. Last month at my UFT table I crowded the eye on a steelhead pattern - out came the lighter; held the hackle back with one hand, singed and cleaned with the brief pass of the lighter flame.

 

Yes, I also use a heated bodkin when I think of it, but an alcohol lamp or lighter works (on larger patterns, anyway)

[Guest]

Never thoght about doing that

This thread should be in the "tip of the day" forum.

[Houdini 0]

Try taking an odd hackle and running it through the eye right after you put head cement on - it soaks up the excess and cleans out the eye. I keep one on my desk for that. I also use that heated wire tip thingee when the hackle doesn't work.

[Guest]

do it quiet a bit myself, especially if I was a bit sloppy with the cement or epoxy!!!