Soldering Iron Heat

When working with a soldering iron even some 15 watt units may be to hot to allow effective shrinking of the heat shrink as I recently discovered. To solve this problem use an electronic soldering station that allows for variable heat. The Elenco Electronic Soldering Station Model SL-5 is available on the web for under $35.00 with shipping. They recommend a 40 watt iron but I still use a 15 watt and it works just fine.

New Supplier

We have another new supplier cableorganizer.com. They offer a wider selection of heat shrink than Action-Electronics.com including 4 foot sections and 100 foot rolls. Their shipping costs are more reasonable than Buy Heat Shrink.com. Beware of the collors especially red as it is not what you have come to expect as red heat shrink.

New Supplier

We have finally found a supplier that handles small orders of heat shrink at reasonable prices. The lengths are four feet and the price varies by size but is usually under two dollars. Shipping is also reasonable around five dollars for small orders. The web site is http://www.action-electronics.com/heatshrink.htm

Starter Kit

Recently I found a good heat shrink starter kit with 160 pieces of assorted sizes and colors (1/16 thru 3/8 inch). The 3/8 inch size is a little large, but considering there are only 10 pieces the overall use of the kit at a cost of under $20 with shipping is reasonable. It is available on the internet at the following location: skycraftsurplus.com 1525.

Tails and Leggs

Here are some simple tips on adding tails and leggs to dry flies that look great and work well. This example is a size 18 BWO using clear tubing colored with a green marking pen.

To accomplish this follow the steps here:

1. Wrap the hook shank with thread ( In this case I'm using 3/0 thread and a size 12 - 4x long hook so you can see the process)

2. Add the heat shrink taking enough wraps around the hook shank and the heat shrink to reach the point where you would like the 1st leg.

3. Add the tail. In this case I used a heavy monofiliment in a brown color so you can see the process. Normally, I would use 6# or 8# monofiliment in a color to match the natural insect.

4. Use the soidering iron to shrink the tubing and seal the tail with Zap-A-Gap (Thick super glue). I use Zip Kicker, a super glue accelerator the set the tail and seal the tube quickly. This also holds the tube in place on the hook shank.

5. Add the 1st leg, between the tubing and the wrapped hook shank and anchor with the thread, taking sufficent wraps over the tube and shank to reach the next leg location.

6. Anchor the second leg in place as with the first and continue wrapping shank toward the eye.

7. Add the wing post. (Note: White tubing will increase visiability vs. the clear I used here) Use the soidering iron to seal the post and hook shank tubing with the thread. Crimp the post after heating the tubing with pliers to seal the air Bubble.

8. Add the wing (in this case parachute style) using a saddle feather to match the natural insect.

9. After tying off the thread seal along the hook shank with super glue or head cement.

Wing Material

On page 14 in the book -- we talk about material to make wings -- recently, I came across another product that can be used to make outstanding wing material, it is called "Heatnbond." The product is used like fusible webbing, except it seals like Press and Seal, but is even more durable and will not absorb water. Like fusible webbing it is available at most fabric stores.

New Wing

Recently, I came up with a different wing using heat shrink - It is a variation of the the "Bent U" found in the book on page 12 except it adds a third leg. A small drop of super glue is used to hold the pattern in place. I use a drying accelerator for super glue called Zip Kicker to set the shape quickly.

This picture shows this configuration "Dusted" (see book page 10) with grounded up foam. In this case rubber cement is used in place of super glue or spray adhesive to hold the dust in place.

This final picture is of a finished fly using the wing and also a "Bubble" body (see book page 12) making this one buoyant fly.