Ideas for Coloring Tubing

This first idea was submitted by Matthew Timbs (12-1-2010)


I've got an idea for you. Would it be possible to use clear heat shrink tubing, and (using a hooked needle or something) pull colored dubbing through the tube before shrinking it? Would that be a way to add color? It'd still float because of the air trapped within the dubbing, and you could get really creative with the colors.


This is a good idea Matt -- Thanks for the suggestion


Something else tiers may want to experiment with is using dye or ink inside of clear heat shrink tubing. We have been playing with this for some time using alcohol ink from Adirondac with some excellent results (See Picture Below). To accomplish coloring the inside use small bottles of Adirondac ink and place the tube over the bottle spout and suck the ink inside by using the tubing like a straw. After coloring set the tubing aside and let it dry.


There are several advantages to the dye or ink method of coloring; One is cost, it is more cost effective to purchase one large roll of clear vs. several feet of a colored heat shrink; two, clear polyolefin heat shrink is lighter than most colored tubing -- clear has a specific gravity of less than one, usually around .91-.93, meaning it floats even without trapped air inside -- while most colored polyolefin heat shrink will sink because its specific gravity is more than one, up to 1.5 in some cases; and three, colors are generally more vivid and do not come off as some coloring will on the outside of the tubing over time or use.

Recipe the Unsinkable Drake Mayfly

Hook: Any brand size 12 thru 20 with a fine wire, having a widest gap as possible
Thread: To match the insect color usually brown, green, gray, or white
Body: Heat Shrink 3/64 or 1/16 diameter to match insect color (Note: clear heat shrink can be used and colored with a permanent marker)
Tail: 8 to 6 pound monofilament to match insect color or clear colored with a permanent marker
Wing: Web Wing or equivalent
Hackle: To match insect color

1. Cut a section of clear 3/64 inch Heat Shrink approximately ¾ of an inch long.
2. Using a soldering iron (15 watt or less) shrink the end and form at least 3 to a maximum 6 dimples in the Heat Shrink body.

3. Insert the both ends of a loop of monofilament

approximately 3 inches long into the Heat Shrink body.
4. Seal the loop of monofilament in the end of the Heat Shrink with a drop of super glue (use Zip Kicker to set the super glue quickly).
5. Place the hook in the vice and wrap the thread from the eye to just before the bend.
6. Attach the Heat Shrink just above the hook bend at the 3rd indentation from the tail end. Use at least 6 wraps.
7. Repeat this process at the any other indentation working toward the hook eye or just behind the hook eye.
8. Attach the wings at the 1st indentation or just behind the hook eye. Heat Shrink If necessary, use a small drop of head cement or super glue to hold the wing in place.

9. Add the appropriate color hackle.
10. Tie off the thread at the hook eye and seal with head cement.
11. Trim the tail to the appropriate size.

B and B Trading

We just found a new supplier of Heat Shrink B and B Trading. Their prices are under most other suppliers and the shipping rates are the best we have found. They only have a limited range of colors including clear, but most tyers will find them to be sufficient. We have added a link to their web site under suppliers.