okay...here we go again....

[macfly55]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][#008000][size 2]since this forum seems to be asleep (and Im hoping its because everyone is fishing) I thought Id post another what do you think type question...

while looking on line I noticed a site with a good deal on thread...but then I started looking at the threads and my mind went numb.. dead.. fried.. frazzled.. [crazy]

the variety of threads.. waxed.. unwaxed.. floss.. teflon.. kevlar ... denier , x/0 and on and on...

so here is a poser of a question...

in general.. what type of thread do you keep stocked and on hand for your "general" fly tying needs...

is it waxed or unwaxed and why either way..

do you go by x/0 rating or denier.. and why either way..

do you prefer a certain name brand like uni or danville.. .

and lastly.. what size and colors do you keep in stock the most... (ex. 6/0/ and 8/0 uni thread in black, red, green etc)

again.. this is for general, keep on hand because you know you are gonna use it) fly tying...

MacFly
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[flygoddess]

Great post bro.
Waxed thread is a little easier to put dubbing on. Some people use wax and run it down their thread, but Danville and some Uni is waxed.
I prefer regular Uni. Danville tends to fray with my ruff hands[]

I like Uni 6/0 and 8/0 for my leaders but for tying, I like UTC 70 or Gordon Griffith 14/0 (which is the same denier as Uni 8/0

I have a very nice chart for the different threads which I need for my leaders.

I prefer to buy from the denier. That is how Danville sells theirs and it does get confusing.

Here is just a few to help:

Danville 140 is really close in denier to the Uni 6/0 but one is Nylon and one is Polyester...shouldn't matter.

Here is one for you Mac. Next time, go to the Fabric store with your wife...or by yourself. Guttermann Skala 360 is the same as Un i 8/0 and Guttermann 200 same as Uni 6/0...but I think it could be more for less.
They are both Polyester.

Now Kevlar...that is cool but not great to tie with. It frays and has no memory.

I use it for heavy duty leaders because it is so strong. Very hard to cut, plus it sinks.

As for colors in tying...Red, Olive, Brown, White, Yellow and allot of black
I use black most times, and red if I use weight on the fly but the other colors I use because that is what I make the bodies out of.
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[albinotrout]

IBbbbbbzzzfffffftttttt......... OK I'm fried.[crazy] I use olive. Black brown in 6/0 for most of my tying. Different brands don't. Care what it is, I have several other colors. I get what I can when I can. If it is on clearance or good buy I may get it, never know when I will need it.[cool]
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[Dryrod]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][#008000]I prefer to use Uni-thread waxed. I have an inventory of 3/0, 6/0, 8/0 all waxed and a small assortment of Sheer 14/0. For constructing furled leaders waxed thread is a must, at least for me it is. Using denier as a measurement is more than this old brain can deal with. This is for the same reason I resist any attempts to go metric. BTW I have used regular polyester sewing thread but most of the house thread on hand is considerably larger than a 3/0 thread. [/#008000][/font]
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[flygoddess]

then here is this chart for you:

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=g...6l13mRfy6w
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[Dryrod]

[center][font "Comic Sans MS"][#008000]Hey FGD, the link didn't work for me.[/#008000][/font]
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[Dryrod]

[center][font "Comic Sans MS"][#008000]BTW are you trying to make me think again? lol[/#008000][/font]
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[Dryrod]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][#008000]Here is a link that permits all kinds of conversions.[/#008000][/font]
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[url "http://www.cleavebooks.co.uk/scol/ccdenlin.htm"]http://www.cleavebooks.co.uk/scol/ccdenlin.htm[/url]
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[macfly55]

Im curious here... what size fly would you use the 3/0 on ... and along that line is there a "fly tying rule of thumb" on what size thread to us on what size fly.. ?? []


MacFly [cool]
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[macfly55]

sis.. thanks for the info on regular thread.. I had been trying to figure that out since it is in general cheaper .. now I know.. :-)

MacFly [cool]
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[flygoddess]

Wonder why it doesn't work? It is an Adobe from the looks

Mac, 3/0 is generally for larger flies or even tying Hair in for stacking.
You can use larger thread on smaller hooks but it adds allot of bulk and you can't add as many wraps.
For example, if I was to use 3/0 on a #30 hook, I would only be able to add maybe 5 or 6 wraps before it would get too bulky.
I am going to do a rough guess here.

3/0 on hooks like #2 to #8
6/0 on hooks #2 to #14
8/0 on hooks #2 to #22
10 or 14/0 Sheer #14 to #32

As you can see, you can limit your threads and the cost if you buy an all around size like 6/0 or 8/0.
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[macfly55]

thanks for the great info.. when I first looked at you breakdown it seemed like there was a lot of crossover in hook sizes.. but that also makes your last statement of "in general" you can tie the widest variety of hook sizes with a stock of 6/0 and 8/0 on hand..
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MacFly [cool]
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[albinotrout]

[quote macfly55] but that also makes your last statement of "in general" you can tie the widest variety of hook sizes with a stock of 6/0 and 8/0 on hand..
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MacFly [cool][/quote]

That is so true. I have tied several sizes from 6 down to 16 using those two sizes of thread.
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[macfly55]

I know that most flies I have looked at to tie up for swaps etc have called for one of those two sizes... but now that I know that regular thread in given deniers are the same I can broaden the variety of what I have on hand.. and in general it is cheaper... and I think we all like saving money for other things.. like new vises.. LOL..

MacFly [cool]
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[Dryrod]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][#008000]Fly tying thread comes in varying sizes based on breaking strength and size, or denier. The thread size has a direct correlation with the size of the fly being tied. Streamers on size 2 and 4 hooks need larger 3/0, big fly or gel-spun thread, while dry flies on size 18 and 20 hooks need 8/0 or smaller thread to avoid overcrowding the hook. Although thread size is relative to breaking strength, most small threads have high breaking strength. Small threads have various functions; larger sizes are ideal for securing bulky materials to a hook.[/#008000][/font]
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