Thread help

smalljaw

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Aug 25, 2012
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Pennsylvania
Hey guys, I hope someone can help me with a problem I just encountered. I just started a new jig and as I was laying down a base I noticed my thread looked strange, it looked as if it was coming apart and it stayed like that for a few wraps and then it was fine again. Well I thought it may have just been a bad spot of thread on the spool but then it happened again, is my thread bad? Like I told everyone before, I've been tying regular bucktail and rabbit hair jigs for over 10 years and I never had this happen but now since I'm doing different things and using different pressures is it causing my thread to break down? I'm using Ultra Thread 210, it has a high break strength and that is why I use it and it is pretty much all I ever used since it comes in a good amount of colors. What are some good threads to use for jigs in the 1/16oz up to 1/4oz? And is it possible it could be my bobbin? I use a ceramic tipped bobbin and I never had a problem but I got a new one a year ago as my old one developed a groove that was cutting my thread but never this seperating. I will appreciate any help you could give me, thanks.
 

AtticaFish

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Mar 22, 2010
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If you tie bucktail jigs with that thread and don't have issues with it breaking or letting the hair slip - it should be suitable for darn near anything else you want to tie. ;)

Sounds like you could possibly have a burr on your ceramic tip. Someone on here posted a tip awhile back about using a cotton ball to try and detect the problem. If i remember right........ you rub the cotton ball over the tip of the bobbin and if any of the fibers catch on the tip, you have a burr or cut somewhere.

If i got that wrong - someone please correct my dumb memory. :)
 

Fatman

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May 1, 2011
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Northfield, Vermont
X3 - that's how I've always tested them. If you can try and keep your thread out of direct sunlight (older fly tyer gave me that tip).
 

smalljaw

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Joined
Aug 25, 2012
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Location
Pennsylvania
Thanks everyone!! I discovered the problem right away using a Q-tip. I ran it all around the tip and nothing but when I checked around the bottom it had a nasty burr on each side, so I just finished deburring with a tiny grinding cone from my dremel, I just used the bit with my fingers and lightly went over the outside edge and then wrapped some 220 grit sand paper around the tip and lightly sanded the inside edge. After I finished I put a plain hook in my vise and made a bunch or wraps using a lot of pressure and no more seperating so I think I got it fixed, thanks a lot. BTW, I started tying with a $2.00 bobbin years ago and it was fine up until last year when it started cutting my thread so I went on the advise of fly tiers and got a better ceramic tipped bobbin that cost me close to 10 dollars and all was fine until this problem, but it seems fine now, thanks for the help.
 
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