Tying a Greenwells Glory

[Paul_D]

I've been tying up some of the above using the traditional ingredients (plus a tail, which I prefer). I'm having grief finishing off a whip finish with the Pearsals silk snapping off readily due to the applied Cobblers wax. Now I guess the solution would be not to go into full flight with a whip finish but to pull tight after each whip or half hitch or to judge the application of the wax and ensure there is none on the thread at the point of tying off.....what says you?

[Umber]

Are you using the cobblers wax to get the correct colour thread? Personally I like to use unwaxed thread for the head and use a coloured varnish. I feel its a tad more secure that way.

[Paul_D]

Yes I'm trying to tie the authentic pattern so that I can use a good one for framing but, as I say, I'm having a devil of a job getting a neat head as the waxed thread will not pull tight easily without breaking. I've only got clear varnish at present so I'll see if I can slope off work during the day and nip to Lathkills in Halifax for some coloured stuff and see what results I get......

[Paul_D]

Well it doesn't look right with no wax on the thread forming the head....too yellow making it look out of proportion.

[Alan Roe]

It sounds like ou may be using a whip finishing tool if you are don't as your fingers are much more sensitive and warmer!

Before you whip finish warm the tips of your fingers and rub them up and down the silk to soften the wax a tad and then whip finiish with warm fingers and you should have no problems

[Paul_D]

Hi Alan,

 

No I'm not using a tool...I can't get on with the things (Matarelli (sp) excepted). I will try the finger warming trick tonight though. Thanks.

[phil dean]

and?

[Paul_D]

Didn't tie any flies last night. Went fishing during the day and had to de-frost on the sofa whilst watching Arsenal with a beer or two.

[Alan Roe]

Good Grief a Tyke whatching Arsenal whatever next!!

[Paul_D]

Alan, worked a treat....thanks. In fact, warming the wax by rubbing it between your fingers has worked it into the silk and produced a much more even colouration along the body of the fly as well.

 

P.S. I'd sooner watch them than 'dirty Leeds' unless of course they're losing.