Hair stackers?

[riverman]

In my beginner days, every single fly tying instruction book I read (that
means both of them) had the same 'inside hint' that a hair stacker was not
really necessary. One suggested an empty lipstick case, another said you
could align the hairs by hand just as easily, with a bit of practice.

But now that I'm getting a bit better at tying, I find aligning the hairs a
RPITA! I tried a lipstick case, but when I dumped the hairs out, they all
fell into disarray again. I think a hair stacker really is a good idea, but
I don't know for sure because I've never really used one.

This is really a weak topic for a thread, because if I just go out and buy
one and then toss it later, it will represent a much smaller waste of money
than most of the things I have in my tying kit. But just the same, whats the
scoop....do most of you advanced tyers use a stacker, or do you do it by
hand?

--riverman

[Stan Gula]

riverman wrote:
> This is really a weak topic for a thread, because if I just go out
> and buy one and then toss it later, it will represent a much smaller
> waste of money than most of the things I have in my tying kit.

When you get sick of it, throw it my way.

I use a Griffin sometimes. Depends on the fly and the hair. I could use a
large Griffin sometimes, so maybe you should try that model? <grin> Bottom
line: some people like crew cuts, others prefer the shaggy natural look. I
usually don't use a stacker except on smaller flies like size 18 ehc where
uneven hairs would make it hard to get the right density (if you can see
what I mean).
--
Stan Gula
http://gula.org/roffswaps

[Stan Gula]

riverman wrote:
> This is really a weak topic for a thread, because if I just go out
> and buy one and then toss it later, it will represent a much smaller
> waste of money than most of the things I have in my tying kit.

When you get sick of it, throw it my way.

I use a Griffin sometimes. Depends on the fly and the hair. I could use a
large Griffin sometimes, so maybe you should try that model? <grin> Bottom
line: some people like crew cuts, others prefer the shaggy natural look. I
usually don't use a stacker except on smaller flies like size 18 ehc where
uneven hairs would make it hard to get the right density (if you can see
what I mean).
--
Stan Gula
http://gula.org/roffswaps

[Stan Gula]

riverman wrote:
> This is really a weak topic for a thread, because if I just go out
> and buy one and then toss it later, it will represent a much smaller
> waste of money than most of the things I have in my tying kit.

When you get sick of it, throw it my way.

I use a Griffin sometimes. Depends on the fly and the hair. I could use a
large Griffin sometimes, so maybe you should try that model? <grin> Bottom
line: some people like crew cuts, others prefer the shaggy natural look. I
usually don't use a stacker except on smaller flies like size 18 ehc where
uneven hairs would make it hard to get the right density (if you can see
what I mean).
--
Stan Gula
http://gula.org/roffswaps

[George Adams]

>From: "riverman"

> tried a lipstick case, but when I dumped the hairs out, they all
>fell into disarray again.

If you "dump the hairs out", nothing will work. You need to hold them by the
butts once the tips are aligned, and keep pressure on the hair until it is tied
in. I suppose a lipstick container would work, (you'd have to cut it down so
that the butts of shorter length hair would be exposed), but a "real" hair
stacke isn't real expensive, and, in most cases will be a bit more user
friendly.




George Adams

"All good fishermen stay young until they die, for fishing is the only dream of
youth that doth not grow stale with age."
---- J.W Muller

[Scott Seidman]

"riverman" > wrote in
:

> In my beginner days, every single fly tying instruction book I read
> (that means both of them) had the same 'inside hint' that a hair
> stacker was not really necessary. One suggested an empty lipstick
> case, another said you could align the hairs by hand just as easily,
> with a bit of practice.
>
> But now that I'm getting a bit better at tying, I find aligning the
> hairs a RPITA! I tried a lipstick case, but when I dumped the hairs
> out, they all fell into disarray again. I think a hair stacker really
> is a good idea, but I don't know for sure because I've never really
> used one.
>
> This is really a weak topic for a thread, because if I just go out and
> buy one and then toss it later, it will represent a much smaller waste
> of money than most of the things I have in my tying kit. But just the
> same, whats the scoop....do most of you advanced tyers use a stacker,
> or do you do it by hand?
>
> --riverman
>
>

One production commercial tier I know uses a .45 shell casing. I use the
renzetti, but I never use the small end of it.

Scott

[Scott Seidman]

"riverman" > wrote in
:

> In my beginner days, every single fly tying instruction book I read
> (that means both of them) had the same 'inside hint' that a hair
> stacker was not really necessary. One suggested an empty lipstick
> case, another said you could align the hairs by hand just as easily,
> with a bit of practice.
>
> But now that I'm getting a bit better at tying, I find aligning the
> hairs a RPITA! I tried a lipstick case, but when I dumped the hairs
> out, they all fell into disarray again. I think a hair stacker really
> is a good idea, but I don't know for sure because I've never really
> used one.
>
> This is really a weak topic for a thread, because if I just go out and
> buy one and then toss it later, it will represent a much smaller waste
> of money than most of the things I have in my tying kit. But just the
> same, whats the scoop....do most of you advanced tyers use a stacker,
> or do you do it by hand?
>
> --riverman
>
>

One production commercial tier I know uses a .45 shell casing. I use the
renzetti, but I never use the small end of it.

Scott

[riverman]

"George Adams" > wrote in message
...
> >From: "riverman"
>
>> tried a lipstick case, but when I dumped the hairs out, they all
>>fell into disarray again.
>
> If you "dump the hairs out", nothing will work. You need to hold them by
> the
> butts once the tips are aligned, and keep pressure on the hair until it is
> tied
> in. I suppose a lipstick container would work, (you'd have to cut it down
> so
> that the butts of shorter length hair would be exposed), but a "real" hair
> stacke isn't real expensive, and, in most cases will be a bit more user
> friendly.
>

What I did discover with the lipstick case was that the inside bottom was
not flat. (I had to use the lid, as the main body has some sort of mechanism
that holds the lipstick.) But even if I used a shell casing, I found that
when I put the hair in and tap it, most of it doesn't really settle down.
Then I grab the bottoms to take it out, and then transfer it to my other
hand by grasping the tips, and then tie it in. But in all that transfer, the
hairs get a bit out of alignment again. I think a real hair stacker has some
sort of 'collar' that you remove so that you can take the hairs out by the
tips, is that correct?

Like I said, this is sort of just mindless chatter, as I am going to buy one
anyway to try it out. I didn't know they came in different sizes, tho.

--rm

[Ken Fortenberry]

riverman wrote:
> <snip>
> But just the same, whats the
> scoop....do most of you advanced tyers use a stacker, or do you do it by
> hand?

I'm by no means an advanced tyer, but I took my tying gear
on a fishing trip this past year intending to tie up some
comparaduns. I had everything I needed *except* a hair stacker
which I'd left at home under a stack of clutter. I may as well
have left the whole kit & caboodle at home because without the
hair stacker there was not an ice cubes chance in Hades that I
could tie a comparadun. Admittedly, I have more thumbs than
fingers, but for me a hair stacker is an essential item.

--
Ken Fortenberry

[Ken Fortenberry]

riverman wrote:
> <snip>
> But just the same, whats the
> scoop....do most of you advanced tyers use a stacker, or do you do it by
> hand?

I'm by no means an advanced tyer, but I took my tying gear
on a fishing trip this past year intending to tie up some
comparaduns. I had everything I needed *except* a hair stacker
which I'd left at home under a stack of clutter. I may as well
have left the whole kit & caboodle at home because without the
hair stacker there was not an ice cubes chance in Hades that I
could tie a comparadun. Admittedly, I have more thumbs than
fingers, but for me a hair stacker is an essential item.

--
Ken Fortenberry

[Ken Fortenberry]

riverman wrote:
> <snip>
> But just the same, whats the
> scoop....do most of you advanced tyers use a stacker, or do you do it by
> hand?

I'm by no means an advanced tyer, but I took my tying gear
on a fishing trip this past year intending to tie up some
comparaduns. I had everything I needed *except* a hair stacker
which I'd left at home under a stack of clutter. I may as well
have left the whole kit & caboodle at home because without the
hair stacker there was not an ice cubes chance in Hades that I
could tie a comparadun. Admittedly, I have more thumbs than
fingers, but for me a hair stacker is an essential item.

--
Ken Fortenberry

[Larry L]

"riverman" > wrote

>
>

Get one, things like Sparkle duns are SO much easier to tie nicely with
evenly stacked hair ( I often don't stack for downwing caddis type flies,
they look better ragged )

I have one with two sized tubes, for big and small amounts of hair ... works
just fine ... I never use the bigger tube

oh, and, yes, get a hair comb too ..... I laughed and scoffed at these UNTIL
I tried one, greatly improves any hair fly to have all the scruff removed
and a fine toothed comb is far more efficient than anything else I've heard
of

[Larry L]

"riverman" > wrote

>
>

Get one, things like Sparkle duns are SO much easier to tie nicely with
evenly stacked hair ( I often don't stack for downwing caddis type flies,
they look better ragged )

I have one with two sized tubes, for big and small amounts of hair ... works
just fine ... I never use the bigger tube

oh, and, yes, get a hair comb too ..... I laughed and scoffed at these UNTIL
I tried one, greatly improves any hair fly to have all the scruff removed
and a fine toothed comb is far more efficient than anything else I've heard
of

[Frank Reid]

> oh, and, yes, get a hair comb too ..... I laughed and scoffed at these
> UNTIL
> I tried one, greatly improves any hair fly to have all the scruff removed
> and a fine toothed comb is far more efficient than anything else I've
> heard of

Seconded. A hair stacker, (I use the large one 'cause its easier to stuff
the **** in there) and a decent mustache brush. Mine is brass for fly
tying. Gets rid of all that underfur.
I tie alot with deer hair. Deer hair flies and flies that just use a bit of
deer hair. Stacked tips or butts, it doesn't matter. A hair stacker is the
right tool for the job. Hell, want one? I'll send you one for Xmas. Send
me your addy. Bass Pro is just around the corner.

--
Frank Reid
Reverse email to reply

[Ernie]

"riverman" > wrote > This is really a weak topic for a
thread, because if I just go out and buy
> one and then toss it later, it will represent a much smaller waste of
money
> than most of the things I have in my tying kit. But just the same, whats
the
> scoop....do most of you advanced tyers use a stacker, or do you do it by
> hand?
>
> --riverman

Riverman,
A hair stacker is worth the money. I have an aluminum two piece hair
stacker. The aluminum does not build up a static charge and the two pieces
come apart in the middle so you can grab the hair bur the butts and pull
them out.
Ernie

[George Cleveland]

On Sat, 4 Dec 2004 19:54:36 +0100, "riverman" >
wrote:

>In my beginner days, every single fly tying instruction book I read (that
>means both of them) had the same 'inside hint' that a hair stacker was not
>really necessary. One suggested an empty lipstick case, another said you
>could align the hairs by hand just as easily, with a bit of practice.
>
>But now that I'm getting a bit better at tying, I find aligning the hairs a
>RPITA! I tried a lipstick case, but when I dumped the hairs out, they all
>fell into disarray again. I think a hair stacker really is a good idea, but
>I don't know for sure because I've never really used one.
>
>This is really a weak topic for a thread, because if I just go out and buy
>one and then toss it later, it will represent a much smaller waste of money
>than most of the things I have in my tying kit. But just the same, whats the
>scoop....do most of you advanced tyers use a stacker, or do you do it by
>hand?
>
>--riverman
>
I used cut down shell casings for years, with wax melted in the bottom
to cover up the primer indentations and make a flat bottom for even
tips. Bought a real hair stacker last year. Much, much, much more
pleasant to use than the homemade ones I used for 25 years previously.
Get one.


g.c.

[George Cleveland]

On Sat, 4 Dec 2004 19:54:36 +0100, "riverman" >
wrote:

>In my beginner days, every single fly tying instruction book I read (that
>means both of them) had the same 'inside hint' that a hair stacker was not
>really necessary. One suggested an empty lipstick case, another said you
>could align the hairs by hand just as easily, with a bit of practice.
>
>But now that I'm getting a bit better at tying, I find aligning the hairs a
>RPITA! I tried a lipstick case, but when I dumped the hairs out, they all
>fell into disarray again. I think a hair stacker really is a good idea, but
>I don't know for sure because I've never really used one.
>
>This is really a weak topic for a thread, because if I just go out and buy
>one and then toss it later, it will represent a much smaller waste of money
>than most of the things I have in my tying kit. But just the same, whats the
>scoop....do most of you advanced tyers use a stacker, or do you do it by
>hand?
>
>--riverman
>
I used cut down shell casings for years, with wax melted in the bottom
to cover up the primer indentations and make a flat bottom for even
tips. Bought a real hair stacker last year. Much, much, much more
pleasant to use than the homemade ones I used for 25 years previously.
Get one.


g.c.

[riverman]

"Frank Reid" <moc.deepselbac@diersicnarf> wrote in message
...
>
>> oh, and, yes, get a hair comb too ..... I laughed and scoffed at these
>> UNTIL
>> I tried one, greatly improves any hair fly to have all the scruff removed
>> and a fine toothed comb is far more efficient than anything else I've
>> heard of
>
> Seconded. A hair stacker, (I use the large one 'cause its easier to stuff
> the **** in there) and a decent mustache brush. Mine is brass for fly
> tying. Gets rid of all that underfur.
> I tie alot with deer hair. Deer hair flies and flies that just use a bit
> of deer hair. Stacked tips or butts, it doesn't matter. A hair stacker
> is the right tool for the job. Hell, want one? I'll send you one for
> Xmas. Send me your addy. Bass Pro is just around the corner.

:-)
Thanks for the christmas offer, Frank! I know you're good for it, but
getting it to me through the mail would probably not be worth it. I have a
fly-tying shopping list a few inches long (hooks, thread, beads, etc), so
I'll add the hair stacker on it and do a shop in Johannesburg when I go for
christmas break.

SWMBO and I are starting out with a week of flyfishing at some trout fishing
venue in South Africa (www.kingfishertrout.co.za) then headed off overland
to Victoria Falls region and southern Zambia in a rental 4x4 with full-on
safari camping gear (http://www.bushlore.com/Campers.asp). Should be an
exciting vacation, and I hope to be able to cast to some TigerFish in the
Zambezi, some lake species in the Okavango, and of course, some trout in
South Africa. Look for a TR when I get back.

--riverman

[Charlie Choc]

On Sun, 5 Dec 2004 10:32:10 +0100, "riverman" > wrote:

>SWMBO and I are starting out with a week of flyfishing at some trout fishing
>venue in South Africa (www.kingfishertrout.co.za) then headed off overland
>to Victoria Falls region and southern Zambia in a rental 4x4 with full-on
>safari camping gear (http://www.bushlore.com/Campers.asp). Should be an
>exciting vacation, and I hope to be able to cast to some TigerFish in the
>Zambezi, some lake species in the Okavango, and of course, some trout in
>South Africa. Look for a TR when I get back.
>
Looks like fun Myron. That's the kind of thing my trailer was really made for.
<g>
--
Charlie...
http://www.chocphoto.com/ - photo galleries
http://www.chocphoto.com/roff

[Charlie Choc]

On Sun, 5 Dec 2004 10:32:10 +0100, "riverman" > wrote:

>SWMBO and I are starting out with a week of flyfishing at some trout fishing
>venue in South Africa (www.kingfishertrout.co.za) then headed off overland
>to Victoria Falls region and southern Zambia in a rental 4x4 with full-on
>safari camping gear (http://www.bushlore.com/Campers.asp). Should be an
>exciting vacation, and I hope to be able to cast to some TigerFish in the
>Zambezi, some lake species in the Okavango, and of course, some trout in
>South Africa. Look for a TR when I get back.
>
Looks like fun Myron. That's the kind of thing my trailer was really made for.
<g>
--
Charlie...
http://www.chocphoto.com/ - photo galleries
http://www.chocphoto.com/roff

[riverman]

"Charlie Choc" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 5 Dec 2004 10:32:10 +0100, "riverman" > wrote:
>
>>SWMBO and I are starting out with a week of flyfishing at some trout
>>fishing
>>venue in South Africa (www.kingfishertrout.co.za) then headed off
>>overland
>>to Victoria Falls region and southern Zambia in a rental 4x4 with full-on
>>safari camping gear (http://www.bushlore.com/Campers.asp). Should be an
>>exciting vacation, and I hope to be able to cast to some TigerFish in the
>>Zambezi, some lake species in the Okavango, and of course, some trout in
>>South Africa. Look for a TR when I get back.
>>
> Looks like fun Myron. That's the kind of thing my trailer was really made
> for.
> <g>

Yep. The tent rig is made by the same folks who made yours. Any inside hints
about stuff we ought to know?

--riverman

[Tony & Barb Vellturo]

I may be way off base here but I thought a lipstick container was a
good substitute because once the hairs were stacked one could twist
the little thingy and bring the hairs up all nice and neat. I don't
use one. I have a bought stacker with 3 different "cups" to use for
different length hair. Just my $0.02.

[Charlie Choc]

On Sun, 5 Dec 2004 11:18:15 +0100, "riverman" > wrote:

>Yep. The tent rig is made by the same folks who made yours. Any inside hints
>about stuff we ought to know?
>
Actually that's a different brand tent, mine's a Hannibal, but it looks like
it works the same way. If it's like mine there will be some bungee cords
inside to hold things together when folding/unfolding. Just make sure they're
fastened when getting ready to fold it back up and also watch out that tent
fabric doesn't get caught in the PVC cover's zipper. With mine, there is
enough 'play' in the hinge that there is room to leave the sleeping bags in
the tent when folded but not much else, so don't forget to take flashlights,
etc., out before folding.

The tents are amazingly simple to set up and take down. Don't forget where you
are if you have to get up in the night, though. <g>
--
Charlie...
http://www.chocphoto.com/ - photo galleries
http://www.chocphoto.com/roff

[riverman]

"Tony & Barb Vellturo" > wrote in message
...
>I may be way off base here but I thought a lipstick container was a
> good substitute because once the hairs were stacked one could twist
> the little thingy and bring the hairs up all nice and neat.

Hmm, good point. Maybe SWMBO uses the wrong brand of lipstick, because the
thingy on hers is made of plastic and has lots of little holes in it that
prevent the hairs from coming out neat, or else I was trying to use it
wrong. I'll look at some other lipstick dispensers, just for curiosity.
Personally, I seem to always prefer 'alternative' style methods of doing
things....some misguided notion that it creates an identity that has to be
created and not just bought.

--riverman
(a Unique Individual, just like everybody else)

[riverman]

"Tony & Barb Vellturo" > wrote in message
...
>I may be way off base here but I thought a lipstick container was a
> good substitute because once the hairs were stacked one could twist
> the little thingy and bring the hairs up all nice and neat.

Hmm, good point. Maybe SWMBO uses the wrong brand of lipstick, because the
thingy on hers is made of plastic and has lots of little holes in it that
prevent the hairs from coming out neat, or else I was trying to use it
wrong. I'll look at some other lipstick dispensers, just for curiosity.
Personally, I seem to always prefer 'alternative' style methods of doing
things....some misguided notion that it creates an identity that has to be
created and not just bought.

--riverman
(a Unique Individual, just like everybody else)

[George Adams]

>From: "riverman"

>Personally, I seem to always prefer 'alternative' style methods of doing
>things....some misguided notion that it creates an identity that has to be
>created and not just bought.

Nothing wrong with that. If you're committed to finding an alternative, someone
else mentioned using a .45 shell casing. I have used one for shorter hair, and
a .44 magnum for longer stuff. They are workable, but the extra weight of a
'real' stacker makes the process easier.

Also, you mentioned that when you tap the lipstick container, the hair tips
still don't aligh properly. This is likely due to the "fuzz" mixed in with the
hair. Make sure you comb out as much of the fuzz before stacking, and iy
doesn't hurt to apply a little downward pressure to the hair butts with your
thumb during the tapping process.

Be careful when removing the hair from the stacker, as static electricity may
cause hairs on the outside of the stack to cling to the side walls of the
container. This is especially true of plastic containers....less of a problem
with aluminum or brass.


George Adams

"All good fishermen stay young until they die, for fishing is the only dream of
youth that doth not grow stale with age."
---- J.W Muller

[George Adams]

>From: "riverman"

>Personally, I seem to always prefer 'alternative' style methods of doing
>things....some misguided notion that it creates an identity that has to be
>created and not just bought.

Nothing wrong with that. If you're committed to finding an alternative, someone
else mentioned using a .45 shell casing. I have used one for shorter hair, and
a .44 magnum for longer stuff. They are workable, but the extra weight of a
'real' stacker makes the process easier.

Also, you mentioned that when you tap the lipstick container, the hair tips
still don't aligh properly. This is likely due to the "fuzz" mixed in with the
hair. Make sure you comb out as much of the fuzz before stacking, and iy
doesn't hurt to apply a little downward pressure to the hair butts with your
thumb during the tapping process.

Be careful when removing the hair from the stacker, as static electricity may
cause hairs on the outside of the stack to cling to the side walls of the
container. This is especially true of plastic containers....less of a problem
with aluminum or brass.


George Adams

"All good fishermen stay young until they die, for fishing is the only dream of
youth that doth not grow stale with age."
---- J.W Muller

[Larry L]

"Frank Reid" <moc.deepselbac@diersicnarf> wrote

> Seconded. A hair stacker, (I use the large one 'cause its easier to stuff
> the **** in there)

hehe, I mainly use the small one because it's easier to get the **** OUT
still stacked nicely <G> ... most of the hair I use is for small Sparkle
duns ( down to 22s, but mostly 16-20 ) To tie that pattern well the hair
must have very, very short tips ( the solid 'black' part at the very end )
and be hollow right out to those tips, AND, each hair must be small in
diameter ( it is possible to find a rare piece that has short tips and
relatively fat individual hairs, but it won't be AS easy to tie with, too
"flairy" )...... such hair is almost always, also, short and tends to tip
sideways in a bigger tube

I only mention this to point out one thing I'm constantly relearning about
tying .... the more carefully one selects materials, the better the fly and
the experience of producing it. Another thing? The exactly right tool
makes things better too ... gear whores rejoice ....and for very small
amounts of short hair a small stacker works better, for bigger amounts of
long hair, a bigger one rules ... what can be nicer than an excuse to buy
two <G>?

[asadi....]

I just bought one....bought the wrong size....

It appears the hair really needs a lot of room to settle down properly.

john


"riverman" > wrote in message
...
> In my beginner days, every single fly tying instruction book I read (that
> means both of them) had the same 'inside hint' that a hair stacker was not
> really necessary. One suggested an empty lipstick case, another said you
> could align the hairs by hand just as easily, with a bit of practice.
>
> But now that I'm getting a bit better at tying, I find aligning the hairs
a
> RPITA! I tried a lipstick case, but when I dumped the hairs out, they all
> fell into disarray again. I think a hair stacker really is a good idea,
but
> I don't know for sure because I've never really used one.
>
> This is really a weak topic for a thread, because if I just go out and buy
> one and then toss it later, it will represent a much smaller waste of
money
> than most of the things I have in my tying kit. But just the same, whats
the
> scoop....do most of you advanced tyers use a stacker, or do you do it by
> hand?
>
> --riverman
>
>

[Larry Medina]

riverman wrote:

> In my beginner days, every single fly tying instruction book I read (that
> means both of them) had the same 'inside hint' that a hair stacker was not
> really necessary... another said you could align the hairs by hand just as
> easily, with a bit of practice.

Okay, well this is a topic I've spent a lot of time discussing with
"contemporaries" over the years... I've been tying for 40 years now, and
for the first 30 of those years, I NEVER used a stacker. Part of it was
for the first ten or so, I never knew one existed, so I didn't know I
should want one or didn't have one =)

I learned how to prepare and stack hair right off the hide (or tail)
from the guys I tied with as a kid and I guess I was lucky in that
respect, and I got to be pretty good at it!

Then as I got into more of the tricks and books and all, I found out
about this stacker device and thought, "gee, that would make this a lot
easier"... but as funny as it sounds, you needed to learn how to use
one... I mean, it seems easy enough, you cut off a hank of hair, stuff
it in a tube, tap it down, grab the butt ends and pull it out, right?

WRONG!!! You still need to prepare the hair (it has to be clean, you
need to remove all the underfur, pull out the 'wild' hairs first, etc.)
and once you've done all of that, if there's static build-up in the tube
or the hair... it won't stack right.

Oh yeah, and there's dealing with curved (hair from the side of an
animal) and or curly hair (calf tail, for example) still... stackers
don't seem to help much more with these.

> But now that I'm getting a bit better at tying, I find aligning the hairs a
> RPITA! I tried a lipstick case, but when I dumped the hairs out, they all
> fell into disarray again. I think a hair stacker really is a good idea, but
> I don't know for sure because I've never really used one.

Well, I don't know if you've really missed anything. I tried doing it on
the cheap with a lipstick tube, a shell casing and a shortened pill
bottle first and these were all more trouble than they were worth,
especially seeing as a real commercial stacker is only around $5-10
bucks =)

But then you'll find that it's not "one size fits all" and a small
stacker REALLY is better for short hair, and a large one is better for
longer and/or larger clumps of hair, so you'll have a couple of them...
and you'll learn the trick about pulling a used fabric softener sheet
through them to break the static (yep, it really works!)

And then you'll see there are a bunch of different ones, like the
Renzetti aluminum and brass one, and the Griffin heavy based aluminum
ones and some with cork or rubber on the bottoms and a few plastic ones
and my FAVE of the cool ones, the WOODEN ones turned on lathes that look
real cool and seem to avoid most of the static problems... but can bust
depending on the grain of the wood when you really tap 'em hard or on
the edge...

> This is really a weak topic for a thread, because if I just go out and buy
> one and then toss it later, it will represent a much smaller waste of money
> than most of the things I have in my tying kit. But just the same, whats the
> scoop....do most of you advanced tyers use a stacker, or do you do it by
> hand?

I don't know if I have the right responding to something where you're
asking for the opinions of an advanced tyer, I mean, advanced in years
maybe, and not even then compared to some of the folks out here... but
my advice would be to treat yourself to one, and if you don't like it,
give it to someone else.

If you're only wanting to buy one, and this is gonna sound weird to
people who know me, because I SELDOM EVER ENDORSE ANYTHING ORVI$... I'd
recommend the Orvi$ one with the see-thru window in the base... I
thought it was a joke when I saw it, but my brother bought it for me a
few Xmases ago, and it's nice and heavy, it's an adequate size and it
has a cork base, so it doesn't mar the oak table top when I tie in the
living room... and the see thru feature is kinda cool to see if the hair
is aligned without having to pull up the tube to check. I think it's
like $12-15, and what's that... a couple of shots of Chinaco?? =)

Larry

[[email protected]]

I read somewhere that a poor mans hair stacker could be made out of a
35mm plastic film canister with a 45 degree cut out in it for removing
the hair. I actually used one like this several years ago before
buying one from Cabella's or Bass Pro shops.
On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 23:30:58 GMT, "asadi...."
> wrote:

>I just bought one....bought the wrong size....
>
>It appears the hair really needs a lot of room to settle down properly.
>
>john
>
>
>"riverman" > wrote in message
...
>> In my beginner days, every single fly tying instruction book I read (that
>> means both of them) had the same 'inside hint' that a hair stacker was not
>> really necessary. One suggested an empty lipstick case, another said you
>> could align the hairs by hand just as easily, with a bit of practice.
>>
>> But now that I'm getting a bit better at tying, I find aligning the hairs
>a
>> RPITA! I tried a lipstick case, but when I dumped the hairs out, they all
>> fell into disarray again. I think a hair stacker really is a good idea,
>but
>> I don't know for sure because I've never really used one.
>>
>> This is really a weak topic for a thread, because if I just go out and buy
>> one and then toss it later, it will represent a much smaller waste of
>money
>> than most of the things I have in my tying kit. But just the same, whats
>the
>> scoop....do most of you advanced tyers use a stacker, or do you do it by
>> hand?
>>
>> --riverman
>>
>>
>

[Padishar Creel]

"riverman" > wrote in message
...
> In my beginner days, every single fly tying instruction book I read (that
> means both of them) had the same 'inside hint' that a hair stacker was not
> really necessary.
----snipped----
This reminds me of a class where I used two sizes of stackers that looked a
lot like zippo lighters. I really liked them but never bought a set because
I can't remember who makes them. This evening I was sharing this with my
current spouse and she said, "I think those are from Fourst's Fly Fishing in
Montana." I looked for them on the web but Foust's doesn't have all his
things shown there. I requested a catalog. Bottom line they were the best
hair stackers I have ever used, but frankly my Renzetti's do the job, but
when I am ready to upgrade, these will be the ones.

I hope this helps, Chris

[Padishar Creel]

"riverman" > wrote in message
...
> In my beginner days, every single fly tying instruction book I read (that
> means both of them) had the same 'inside hint' that a hair stacker was not
> really necessary.
----snipped----
This reminds me of a class where I used two sizes of stackers that looked a
lot like zippo lighters. I really liked them but never bought a set because
I can't remember who makes them. This evening I was sharing this with my
current spouse and she said, "I think those are from Fourst's Fly Fishing in
Montana." I looked for them on the web but Foust's doesn't have all his
things shown there. I requested a catalog. Bottom line they were the best
hair stackers I have ever used, but frankly my Renzetti's do the job, but
when I am ready to upgrade, these will be the ones.

I hope this helps, Chris