Hair stackers?

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

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

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

"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

"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 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

"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

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

"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

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