Blending superfine dubbings

Although I can easily defend the idea that "color ain't that important" with
the logical side of my brain, the other side seems artistically compelled to
take it seriously, even if Mr Piscator doesn't

Which leads to my problem. I want to blend a couple types of very fine
dubbing. The coffee mill that will work with courser materials is useless
.... the fine stuff just wads up.

I have managed to get what I want in small batches by the very tedious
process of 'pulling' tiny amounts of each type together with my thumb and
forefinger ... but we are talking tedious.

I vaguely remember someone ( Frank Reid, maybe? ) posting about some type of
"carding comb" ( this may be all wrong, just the words that come to my
head), that is used in weaving to blend fibers before they are twisted into
yarn.


Any suggestions? Take two packages of any of the "superfine" dubbings and
try to uniformly blend them into a new color to see what I'm attempting.

Larry wrote:
Although I can easily defend the idea that "color ain't that
important" with the logical side of my brain, the other side seems
artistically compelled to take it seriously, even if Mr Piscator
doesn't

Which leads to my problem. I want to blend a couple types of very
fine dubbing. The coffee mill that will work with courser materials
is useless ... the fine stuff just wads up.

I have managed to get what I want in small batches by the very tedious
process of 'pulling' tiny amounts of each type together with my thumb
and forefinger ... but we are talking tedious.

I vaguely remember someone ( Frank Reid, maybe? ) posting about some
type of "carding comb" ( this may be all wrong, just the words that
come to my head), that is used in weaving to blend fibers before they
are twisted into yarn.


Any suggestions? Take two packages of any of the "superfine"
dubbings and try to uniformly blend them into a new color to see what
I'm attempting.

Larry, I always use the hand pulling method which is only useful for about a
couple dozens of flies worth at a time - more material than that would be a
royal pain, not just tedium. I don't remember the details from Frank (who
I'm sure will jump in any time now) but I bet the tool he recommended is
available here (http://www.paradisefibers.com/handtools/index.asp). Not
sure if it's the right stuff, but I was really impressed by the authentic
"VIKING STYLE" hand carding combs. I mean, who could not LOVE using Viking
tools!

I picked up a potentially useful tool this past winter that I intend to put
to work blendin dubbin pretty soon - a Cuisinart mini-chopper (pretty
similar to an upside down spinny coffee grinder but with reversible blades -
one side is dull, one sharp). It came as a bonus with a toaster oven and
I'll never use it as a kitchen tool, so it will have to earn it's keep as a
tying tool or else be regifted (after a somewhat through cleaningeh). I
'think' the dull side of the blades will work to mix up dubbing without
snagging or cutting it.
--
Stan Gula
http://gula.org/roffswaps

Larry wrote:
Although I can easily defend the idea that "color ain't that important" with
the logical side of my brain, the other side seems artistically compelled to
take it seriously, even if Mr Piscator doesn't

Which leads to my problem. I want to blend a couple types of very fine
dubbing. The coffee mill that will work with courser materials is useless
... the fine stuff just wads up.

I have managed to get what I want in small batches by the very tedious
process of 'pulling' tiny amounts of each type together with my thumb and
forefinger ... but we are talking tedious.

I vaguely remember someone ( Frank Reid, maybe? ) posting about some type of
"carding comb" ( this may be all wrong, just the words that come to my
head), that is used in weaving to blend fibers before they are twisted into
yarn.


Any suggestions? Take two packages of any of the "superfine" dubbings and
try to uniformly blend them into a new color to see what I'm attempting.




Larry,

You can blend using slicker brushes (ones with the straight teeth not
the hooked ones). Put the material on one of the brushes then brush it
back and forth from brush to brush.

Willi

"Willi" wrote

Larry,

You can blend using slicker brushes (ones with the straight teeth not the
hooked ones). Put the material on one of the brushes then brush it back
and forth from brush to brush.

Willi



of course, and nothing new to buy !!! I'll have to clean the ones I have
up because, naturally, they are covered with dog hair, but any retriever
hair that gets included might make the flies better in the water ... most
retrievers are ;-)

thanks Willi

Try using the coffee blender upside down keeping the dubbing away from
the blades and letting the air do the blending. Just a suggestion. I
haven't tried it.



On Mon, 10 Apr 2006 23:29:13 GMT, "Larry" wrote:

Although I can easily defend the idea that "color ain't that important" with
the logical side of my brain, the other side seems artistically compelled to
take it seriously, even if Mr Piscator doesn't

Which leads to my problem. I want to blend a couple types of very fine
dubbing. The coffee mill that will work with courser materials is useless
... the fine stuff just wads up.

I have managed to get what I want in small batches by the very tedious
process of 'pulling' tiny amounts of each type together with my thumb and
forefinger ... but we are talking tedious.

I vaguely remember someone ( Frank Reid, maybe? ) posting about some type of
"carding comb" ( this may be all wrong, just the words that come to my
head), that is used in weaving to blend fibers before they are twisted into
yarn.


Any suggestions? Take two packages of any of the "superfine" dubbings and
try to uniformly blend them into a new color to see what I'm attempting.

"Tony & Barb Vellturo" wrote in message
...
Try using the coffee blender upside down keeping the dubbing away from
the blades and letting the air do the blending. Just a suggestion. I
haven't tried it.

Another thing you could try is unplugging the blender and then spinning it
on your index finger like a basketball. If you get really good at this,
like a Harlem Globetrotter, you can keep it spinning by "pumping" it with
your other hand as it goes. After about 40 revolutions, put the blender
back down on the table, throw the dubbing in there real quick, and see what
happens.

"Larry" wrote in
:

Although I can easily defend the idea that "color ain't that
important" with the logical side of my brain, the other side seems
artistically compelled to take it seriously, even if Mr Piscator
doesn't

Which leads to my problem. I want to blend a couple types of very
fine dubbing. The coffee mill that will work with courser materials
is useless ... the fine stuff just wads up.

I have managed to get what I want in small batches by the very tedious
process of 'pulling' tiny amounts of each type together with my thumb
and forefinger ... but we are talking tedious.

I vaguely remember someone ( Frank Reid, maybe? ) posting about some
type of "carding comb" ( this may be all wrong, just the words that
come to my head), that is used in weaving to blend fibers before they
are twisted into yarn.


Any suggestions? Take two packages of any of the "superfine"
dubbings and try to uniformly blend them into a new color to see what
I'm attempting.



Use water and a real blender. If you need to, get your dubbing out of
suspension with a coffee filter. Let it dry good.

--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

So far everybody has talked about the coffee grinder
idea (with one new twist for me: reverse the blades, so
they lead with a dull edge).

But you mentioned that Frank mentioned the carding comb.
I got mine at a ladies sewing store--one that specialized
in looms and yarn weaving--you know, the kind of store
where you see beautiful makeupless women with batik
clothing bare legs and sandles, even in winter. So anyway, what
I'm talking about is two plastic handled paddles with
red rubber backing, that has hundreds of short and slightly
bent wires sticking out. I take the output from the coffee
grinder and put that between the cards for a few strokes.
Then all the fibers are lined up, like fundamentalists
before the firing squad. Makes a better dubbing that way.

Carding comb works great. Just remember that there are two types; one
for cotton and one for "all others." Just look for a store that sells
spinning and weaving supplies. Tell them you need a set of carding
combs for silk (the ones that will do cotton are too coarse). They'll
hook you up.
The problem with the blender method is that it doesn't do long fibres
well. The carding combs do them and then some. No, its not automatic
like the coffee grinder, but I get a good color match using the carding
combs as I can add bits of color and see rather quickly how it comes
out and if I need to adjust.
Frank Reid

Larry wrote:

"Willi" wrote

Larry,

You can blend using slicker brushes (ones with the straight teeth not the
hooked ones). Put the material on one of the brushes then brush it back
and forth from brush to brush.

Willi




of course, and nothing new to buy !!! I'll have to clean the ones I have
up because, naturally, they are covered with dog hair, but any retriever
hair that gets included might make the flies better in the water ... most
retrievers are ;-)

thanks Willi

I understand a cats under fur makes a nice dubbing as well.

--
Chris Fleitman
Long Island

"The best fly fishing occurs in print" - Famous fly fishing editor
(whatever his name was)