I’ve always assumed it fell from favor based on the unyielding goo Danville dips its spools into, their idea of waxed thread doesn’t share any of the properties that made wax a staple on every fly tying bench.
Both smaller thread and fly tying specific threads assisted in removing wax as a mainstay, but it’s still has capabilities that pre-waxed nylon and head cements have never been able to reproduce.
I still use quite a bit of it, mainly to stymie the smiling fellow in the plumbing department when he sees me pawing over the toilet gaskets. A two dollar gasket is the better part of a decade of non drying, tacky wax designed to stay supple with even my ponderous bulk on the throne.
I use it to tame the unruly and coat materials that take a lot of abuse, where even a flexible vinyl cement will flake off … and on occasion, I’ll stretch the boundaries of materials – sometimes the results are useful, sometimes not.
The fly at left is flat forest green chenille that’s been 
stroked with wax, then amber rabbit dubbed onto the chenille, which is spun, trapping the fibers. It’s a simple caddis imitation that once dampened offers a good looking scruffy pupa – akin to what Gary Lafontaine was after …
Naturally I like mine better, but I’ll let you be the judge.
Nice looking bug.
Based upon your cranky mood of late (picking on the WonderDog?), I take it you haven’t been out fishing in awhile. What gives?
I’m fishing still, just the catching part has stopped.
Besides, this time of year requires I acknowledge the rest of humankind, so I’ve been slowed considerable.
Picking on the Wonderdog isn’t cranky; I fed him, he sat on my foot, I fed him again – I think I’ve earned it.
You sir are the bane of the fly tying supply industry!
Muchos gracias.
Bust a chunk off the rim for benchside use, wrap the balance in saran wrap and stash it in a drawer. The saran wrap is needed to protect everything else in the drawer – that way incidental contact doesn’t coat everything with the wax.
On my way to the plumber at work. I should have atleast one ring in my hands in about 15 minutes. Thanks for the info.
I just purchased my 2009 fishing license: $41.20 for the license, plus $6.30 for a Bay/Delta stamp, plus another $6.30 for a steelhead card, for a grand total of $53.80. Feeling plenty cranky right now.
KBarton10: since you haven’t been catching anything of late, you interested in spending a day this weekend not-catching a steelhead? Not sure yet where I’m going to go, but I can promise it will either be blown out and fishless, or low/clear and fishless. Let me know if you’re interested.
SMJ: I think the only day I’m available this weekend is Sunday – have guests showing Saturday.
Winona: Tell me you aren’t removing a toilet grabbing the ring and running like hell.
This is the kind of post that i like, Its just like Screw it go fishing if nothing is caught oh well if you do catch something then its a bonus. At least you are out doing what you love to do
I don’t think I ever want to hear you mention the words “stroke” and “toilet boil gasket” in the same piece again. Nice fly though, but there is a mental image in my head that needs to be drowned in ale.
Kyle: You’ve just aptly described every fishing trip I’ve ever taken.
no, I didn’t have to, I’m in good with the plumber at the High School I work at. However, I would have probably gone to the nearest toilet had he not been available.
Pet Peeve #637
Regarding waxing thread, please ensure that you don’t tie off the head with waxed thread and then varnish over that.
Varnish, vinyl cement, head cement, etal are made to seal a clean surface, not a surface coated with wax. Very simply, would you place varnish over a wood floor that was unstripped or even waxed. No!!
Also, varnish is the best thread sealant. The chief advantages being that it penetrates deepest and lasts the longest. If anyone ever visited the old Winston shop in Twin Bridges, meaning the old quonset hut, you would have seen outside 10-12 pieces of rod blank wrapped and sealed with various finishes. Those blanks have sat outside for years in all types of weather. The hands down winner was McCloskey Man O’War Spar Varnish. That’s what Morgan and Brackett used to finish all their rods. Nothing better.
One final note, I trust that the word combination “penetrates deepest” does not provide any ideas of other uses for McCloskey varnish.
Happy New Year!!
The waxed thread – whip finish is an excellent point, any type of wax on the head defeats the purpose entirely.
I’ll look up the McKloskey varnish, any of the higher quality varnishes have proven suitable, but this gives me another couple of decades to fiddle with Behlen’s and McKloskey’s.