There are only three prices at a fly shop; $5.95, $3.95, and $TrustFund.95 – with fly tying the worst offender. Miniscule glascine envelopes with brightly colored lint, 13 color choices, and your wife waiting impatiently in the car…
As mentioned before, most of the synthetic materials are retreads from existing industries. The hard part is finding out what that industry calls them so you can buy in bulk. “Crimp covers” are the brass beads we make bead head flies from; used in the jewelry and bead industry to hide crimp marks on necklaces. Most of them are real gold and silver – so you need to find the copper or brass flavors for real savings.
Polypropylene yarn is available at most fabric stores in the knitting section, it has many industrial uses including automotive trim and upholstery.
I am still tracking down a good source for nylon thread. Most commercial uses are for sizes 2/0 (size 15 to the thread industry) and larger, but at $10.99 for 28,000 yards – it is a steal. On occasion you stumble upon something unanticipated that meshes well with your tying, like these 120 spool wood thread racks – if you can’t put it away where it belongs – you can keep it from underfoot.
Natural materials are also used by other crafters and businesses. The costume industry is dominant for the feather side of the business, taxidermists sell hides and scraps. You have to be careful however – as hides for garments are very expensive.
15 colors of copper wire? I had no idea…
Here’s one for you on the stream side of things:
Gink is albolene, the skin cleanser, often used for makeup removal. check this:
http://www.drugstore.com/qxp55331_333181_sespider/albolene_cleansing_concentrate/albolene_moisturizing_cleanser_unscented.htm
that is an expensive batch too. YOu can buy this stuff by the pound for $less-than-trustfund.95. Probabaly the $5.95 increment will get you a lifetime supply
Nice detective work Chris. A couple more, and we can throw off the yoke of the industrialist warmongering fly shop elitists!
can always use hair from neighborhood black labrador as substitute for any deer hair application when spinning bodies for poppers, etc…..
just trying to do my part.
Oh, so YOU’RE the guy shaving my dog, I thought he had mange! Mrs McGillicutty in #403 has a blue dun persian, I’ll take north of the third rib, you can have the rest….