How many of you routinely use head cement?

[jdubya]

I used to use it all the time: usually Loon water based. But, expecially on small flies, it seems to be a lot more of a pain than is worth while. So I have quit using it and can't really tell any difference for fly life, etc. Do you all use it out of habit, or do you swear by it (or at it??)?

[icthys]

using it routinely. All I know is I feel my flies I ty without cement don't last as long as I expect them too. They do last as long as any fly that i buy, but I think I put more effort and quality into my flies than store bought flies.

While we're at it, how many whip finish wraps do you guys use. I was told to wrap it about 3 times and do it twice.

[MOKE]

I don't do glue man!

Never use the stuff!!
I whip finish twice.

MOKE

[Dennis]

I have not used head cement for years. I use 2 good 3-5 wrap whip finishes. I can't remember the last time I had a head fall apart. ( 'course at my age I may not remember very far back.) I have never liked the extra time that it took to add cement to every fly, especially when I had a large order to fill. If a whip finish is done properly there is no reason for it to come apart. Dennis

[jim m.]

I rarely use head cement on my whip finishes. Like mentioned above, I whip finish twice (3 wraps each time) and that’s it. If it's a tiny fly, I'll whip finish once and that's it. My flies get chewed apart before they fall apart.

I do like to use head cement on clousers though. I like to cement the thread that holds the dumb bell in place and I will cement the head of these flies since so much material ends up behind the eye.

On some of my midge pupa patters, I'll coat the whole fly w/ a very thin layer of head cement. It gives it some added translucency.

[nhancock]

A few years back my brother-in-law pointed out that many of my flies were falling apart after only a few fish. Some before I used them. I was just beginning in fly tying and my tying off technique was not exactly refined. I started using head cement and noticed a significant difference. Some of my flies would last for 20-30 fish.

Now my finishing technique is much improved but I still use cement mostly out of habit. Also if I am tying nymphs I use some on the thread base before I wrap the dubbing. This helps hold it tighter and makes it last longer. This was a tip from Moke. I know you glue Moke! JK

[Cary]

Not me man. a good whip finish is all I need. Maybe two.

[Trout4x]

On the fly in the vise at the time.

[Jason]

In some instances the fly recipe may call for some added durability, especially when using multiple delicate materials. Most of these flies are larger flies. I occassionally use a little cement on extended body mayflies, hoppers, foam flies, parachute posts, and large stonefly nymphs. I never cement my whip finishes. Two whips of 3-4 turns and pulling the knot tight is all you need.

[mcgx2]

I seldom use head cement, only on a few patterns and then in mid pattern for durability and not usually on the head. A good whip finish of 4-5 turns seems to be enough.

mcg

[Curtis Fry]

Never needed it. Flies don't come apart so no need to slop a bunch of extra chemicals on the fly if I don't have to. Guess to each his own. One problem I've seen especially teaching beginning tyers is that they don't leave enough room to tie off the head or the head is too big. That, in my mind, is one of the causes of flies coming apart -- not lack of cement necessarily.

The only time I'll use anything really glue-ish is if I want to do epoxy back patterns or something similar.

[Ouzel]

Much like Moke and others I've not found it necessary.
I spin the thread counterclockwise so it flattens then I whip finish three wraps and then three again; resulting in a small neat head.
I still will use head cement on streamer heads as I tend to fish them on the bottom amoung the rocks.

[Jason B]

I use head cement on my sows and midges. I use a thread ribbing on my zebras so i coat the body with head cement. Fly seems to last longer. I also use it on my sows to help keep the shape.

[John Bell]

Interesting topic. Hardly ever use head cement. Usually use 6 turns on the whip finish and do it by hand without a tool. May try less turns after reading this "THREAD". Tie many paras between 22 & 16.

Flys that fall apart due to careless extraction with the hemostats.

[Dennis]

Crimp the barbs on the hooks and use a hook release too. This combo has saved many a fly and crimped barbs have not decreased my catch by much.
Dennis