Shrink tubing

[salmonshrimp]

Whats the best way to keep a hook aligned on a tube fly or a waddington shank. Also do any of you use shrink tube on fly line loops or joins.

It would be interesting to hear the sizes of tube used what type (clear or other), and where the best place might be to purchase shrink tube of correct sizes.

[flee]

I use PVC tubing to make stiff connection between tube and hook but there are other materials available for the same purpose like neoprene tubing which is supposed to be better for colder conditions because it won't go hard,But I haven't tried this type of tubing.
I use shrink tube on waddingtons to stiffen the link of shank and hook, I bought my shrink tube from Tweedside tackle Kelso but That is the only place I have seen it.I also would like to hear if anyone else knows of other suppliers

hope this is of some help

[robbie]

Shrink tubing really comes from the world of electrics. It is readily available from places like Maplins or any electrical dealer. Google shrink tube and u will find oodles of suppliers. It will be dirt cheap from these places and avialable in all colours and sizes. City Electrical Factors also springs to mind. I bet someone in your home town sells it somewhere and it will have nowt to do with fishing!

[rpsalmon]

Sorry to state the obvious, buy ebay is a good source.

I use shrink tubing on waddingtons, broras and tubes. With wadd's and brora's I ensure there isn't too much as I like the hook to be able to move "a little", some people put so much tubing on that their wadd's are stiff and I can image there being a leverage issue.

I came across the following link in a posting from jimthefish..

salmosalar.proboards80.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=lines&thread=1170787140&page=3

That has a link to another forum, since the link is already on this forum I have not asked permission to post it again, and shows an interesting guide. I would use a hair dryer to shrink tube, rather that a lighter.

www.flyforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7749&page=2

[sagefly]

Try RS Components they have a range of colours as well as clear

[salmonshrimp]

Very good examples the braid fusing certainly looks worth trying for loops and possibly joins, however the tube looked a bit big in diameter. What diameter and wall thickness of tube do you think would give optimum shrink. My preference for flyline loops is the smaller and thinner the doubled up part of the loop the better because there's less chance of catching the top eye.

[DAZ]

I use shrink for my waddingtons.

Try this link for shrink tube....good stuff,very cheap!.

stores.ebay.co.uk/Heatshrink-Galore

DAZ.

[salmonshrimp]

Thanks DAZ great link I'm a bit confused as to what diameter is best what size do you go for.

[rpsalmon]

Shrink tubing typically reduces by 50%.

Therefore 3.2mm tubing shrinks to 1.6mm, 2.4mm to 1.2mm.

RS Components have a reputation for high retail prices, I suggest you compare prices.

[flee]

I have a C.E.Factors nearby ,I think I'll take a look .


Cheers

[sagefly]

"RS haver high retail prices"

I paid in the region of £2 for about 10 metre's of heatshrink, not really excessive by most standards, but I suppose if you can get it 10% cheaper you will be well ahead of the game.

Imagine saving 20P

[rpsalmon]

I am delighted to hear their prices have dropped, about 5 years ago I tried to buy some from RS Components but they were charging £1 per meter!

[castelforte]

rpsalmon said:

I am delighted to hear their prices have dropped, about 5 years ago I tried to buy some from RS Components but they were charging £1 per meter!

100 pence for 1m equals 1 pence per 10 mm.

For my tube fly hook connections that's 2p per tube

To cover a 2" or 50mm tube would be 5 pence

CF

[rpsalmon]

Dear castelforte
It wasn't that the cost per length was too much in comparison to my income, it was that they charged 2 or 3 times the money than other suppliers.

[castelforte]

rpsalmon said:

Dear castelforte
It wasn't that the cost per length was too much in comparison to my income, it was that they charged 2 or 3 times the money than other suppliers.

RPS,

I know what you mean it seems that once a material has made it's way over to salmon fishing it's price goes up 1000%.

The same is true for threads, fibres, and flask materials. The principle of being gouged for textile craft materials because I buy them in a tackle shop gets my goat and I am not a tight wad ;D

CF

[rpsalmon]

To be fair to some makers of thread etc, the quality of thread/flosses/wools as well as their colour retention in water is superior to much of that available in the local haberdashery.