Why flat waxed thread?

I've seen several people on here say they tie a lot with flat waxed thread. I've got Uni, Danville, and UTC threads that I use for jigs and flies... different threads for different applications. However, I'd like to ask those who use the flat waxed thread why they prefer that? I find that using flat unbonded thread (UTC, Danville) makes materials spin on the hook much easier if I'm not dang careful with it. A bonded thread (doesn't lay as flat) like 6/0 Uni, gets more grip on materials after you lay down a good thread base.

What is your opinion on this?

Right color, right size, tie the jig. I was told that in the beginning and I find that most of the thread I use works OK for me. It all comes out of the fly tying areas soI figure it will do the job. I use a bit of Hard as nails to bind everything together so I think at that point it becomes sealed and will last a long time. Lots of my jigs get away to that world record tree stump so it's a moot point anyway.

I think you have it about right. I use very little flat wax thread. In fact I like using single strand floss to tie with. Most of the time I tie with size A, For Bream Bugs I like the single strand floss. Back in the 1960's when no one had waxed thread we would take bees wax and put it in a small can heat it over a alchol lamp untill the bees wax melted and soak our thead on spools in the bees wax. It was a half hour process and talk about messy. I still have my alchol lamp and about 5 lbs. of bees wax. As I remember bees was about $.50 a pound and that should tell you how long ago that was. May be the good old days weren't that good after all.

Redman

Uni I don't care for much as it's made different and has not stretch at all so I break it a lot especially 6/0. I find the 3/0 I have bought was just crappy. I can use the flat waxed in most all my tying and like the way it works. Also like Ultra thread. On flies it makes a better head for me and like how it lays on the hook, also is good for splitting when dubbing, but since I am learning more about rope dub I really don't need to split the tread too much except for a few thing.

Over all, I just like it better and hate Uni!

Skip

I like the tension strenght of it, it lays flat which produces a neater jig. Been using it and it works for the tying I do. Accepts hard as nails well. Easy to hide when using chenille too.

Skip, my favorite flies are winged wets... I tie a lot of rolled wing wets to fish with, and I'm a hack slip wing tyer. For that style of fly, and flies with no bead head at all, Danville Flymaster and Ultra 70 denier are my absolute favorites! I can make a tiny head with that 70 denier, and the unbonded threads in general make for a nice smooth finish.
I love my 6/0 Uni for 99% of my "fishing" flies, though. Seems to have more "bite" when I'm tying things like bead chain to the hook.
I've got some 3/0 Uni, but that stuff is like tying with rope. I'd use it for BIG jigs or stuff where you want a thread collar on bigger stuff (1/8 oz and up), but that's my opinion.
What brought this all on is I've got some UTC 140 denier pink thread I've been using a TON lately, and it seems like my materials have started to spin on the hook a lot more often. When I use the 6/0 Uni, I don't get spin at all... Everything stays put. I couldn't find the "just right" pink color in the Uni lineup. The UTC's pink is a lot brighter!

I too find the 6/0 Uni better than the 3/0 and I don't know if I just got some that was not good or what, but it breaks easy and almost has a dust looking stuff when it breaks and I don't know it's just not what I like.

It probably doesn't spin as much as the others because of the way it's made with no stretch, but I like the stretch for most of what I tie. I know it will make good heads and have more bite just because of the way it made, but I don't use it much, but do have some.

Love Ultra thread and all Danville I think, but I also use larger thread for a lot of what I tie. Jigs I almost always use 210 Flat Waxed and 140 Ultra and don't need the smaller stuff for jigs at all really. Flies is a whole different thing and smaller is usually better.

Skip

Where is the best place online to get the thread w/ a good variety and also a good price? I'm lookin for some for my jigs but also to use on my flies that I just started tyin. I got some clear nylon thread from the hobby store to check it out because it was like $2.50 for 400 yds. did one jig in it but took alot of wrappin because thread is small.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by quivira kid

Skip, my favorite flies are winged wets... I tie a lot of rolled wing wets to fish with, and I'm a hack slip wing tyer. For that style of fly, and flies with no bead head at all, Danville Flymaster and Ultra 70 denier are my absolute favorites! I can make a tiny head with that 70 denier, and the unbonded threads in general make for a nice smooth finish.
I love my 6/0 Uni for 99% of my "fishing" flies, though. Seems to have more "bite" when I'm tying things like bead chain to the hook.
I've got some 3/0 Uni, but that stuff is like tying with rope. I'd use it for BIG jigs or stuff where you want a thread collar on bigger stuff (1/8 oz and up), but that's my opinion.
What brought this all on is I've got some UTC 140 denier pink thread I've been using a TON lately, and it seems like my materials have started to spin on the hook a lot more often. When I use the 6/0 Uni, I don't get spin at all... Everything stays put. I couldn't find the "just right" pink color in the Uni lineup. The UTC's pink is a lot brighter!

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I 2nd this. It's way more durable than most other threads. Allows you to sinch down pretty good allowing a neat tight tie without breaking off in the middle of tying your jig.

Ok what is the primary difference for uses w/ the 6/0 waxed and unwaxed?