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I am loving the way rabbit wraps and the look it adds to a jig. The cost of zonkers is a bit steep. So am working to make a cheaper solution. I found a source that has all the colors at $10-12 a skin. So I tried the first one and had great results. Had some waste and some were 1/4" instead of 1/8" but got better as it went. Got a total of 40+ at 1/8" and more at 1/4" and lots of scrap.Attachment 380235Attachment 380237Attachment 380238
I made a jig with a bunch of razer blades to cut them.
I'd like to see them but your pics are broken at least for me.
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Forget about that. Nice lookin jig.
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I have some of both, but do not cut my own. I take blood thinners and have for the last 20 years so cutting my self is something I try to avoid, lol! I also never got into dyeing my own colors, but have thought about it for a long time.
Anyway I have more than I can ever use or sell most likely, but so many colors. I do like the 1/8" strips best and I also like Crosscut much better than Zonker, but both work in a similar way and the Zonker can always be used as a tail.
Also have a little of what they call Silky Bunnybou strips, bit are really puffy when dry at least. I need to get some wet I guess and should have a few years ago when I got it, but it's super soft and Silky is a word that fits it.
These strips you cut should pay off for you well! Any other colors or all just Natural? Also White would be nice if you ever wanted to dye any.
Skip
Those look great!
The scraps can be used to make dubbing and/or mixed with dubbing. I don't think any of the fur goes to waste in the fly/jig tying world.
On dyes, look into UV dyes if possible.
Natural colors work well too.
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I cut these cross the grain. The fur all leans the same way. I have some white, red, lime green, pink and black that should be here tomorrow. Went to Hobby Lobby and bought that one last night. ruined the first 4 inches because I had a brush attached to hold the fur down on the blades. It was too much pressure and it tore it up. The rest went better after I took it off and used my hand. I cut smaller strips. Learning curve. Got about 40 strips. Going to get an orange and blue...should be set for awhile. May try to dye one kacky since I cant find one. Found white ones for $6.95
If you can find them, look up some of the old posts from fat man on here. He had some pictures of a cutter he used and how he cut his. He also has some good tutorials on dying fur and feathers.
Attachment 380269
Tied a few with the cross cut zonkers. I been practicing.
Have you looked at my slide show pictures of my tying Crosscut strips? I use to have an actual slid show, but now it's just the pictures, but should or hope it may help some? The pics can be seen in the sticky post at the top of this page.
Skip
Yeh. nice presentation. Helped a lot.
I'm getting this cutting cross grain zonkers down. Improved my jig and can now cut 3 1/2" at a time.
Attachment 380449Attachment 380450Attachment 380452Attachment 380453
Very nice. That should make you many jigs.
Thanks. I am going to try to sell some too. I posted in the for sale forum. See what happens. Putting the the perfect ones on the market and any that are a bit damaged ...I'll use.Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperDave336
Guys, if your interested in tying rabbit I bought several pacs from him. Very good Tripp’s compared to what I’m used to getting. Full strip with longer hair great coloring. He has a add in classifieds. Great service also. Thanks Ken.
Well if I didn't already have a ton of pack and some full precut rabbit hides I would take a look, but I have a lot of rabbit!
I do love how rabbit hair looks and how soft it is and how it looks in the water. For me the marabou of hair.
Also just an FYI for you, they are called Zonker Strips if the are cut long ways and if they are cut cross ways they are just called Crosscut Strips. They do not call Crosscut Strips Zonkers though.
Skip
How do use use them?
Snip off the fur, tie it on?
It doesn't stay attached to the leather does it?
Thanks
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Its really easy if you are used to tying jigs.
You leave it on the leather.
What I have been doing is after I tie on the tail....feathers or bucktail...whatever you like.
Then instead of wrapping the hook with chenille I tie on the rabbit strip and wrap the hook with it.
I start at the back about where the hook bends and wrap towards the head.
Since its cross cut the fur all goes to one side and I make sure to wrap it so it lays towards the back.
Then wrap the thread around it at the head to make sure its secure and whip finish.
I am pretty new to this but fell in love with the way it moves so started cutting my own and now selling them. I'm retired and have nothing else to do. Lot of trouble and lots of bandages.
I called these cross cut zonkers..but I guess zonkers are not cross cut. They are cut with the grain and are used as tails since the hair is strait. Going to start listing them too.
Yes the fur stays on the leather. There are multiple ways to use rabbit. You can wrap it, you can tie on small pieces I bet you could snip off and tie on. Here is a tutorial by Skip.
https://www.crappie.com/crappie/jig-...cutting-video/
Here is another way to use rabbit.
https://www.crappie.com/crappie/jig-...321915-wabbit/
Thanks Dave.
Want to thank everyone for helping so much. Its great the way you guys share and help out.
Also thanks for supporting my sales in the member classified forum...the cross cut rabbit strips are moving quit nicely.
FYI, I ask a question on your add about how many feet are in one of your packages.Quote:
Originally Posted by ksnouf
Skip
They are about 10" each. 12 strips...so about 10 feet I would say. If they are much less than 10 inches I am adding extra ones. Just filling an order now and the white was a bit imperfect and I think I put 15 in it. Want everyone to be happy so they will buy more.Quote:
Originally Posted by skiptomylu
For jig collars and body one can also snip the fur off the leather and place it in a dubbing loop, then palmer it.Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperDave336
This is a method that is becoming popular with the fly tying crowd, it works very well. You can buy a few tools to help with the dubbing loop too. I use a dubbing clamp and/or tweezers, and a dubbing spinner. Even a cheap plastic chip bag clip works well. Beeswax or dubbing wax helps.
A jig streamer I tied using both rabbit zonker strip and a collar using both marabou and rabbit fur.Attachment 380994Attachment 380995
YouTube is your friend here:
The Rabbit Jig Streamer: Clamped Collar Method - YouTube
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Okay thanks, sounds good. I wanted to compare what I have to that mostly for info. I have the Hareline packs that have 4 strips per pack and close to 4 feet in each. Maybe I will throw up and add on here too. Actually I like the two tone and barred ones best.Quote:
Originally Posted by ksnouf
Here is an example of the two tone ones, maybe you can find out how to do that too?
Skip
Top one is Barred and other two are just two toned.
Attachment 381033
Am working on dying more colors. And will try two-toning soon.
I don't have a lab or employees...just a garage and my wife helps me some.
It is trial and error....mostly error to figure this out.
Hope to widen out as we go.
I'm just a little guy trying to sell to pay for my habit.
Hard to compete with the big company.
Hareline has the market for sure.
I'm trying to give a better deal to make it worth buying from me. Really interested in know how I can improve my service.
Not trying to take away anything from you dealers as you can offer so much more than me. Hope there is enough market for all of us.
Thanks for your suggestions.
I am small time as well, mostly Hackle and Chenille with a little hair thrown in. Buying from Hareline also means I have to compete with all the shops, most all just me, my wife does help me measure out the 5 yard packs of chenille. I am too old to work too hard, lol! I have just been at it a lot longer and don’t dye anything and don’t cut strips! Mostly try to help new guys with a few tips when we talk and help them pick what they need to get started
Skip
I appreciate the help. This is a wonderful community. So far everyone has been so helpful. By far the best site on the web.
Just remember if you dye the hides they will harden up as they dry. As I guy WAY smarter than me told me when I started learning the dye game - If you die a hide you have to re-tan it. And that is another whole game!!!
Yeh I dyed some chartreuse and the color came out better than great but it shrunk the hides and I had to break them down again. Hard to make enough to be profitable. Found another source and now have peach, yellow and red. Olive Green coming.
My Dad tanned my hide a bunch when i was young.
Seemed to help a lot
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[QUOTE=brettw;4041919]My Dad tanned my hide a bunch when i was young.
Seemed to help a lot
Yeh mine too. Thanks to all you guys for your supporting me. I have added a lot of colors to my supplies. Also now cutting some squirrel and possum or for you older guys. "Polecat". Cut up a skunk too. That is making some real nice jigs as they change from black to white as you get towards the head.