Marc Petitjean Magic Tool

[SherpaB]

I have been playing around with this lately and have had it for a couple years. Its a $30 set of plastic clamps that allow you to do things with CDC that is amazing and allows you to maximize the use of CDC feathers. Its a rather simple set of devices and I wholeheartedly recommend it if you like to use CDC flys. Personally I have been using an all CDC caddis dry fly out here for the past couple seasons...nothing floats like this fly..you cant sink it until a fish slimes it. The magic tool allows me to use CDC as a hackle, body or wing...the flies look super buggy and work really well. You can see an example of the use of the tool on this video
Tie your flies with the magic tool
One of the real keys to tying with CDC is to use good feather...Trouthunt.com is Rene Harrops shop in ID and has the best domestically available CDC. Petitjean sellls his through hareline dubbin...as MP Select CDC...both of the above are far better than the run of the mill stuff most shops stock.
I also think Petitjean has the sickest vise available...(not the one in the video) but this one..
http://www.petitjean.ch/eng/MPVise/masterVise.asp
anyways...if you like using CDC you will really like using the MagicTool..

[stonefly21]

I had a chance to examine this vise at the show. You have to use a pin which is stored in the base to make some of the adjustments as the adjusting screws are very hard to move without the additional leverage. I didnt care for that too much since I place importance on functionality, simplicity and ease of use. For the price point of $740.00 I am not feeling the love. It is pretty cool looking though.

[wwelz]

I am a big fan of the Magic Tool as well. I like it for tying Micro nymphs size 20 and smaller. I have found that a CDC collar on a small bead head makes a big difference . I match the Hatch when I euro nymph . This is my Trico emerger and drowned spinner pattern . I Euro nymph the front end of the hatch and dry dropper the spiner fall. I have a female Trico patten as well if you are interested.

[tim_y]

Very cool. I haven't gotten into CDC yet, but its only a matter of time. I had never heard of this tool before last week Wildfly submitted his fly (below) to our fly swap, noting in the instructions that he used the Magic Tool. Seems worthwhile for a $30 investment with the price of CDC.

[SherpaB]

It is worth it in my opinion because you get more use out of a cdc feather than you do not having the tool. Also...and I cant emphasize this enough the quality of cdc can make a big difference in the results...go with the Petitjean or Harrop stuff and you will be quite pleased

[Silver Creek]

You actually don't need the Magic Tool. You will need thick foam blocks (from a thick pair of foam sandals), a credit card, and a set of bulldog paper clamps. Cut a straight slit in the foam blocks from end to end. The slit has to reach to both ends of the foam blocks to be able to release the fibers later.

Put the CDC fiber stems over the slit in the foam block and pull the fibers into the slit by their ends. If the plumes do not extend over the end of the block and cannot be pulled in, use the old credit card to push the CDC fiber stems into the slit.

Use the paper clamp in the place of the transparent Petitjean clamp to hold the end of the CDC plumes. Open the slit in the foam block to release the fibers and you are in business. The CDC fibers are lined up, cut off the stem(s) and place the fibers into the dubbing loop.

With this simple set of homemade and cheap bought tools you can do what the Magic Tool does. See the method below:

http://www.pechetruite.com/Mouches/cdc-dubbing1.htm

[SherpaB]

Thats a great tip and I have used some variation of it before I got the magic tool. It works pretty well but the fine edge or the MT does work a little better...its a little more precise. I use CDC ALOT to say the least but if you are occaisionally using or tying with CDC the MT is worth the $ to me. Another tip is that Marc uses a european thread that he splits with a fine needle to create a dubbing loop within the thread. I have not used it before but I have done the same thing with Danville 6/0. You can split that pretty easily but you cannot do it with Uni Thread. I suspect UTC 70 would allow you to do the same as the Danville.
The old Danville 6/0 isnt mentioned much in current tying circles but I know alot of guys still use it. The Denier of the 6/0 is approx 70 denier as is UTC 70, uni 8/0 is 74 denier(yet you would think it smaller because it says 8/0). Anyways The UNI cannot be split because it is bonded and twisted.
I want to give the old Danville a plug because for me it is the best small fly thread, it can be split, flattened or twisted to suit the tiers needs and ties as small or smaller than most commonly used thread. UNI 8/0 is popular and great for straight on tying but it ties larger than Danville but is slightly stronger.

[wwelz]

I like gsp 50 denier best thread for splitting . For larger flies I split UTC 140

[Esopus Guy]

I prefer Uni for my dry fly tying. Seems to have a better bite on the hackle stems. I still use Danvilles but it has to be a waxed thread for me. UTC seems easiest to split for dubbing loops IMO,

[SherpaB]

the GSP is great stuff but @ $6.50 per 50 meters...I only have one spool, I have some spools of UTC but I don't have a good feel for it insofar as breaking, I seem to break it more than the Danville yet it test stronger. I like and use UNI and I agree it does bite better when tying in stuff but when I tye 16 and smaller I go to Danville to save on bulk or when I tye wet flys and want a neat head I can manage it better with the Danville.