Dubbing Brush Construction

[alanb_ct]

This is covered elsewhere on the Internet, but generally involves the use of "spinning blocks," and so on. I don't think you need one! This is how I do it. This method might also be on the internet, I can't really remember if I saw it there, but it seems obvious.

It bothers me that dubbing brushes are so expensive to buy, when they are so easy to make. There is no limit to what you can blend in, deer hair or CDC for example.

The correct materials are important. Soft wire is necessary, as it won't break during the spinning.


Any type of dubbing will do, but the standard Hare blends might be best for their softness and spikiness blend.


Sticky wax is critical.


This is my dubbing twister tool, as modified according to A.K. Best. It's called a "Dubbit." The additional lead weight makes it spin faster.


Take a long piece of wire, about 20in, and pinch both ends in your vise (if I had a super high-end chichi vise, I might use an older one for this job). This is my old Regal.


Liberally apply the wax to one strand of the wire. You should see little bits of stuck-on wax here and there.


Touch dub the first layer of material. If you are using very fine wire, you could stop now, but I generally overdub with more material.


Add the loose overdubbing; put more than you think, as it compresses at least 20:1 when you spin the wire.


Loop the wire over your dubbing tool (you could use a hackle pliers, that would also work)


Start spinning the tool


and keep spinning


Until, voila, you can cut the wires off the vise and you have dubbing brushes!


Here's a quick Walt's Worm tied with a brush. I like the fact that a little copper shows through here and there.


Hope this little tutorial is useful to you.

[SlowNDeep]

Thanks Alain,

I always suspected they were "that easy" to make but had never tried it.

Have you tried putting the open end in the regal (like you have it) and the folded end in a renzetti a foot or two away?

[alanb_ct]

That's a good one too, Eddie, but I don't have a true rotary vise with a spin handle.

[LopatNympher]

Great tutorial alan. I an going to give it a try. I've been playing with dubbing loops lately with some decent results, this seems like the logical progression.

[Davyfly]

Alain,

I used to make those for commercially, l have a neat tool for this purpose.
I got Wednesday free from guiding and will post some pics.

DW