What type of epoxy do people use here?

[castingmaniac]

What are people's opinion of epoxies here? I am now using Flex Coat 5-Minute. I am just wondering if there is something better out there like a different make or a slower curing epoxy.
I have noticed that that faster curing epoxies tend to cure on the yellow side. All opinions welcome!

[David Churbuck]

Z-Poxy 5 minute is a standby for me.

Some people swear by rod building epoxy -- 30 min -- but you'll definitely need a rotator to keep the flies from sagging during the set-up time.

What's the problem with the Flexcoat 5 minute stuff

[castingmaniac]

There really isn't anything wrong with Flex Coat-5 min. It cures well and isn't tacky when it's done. I do have a problem with little pin-head size bubbles. Maybe it is the way I mix it.
I am also always on the look out for anything that may work better.

[GMflyfish]

I have used the Flex Coat Lite epoxy - both for quide wraps on the rods I've made, and for epoxy coated flies. The working time is about 15-25 min, and it takes hours to set. Rotation is mandatory, and I usually run the slow rpm rotator for 6 hrs plus. Depending on the fly construction, I sometimes end up putting a second coat on.
My rotator is a cannibalized picnic grill motor, and I made an adapter with eight alligator clips on it, so I can twirl eight flies at once. It is the same motor setup I use for my rod building.
I have not tried other epoxy formulas on flies.

[castingmaniac]

Flex Coat Lite eh? Might be worth a try. The turning time isn't really much of a factor. I tried the picnic grill motor as a fly/jig turner. The only thing I didn't like about it was the noise it made, like a can opener cranked up a bunch of decibels. I put a new one toegether using an electric motor and some leftover lumber that runs nearly silent. Sweet!

[bones]

I use the Flex-coat 5 Minute for shaping the heads on my flies.

The Bar-B-Q rotiserie motor is ingenious. I use an Aggie-engineered-almost-burned-out-electric-icecream-freezer motor which is about to bite the dust, allowing just the right RPM to get the job done. Noisey? Yes,......I do it in the barn.

Regarding the bubbles in your glue..........they are derived from too vigorous mixing,.........you are folding air into the mix.

[Epoxytier]

ahh epoxy my beloved epoxy with out epoxy i would not be fly fishing because of the blue fish that tore up my first flies.well i use devcon 5 min epoxy in my view its the best out there. it is the clearest curing epoxy that i have ever used

[sandflyx]

This is a big subject all the time. I stopped using epoxy for 99% of my flies. I found EZ-Shape sparkle Body (aka: frabric paint) The pearl dries clear with sparckle in it, and you don't have to mix it. Also no rotating, I just hang the flies on some bead chain.NO MESS and NO FUSS !! Comes in all kinds of flavors er I mean colors. TRY some you will like it.

[Jim Miller]

Devcon 5 minute.......and you can find it at Walmart!
It does yellow if subjected to sunlight. I keep my epoxy patterns out of the direct sunlight when not fishing.

Have not tried Softex or EZ shape.....but it sounds like a great product. Anyone know what the "Craft/fabric Store" variety name is?
You can find all types of usable products at the local "Craft/fabric Store"!

Also Beg, Borrow or Steal a copy of "Pop Fleyes" by Bob Popovics. (the bible for epoxy tying)

[bluefishercat]

Just go to your favorite craft store and ask for fabric paint. The containers look identical. The stuff looks the same. it doe'snt dissolve in water. It's a buck a bottle. I use it to make eyes and don't think it will hold up to a bluefish like epoxy if you tried to use it to make surf candies.
Pete

[crashfromboston]

i have used devcon 5 min and 30 min formulas, and also have
used softex (only if the devcon did not cure completely) .
i may try flexcoat sometime in the future, i built my drying wheel out of a paint tint mixing motor from a small hardware store forced out by home depot. i screwed the motor onto
a piece of scrap aluminum sheeting and attached a pulley wheel on the front which i put a foam wheel (found in fake plant area of walmart, cheap and holds about 50 flys .

also i got a solid state speed control to change the speed of the motor, from 33rpm to as low as 2 rpm.. not very loud at all..

[LandlockedinMI]

Devcon 5 minute rocks. BUT be sure it is not old stock. I recently bought some that would dry cloudy w/ miilions of small bubbles in it. Turns out it was over a year old and no matter would would cloud up.


I bought a new set and the difference is massive. Very clear and no bubbles at all.

What a difference.

[PhilDKreal]

I've been using the Devcon 5-minute and I like the results, but I think this winter I may try a drying wheel and thirty minute epoxy so I can do a bunch of flies at one time.

One thing I have noticed with 5-minute is that you have to be careful how you mix it. If you go too fast you get bubbles all of which may not rise and come out. But, if you take your time and stir, avoiding the tendency to "fold" the 2 components over each other, you will get virtually zero bubbles.

I have only used Devcon so far, so I have nothing to compare it to really.

I also use softex which is a great product but not a interchangeable with epoxy. I think it has a different application. I like to use it over clouser eyes

[pig pen]

If you use Devcons 2 Ton 5-Min epoxy you will find that it won't yellow. Can be found at most hardware stores and Wal-Mart as well. Hope this helps