Tuffleye Question

[bobfishgerald]

I have been using Tuffleye and I like it. It is fairly easy to work with but almost all of the flies I have made seem to have a continuing problem with tackiness. They remain sticky even after a couple coatings of Sally Hansens. Does anyone else have this issue? I believe I am fully curing with the light but I wonder if that is it or something???

I would be grateful for any ideas.

[twick]

I had the same problem. I think I fixed it by:
a. using the Tuffleye finish after the core coat
b. using an alcohol swab to remove some of the tackiness
c. then using Hard as nails....
Let me know if this works for you, but if I recall correctly (I tried it last summer and have not tied with Tuffleye since), it worked for me...

[BN2FSH]

I had the same problem until I wiped the TF with alcohol and then coated with Sally Hansens.

[bobfishgerald]

Looks like alcohol swabs are the answer. I should have known. There are very few problems in life in which alcohol doesn't play some role in answering.
Thanks much!

[bobfishgerald]

Worked.
:)

[Toddzilla68]

Hey Bob,
I've been using Tuffleye for a while now. Unless you are going to be selling or displaying your flies, there really is no reason to top coat with Hard as nails or any other finish coat. Just clean it off with Alcohol as recommended by the manufacturer and that's it. The dullish finish that you see disappears when underwater. So the finish coat is unnecessary.
T.

p.s.
I had the same concerns when I first started using it and called them direct for these answers.

[PeteGray]

Tuffleye FLEX...the "next generation"...
'Slightly thicker consistency than the FINISH...thinner than the CORE...same BlueLight cure...
The biggest difference is the semi-soft gummie bear like final product which seems to be almost rubbery and shatter resistant...
No smell / No mixing / I like it...A LOT!
Here's a few PhlexPhlyz...'looks similar to others epoxy and Tuffleye kind'a candies except the crystal body is soft and 100% FLEX...
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/Phracas/IMG_7519-1.jpg
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/Phracas/IMG_7521.jpg
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/Phracas/IMG_7555.jpg

[Bluefish60657]

Has anyone tried out this alternative to Tuffleye? Looks like the same stuff and the whole kit (incl. blue light) is $37.

http://clearcuregoo.com/index.html

[bostoned]

That looks pretty interesting. Similar to the Loon product "Knot Sense" that is cured by UV light.

I don't think that the Tuffleye is cured by UV though, correct? So in that sense the Tuffleye might be better/safer to use in the long run.

But for 1/2 the price I too would like to see if anyone has any experience with it.

[Grassrat]

The Clear Cure Goo is some good stuff...I devoloped it over the course of the last two years. It's water clear and cures in about 4 seconds...and uses the safe spectrin of UV light. We should be getting some Vidio soon on the site.

If you hate epoxy and that keeps you from tying some flies..you'd really like the Goo...no mess, waste, and stays clear forever....and likly the shortest learning curve of any product like it..it realy is user friendly.

Fred "the Grassrat" Slann

[Buddy53]

I too am hooked on the Clear Cure Goo. I've been using it for over a year and a half and have never had any problems using it or been dissatisfied with the finish. Never heard complaints from other users.

[PeteGray]

FLEX...
[as in flexible]
'cures clear and won't shatter if you hit that pesky beach berm or bling the engine cowling or gelcoat...
'has the feel of firm softex or set silicone...without the toxic toluene odor...
My epoxy daze are few and far between...

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/Phracas/P9300256.jpg
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/Phracas/P9300263.jpg
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/Phracas/P9270252.jpg
I LOVE this stuff!

[PeteGray]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRLrNhPPBUo&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkZb-lBc5dY&feature=channel

Bob's a "black belt" and makes the tying process look easy [the sign of a master]...
My first attempt at this BobPop crustacean...lot's of subtle details need attention...
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/Phracas/PA040277.jpg
Here's another decapod insinuation that I've been playin' around with...
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/Phracas/PA040278.jpg

[Jason Blevins]

In the video Bob talks about the eyes with the tabs, does anyone know what company those are coming from? I couldn't hear it in the video.

[PeteGray]

I got small and medium tab eyes from Scott at the Bear's Den in Taunton, MA...

If you want it, he's got it...
If he doesn't have it, you probably don't really need it but he'll order it 'cause he's that kind'a guy...

[PeteGray]

FLEX applies nicely and precisely...it allows for precision targeting with minimal collateral damage...
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/Phracas/PA240346.jpg
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/Phracas/PA170335.jpg

[Onshore]

Nice looking flies, Pete. I'll have to give that stuff a try down here on my flies.

[PeteGray]

I LOVE THIS STUFF!...
'started with the FINISH and CORE... a comfortable learning curve and quite brilliant once you get past the tacky feel [removed with an alcohol wipe] and the clear polish last step ... the end product is an epoxy like somewhat brittle acrylic... just like epoxy, if you ding the hull, engine cowling, or rock berm a shatter/fracture is almost a "given" or at least a good bet...
After exploring the FLEX [cures much like set firm silicone], I'm [I]sold and won't be measuring/mixing/smelling epoxy any time soon [if ever]...
the tacky finish [the flux for follow-on applications] can be overcome with an alcohol rub down and the shiny aesthetic pretty look calls for an invite to Sally Hansen and the optional coat of clear Hard As Nails...
For best results I'll apply the FLEX as I go or in layers [rather than globing on a bunch as you might if you wanted to revisit your good old oozy sagging epoxy daze]... a quick zap with the superior quality Tuffleye AC powered blue light as I progress keeps things from "morphing"... The ability to "spot weld" has added new dimensions to my tying arsenal...
I'll finish with a 45 second blue light special burst to be sure the cure is complete...a rotary vise makes this easy and thorough...
There's another similar "system" out there that I personally consider of questionable science...I don't feel comfortable with the vague warnings and chemistry nor the quality of the battery operated curing light and the operating spectrum frequency...[to each their own...]
The fact that Tuffleye has been years in development, spearheaded by a dedicated dentist and medical professional grounded in safe scientific procedures, and has been highly endorsed by the Right Honourable Bob Popovics... this all has noteworthy relevance in my enthusiastic product recommendation...
Give FLEX a fair go with an open mind and you'll be on your way!
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/Phracas/IMG_7582.jpg
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/Phracas/IMG_7518.jpg
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/Phracas/IMG_7498.jpg
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/Phracas/P2160060.jpg
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/Phracas/P2050179a.jpg
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/Phracas/IMG_7576.jpg
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/Phracas/IMG_7577.jpg

[johnmauser]

I started using the clear cure goo this year, and I'll never try anything else. Nothing against the other brands, because I'm sure they're good too, but the goo has worked great for everything I've tried it on.