UV LIGHT-CURED RESIN TIPS. Fly tying UV Resins

UV LIGHT-CURED RESIN TIPS Fly tying UV Resins

UV LIGHT-CURED RESIN TIPS What are UV resins? Hardens on exposure to UV light Products originate in Dental, Electronics & Beauty Supply industry. Generally replacing Epoxy in tying.

UV LIGHT-CURED RESIN TIPS Advantages compared to Epoxy? Can be cured hard in seconds. Can set crystal clear, compared to epoxy which often yellows. Fewer environmental issues.

UV LIGHT-CURED RESIN TIPS Disadvantages? Generally expensive. Requires health precautions to guard against skin allergies and vision damage. Poor availability to fly tiers. Incomplete UV cure is root of most problems. Tackiness and residue are common.

UV LIGHT-CURED RESIN TIPS Recommendations Premium uses: Deer Creek Diamond Hard (UK product) Everyday use: Loon UV Knotsense & Clear Fly Finish (US products) Knotsense and Clear Fly Finish are the same product. Also UV Thick and UV Thin have been introduced by Loon.

UV LIGHT-CURED RESIN TIPS Recommendations Advantages: Both brands respond the to same wavelength UV light 395nm UV Knotsense and UV Clear Fly Finish are Best Buys. Knotsense is commonly available in fly shops. UV Clear Fly Finish contains 4X the quantity of the other types, at a price around that of a small bottle from a UK source.

UV LIGHT-CURED RESIN TIPS Recommendations 21-LED UV Flashlight 395nm wavelength (Matching correct wavelength to resin is important!) These lights are commonly available on ebay for $9. More expensive lights are available, but are not necessary for effective operation.

BASIC UV RESIN TOOLS Recommended tools: 21-LED Flashlight 395nm wavelength Microbrushes - fine Alcohol Hand Sanitizer (for skin and tools cleanup) Optional and recommended safety precautions: UV blocking sunglasses Nitrile gloves

THE BEDSPRING BUG Basic Starter UV Resin Bug Materials needed: Hook of choice. (Daiichi 1150 #8 shown) Transparent thread: Coats Transparent Polyester Undercolor thread: a Fluorescent Yellow Green Metal beads of your choice Wire color of your choice: (Copper brassie wire shown)

UV RESIN WORK SAFETY RULES Do not look directly at the UV light. Avoid getting the resin on your fingers. Keep resin away from mouth and eyes. Clean resin off skin and tools with Alcohol Hand Sanitizer ASAP.

Slip optional bead on hook, bind copper wire to shank with thread wraps.

Wind thread to front of hook, cover the shank thoroughly with color. This is your underbody.

Tie in second bobbin containing Transparent thread. Bobbin holder w/ Transparent Thread

Wrap colored thread back up to front of hook. Whip finish and cut thread.

Only thread remaining is the transparent thread on its bobbin holder.

Wrap transparent thread densely to volume and shape desired.

Tie off head, whip finish. Cut transparent thread.

Squeeze resin onto a Microbrush

Coat body thoroughly on all sides with resin.

Use UV flashlight for at least 30 seconds total on all sides of fly.

Wrap wire forward neatly and secure behind the bead.

Trim off tag of wire.

Coat with resin, set with UV light.

This is a simple beadhead grub version.

This one adds peacock herl, hackle fibers, etc. Add accents with art marker.

Using fluorescent thread makes the body UV light reactive.

Other variations using the same techniques.

UV RESIN CURING TIPS Keep layers thin, and use more layers. Big globs of resin tend to yellow when hardened due to too high a heat produced. Use the sun (outdoors, not indoors) to provide the best setting of the resin. Hold the UV light steady, don t wave it around. Hold the light close to the fly. Resin cures after light exposure (called shadow cure ). Set the fly aside and give it time. Work on several flies at once.

Check out: UV Resin Presentation Notes: http://flyfoundry.com/mindmaps/-mindmap_uv_resin.html A Flash viewer is required...most web browsers have this. These notes do not have all the information, but are good refreshers about the topics covered in the workshops. VIEWING TIPS Click on nodes that have a circle to reveal more information. Click on nodes again to hide information Click & drag with mouse button down to move around screen. Arrow keys can also be used to move around screen. Control-Mouse button combination reveals a menu. unfold all from node shows all the information in the map Major menu is at the top of the screen in the grey circles. Middle grey button FIT resizes everything to fit on screen. Increase and Shrink grey buttons enlarge and reduce view.