lethfisher Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Anyone know where you can get plastic tubing for tube flies? Seems a bit steep at a fly shop for a bit of tube. Tubes are usually around 1/16" inner diam and 1/8" outer diam... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headscan Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 I remember reading about people using brake line tubing or something similar before. Could possibly try hobby shops as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agbff Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 q-tips and bic ball point pens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 420FLYFISHIN Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 princes auto or PM hobby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lethfisher Posted February 5, 2010 Author Share Posted February 5, 2010 Awesome! Thanks for all the tips, I have some Q-tips already so I am good to go! Do you guys put a hook keeper tube on the end of q-tips as well? Are those necessary for the fly to function properly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDone Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Air-Brake tubing from any auto parts store, I bought 10' for $7.00, thats about 50 tubes give or take depending on size. Another option I use is brass and aluminum tubing from your local hobby shop, I bought a small tubing cutter and flaring tool to make the tubes. Colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headscan Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Colin, I'm guessing you're using a regular tube cutter but what exactly is the flaring tool? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lethfisher Posted February 5, 2010 Author Share Posted February 5, 2010 Marbou something or other on a cue tip tube! whoop whoop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lethfisher Posted February 5, 2010 Author Share Posted February 5, 2010 Heres my frankentruder lol I will definitely fish this guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 420FLYFISHIN Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 break flare tool. Its fold the end of the tube in on its self and flares it out. Used on break lines into the master cylinder and other connections Those tubes looks great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjjones11 Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 I'm a little hazardous on going for a Qtip as a plastic tube, due to the fact that they will shatter if you freeze them and then throw a snap-t Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DutchDryfly Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Also the sharp edges of Qtips Will cut your tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverDoctor Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Qtips are a good way to experiment before moving to proper tubes. You can melt the ends slightly to stop the risk of cutting the line. In the end proper tube components are really the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 420FLYFISHIN Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 hold on SilverDoc, are you saying that the company that makes my truck airlines doesnt have fly fishremen in mind when they make their product? lol All jokes aside it is air line from Princes Auto that we use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverDoctor Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 hold on SilverDoc, are you saying that the company that makes my truck airlines doesnt have fly fishremen in mind when they make their product? lol All jokes aside it is air line from Princes Auto that we use. Actually that does work great but the metal components are better from tube companies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agbff Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 I'm a little hazardous on going for a Qtip as a plastic tube, due to the fact that they will shatter if you freeze them and then throw a snap-t You must have one hell of a snap t... I've fished them a handful of times and never ran into any problems. But I can definetly agree with the doc, proper tubes would be best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjjones11 Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 a handful isn't much. It does happens not all the time, but enough to make me think twice. I tie on metal tubes now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiasson Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 A guy at a fly shop in Halifax today told me that he uses plastic Qtips for all his unweighted tube flies (your not allowed to fish for Salmon in NS with a weighted fly). Just cut to length and flare the ends in the blue part of a lighter flame. He also said that straight eyed Mustad #8s work great with Qtip tubes without a need for a hook keeper tube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatsleapfishrepeat Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 I just add a bead onto my rigging to prevent wear and the hook entering the tube as well as melt the ends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 420FLYFISHIN Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 Jay, im with you. I fish a TON in winter and if their is a chance of the tube shattering it will happen in this season. I also dont want to see 3 cone heads, a underbody weight and 45minuites+ of my time sink to the bottom with out a fight. I am also having a problem with Eumer cone heads not fitting right on the tubes i have (got from fly fish show last year). These buggers are hard to slide down because they are a bit undersized (imo) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agbff Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 A handful isn't a lot, but enough to have confidence that my fly isn't going to explode due to a quick change of direction in the cast Tie em the way ya tie em, but i have a hard time believing that a q-tip would shatter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjjones11 Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 they shatter if you give them a chance to freeze, such as walking from hole to hole in below zero temp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 420FLYFISHIN Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 just give one a bite next time your in the bathroom and see how it fractures and tears, but the fly shop/airline creases but does not rip open at the fold. They are def different plastics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxwell Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Jay, im with you. I fish a TON in winter and if their is a chance of the tube shattering it will happen in this season. I also dont want to see 3 cone heads, a underbody weight and 45minuites+ of my time sink to the bottom with out a fight. I am also having a problem with Eumer cone heads not fitting right on the tubes i have (got from fly fish show last year). These buggers are hard to slide down because they are a bit undersized (imo) they fit snug but dont jiggle aroud.. are u making sure the end of the tube isnt flared out before sliding it on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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