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Using Epoxy - Fly Tying Tutorial

Article and photos by Blake Davis

While there are many epoxy kits available for fly tiers, I prefer to assemble my own materials as they are quite cheap and easy to obtain. The following list includes tools to mix, apply, and cure epoxy, though you can adapt your method to use whatever is on hand. Here is what you will need: two-part epoxy product index cards or Post-it notes for mixing bodkin or similar tool for mixing and applying epoxy fly drying/turning wheel Most epoxy is rated by its working time, or the amount of time you have to manipulate the mixed epoxy as it cures and becomes thicker. As it applies to fly tying, this working time is almost always shorter than advertised, and the only way to gauge how long it takes for an epoxy to cure is to mix a small batch. Most epoxies fully cure overnight.

Mixing Epoxy (Steps 1 to 5)

Step 1: Begin by labeling the upper corner of your index card or paper slip. If you are making multiple batches, this will help you monitor which epoxy batches have cured. Make sure to have your bobbin, toothpick, or other mixing implement close at hand and a clear workspace.

Step 2: Squeeze out equal portions of the two epoxy resins, each amount approximately the size of a quarter. Unless otherwise indicated in the instructions that accompany your epoxy, most epoxies use a fifty-fifty ratio of two resins that react to form a durable plastic polymer.

One of these resins typically has a yellow hue and a slightly thinner consistency, while the other tends to be clearer and thicker. To ensure equal portions of each, some tiers pre-measure the resins in small plastic cups. I prefer to eyeball each amount, taking into account each resin has a different consistency.

While you can mix less epoxy than is shown, using a larger amount gives you a greater margin for error. Essentially, your proportions can be off by a fair amount but the epoxy will still cure properly, which is not necessarily true when starting with smaller amounts.

Step 3: Using a bodkin or other mixing implement, begin moving the epoxy resin from the outside of the epoxy "pool" into the center (Note: Toothpicks, coffee straws or stirrers, and other disposable mixing tools are often not a good choice, as they can break, or are too short to work with, which can end up creating a mess. Using a dedicated bodkin with a strong handle will help make this job much easier. Just remember to clean this tool well by wiping it with a paper towel or small rag each time you're finished mixing & applying a batch of epoxy). Work your way around the outer edge and continue pushing resin toward the center, being careful not to stir in air bubbles by working too quickly.

Step 4: After about half a minute of pushing the resin into the center, begin moving the bodkin in a circular pattern, again moving slowly to avoid air bubbles. If you are careful, you will need to spend no more than an additional minute mixing. As the resins mix and begin to react, the epoxy mixture will become cloudy. This is temporary and the epoxy with soon clarify.

Step 5: After a maximum of two minutes mixing, your epoxy should be ready to apply. There should be no streaks caused by unmixed resins, and the cloudiness that once appeared should no longer be apparent. As the epoxy cures, you will notice the material near the center of the pool solidifies more quickly than the edges. Keep this in mind later when you are applying the epoxy, as the material from the center of the epoxy pool is almost always better mixed.