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Thread: making your own welded loop on fly line

  1. #1
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    Default making your own welded loop on fly line

    i'm no pro and this was my fourth attempt. my first one landed in failure, burnt a hole through the heat shrink and restarted. the second went quite well but there were two little imperfections (not completed welded/rounded). the second attempt was also tested with the electronic scale, it busted at 7.1kg, not along the weld but about 1cm below the weld on the main line. third time went very well, almost perfect weld through out it's length and was test with the scale, push to 6.8kg and did not push further. today was the fourth time to share with those interested. by the way i got all this off you tube.
    tools:
    - candle, dont have a heat gun, if you do you'll need a funnel/nozzel of some sorts to bring the heat into a small area
    - lighter or matches for the candle
    - scissors, thin sharp and pointy, similar to fly tying scissors
    - a sharp blade or razor
    - heat shrink, here, the transparent one will only do. you need to see the weld forming or the plastic coating melting. i found this product after
    a long trip to electrical shops, hardwares even specialised electronics repair shops, only to find it tackle stores that specialise in specimen carping, thanks to son for the tip please see pic below.
    -lastly you fly line, here i'm not sure if it will work on any line. i say this because of other lines i have seem to be stiffer or harder in material, but i would suggest testing first on the other end of the line before commencing at the head of your line. also, your line must have a braid core, maybe other seasoned anglers here can confirm this.
    Randburg-20170405-00435.jpg

  2. #2
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    Default

    first thing to do is cut or slice a taper at the end of line, here i only sliced through half of the thickness of the line and only about 5mm long
    Randburg-20170405-00436.jpg

  3. #3
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    cut a lenght of heat shrink, however long your is going to be cut an additional 1cm on either side, here my weld is 3cm long and i cut a 5cm long tube
    Randburg-20170405-00437.jpg

  4. #4
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    insert the line through the tube to the other side
    Randburg-20170405-00438.jpg

  5. #5
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    grab the end of the fly line and insert it back into the tube to the length of weld
    Randburg-20170405-00439.jpg

  6. #6
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    carefully push the the loop (final or required loop size) into the tube to protect it from the heat
    Randburg-20170405-00440.jpg

  7. #7
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    light the candle
    Randburg-20170405-00441.jpg

  8. #8
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    at this point double check the sliced tapered end is facing down onto the line, if not you can easily adjust by rolling it between your fingers (thumb and index) while it is in the tube or by rolling the fly line on the other end
    Randburg-20170405-00442.jpg

  9. #9
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    start by shrinking the tube around the end of the fly line, this will secure the tapered end in place. do not place the tube directly over the flame, there is just to much heat and you'll easily burn both the line and tube, rather work on the side of the flame. also roll both ends of the tube with your pinchers (thumb and index) for an even heat distribution all round, once you notice the tube shrink stop to check quickly if the taper end is still in place, if not, pinch the tube and roll to adjust, remember this is only possible by shrinking the tube enough to allow adjustments, once happy proceed to heat shrink the end of the fly line tight to secure. alomst forgot to mention, because i was using a candle i hade to close the window and door to prevent any draft from movint the flame, also try not to breath onto the flame.
    Randburg-20170405-00443.jpg
    Last edited by dollar; 06-04-17 at 12:27 AM.

  10. #10
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    now proceed to shrink the tube all the way to the where the loop will be
    Attachment 26243

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