Making Dubbing for Fly Tying #1 (Rabbit Hides, Shearing, Blending)

[@wayneoliver5987]

Thanks again. You are saving a lot of people lots of money

[@calvintaylor4089]

Thank's for taking your time to share this awesome video and your knowledge!!!!!

[@chrismihulka-nwfishingstuf3852]

My pleasure!

[@biologistangler7901]

I plan on making my own dubbing from squirrel hides I get from hunting this year. Is it best to tan the hides first to get them dried before shearing off the fur, or can you just shear it right off the raw hide? Also, can you shear the fur at different lengths for different dubbing textures? In other words, shear it with the clippers further away from the hide to first cut off the longer, spikier guard hairs, then cut lower to get the fuzzier underfur. I thought it would make sense to separate the two types if you can, using the guard hairs more for nymphs and the underfur for dry flies. What is your experience with this?

[@chrismihulka-nwfishingstuf3852]

Tanning the hide is a waste of time and money because it only affects the hide and not the hair. Just stretch the hide, fur up, on a board, tack the corners to the board, and shear the fur. Cutting the fur off the hide with two different lengths sounds good, but will not work. The guard hairs from the first cut will be too short to use, and the second cut close to the hide will have all the stubby pieces left in it from the first cut. My suggestion is shear, wash and blend fur that you want to use for dries and small stuff, and tan a couple hides to use for nymphs when you want the guard hairs in the pattern. Thanks for watching. Also, the fur will dye extremely well.

[@judgetoogood1033]

Awesome

[@harryjoesather6539]

THANKS FOR THE TIPS

[@chrismihulka-nwfishingstuf3852]

You bet!

[@PiscatorFlies]

Thanks for the great tips on the dubbing. Do you have a good online source for full pelts?

[@davidgray708]

Did you ever find information on dying pelts? I am looking for the same information and having difficulties in finding reliable information that I trust like I would Chris.

[@master.187.]

How do we get different colors

[@joeduca8582]

Thanks Chris, I didn't realize pet clippers were different from barber clippers. Have you ever used those little "dubbing rakes" that you pull (rake) through the fur on the hide? Is your helper Blue, the PWD from the hair trim vid? They're wonderful dogs. Our local bait/tackle/fly shop had one, very lovable even tempered dogs. We have Labs but I've seen the PWD work at some retriever clubs training sessions. Yeah the dog hair makes cool dubbing, I get mine from the dryer lint trap from washing their bedding. Even dog tron depending on the bedding :o) Thanks for all the tips, happy tying!

[@chrismihulka-nwfishingstuf3852]

The dubbing rakes are OK if you only want the longer, coarser fibers from a hide. They tend to leave behind the smaller finer fur that really helps bind dubbing together.

[@joeduca8582]

@@chrismihulka-nwfishingstuf3852 ok, thanks.

[@master.187.]

I rais rabbits for a food source and i cure my fures with a salt cure. I have been looking for a way to sell them and i thi k this will work for me. Guy at bass pro told me about dubbing.

[@catonfarm9757]

What blade is on those clippers? I can’t find one to cut like that

[@chrismihulka-nwfishingstuf3852]

They are standard ones from Cyrico. See the listed item in the "Show More" area below the video description.

[@brianlane9534]

I was looking for a how to make dubbing vid. I have an old men's black mink hat I found in somebody's garage. I think it's mink, fancy label from bloomingdales fine furs, must be 50 years old. Fur is very fine and dense about 1/2" long. Looking closely I can see some fine white wisps of hair scattered among the black. I'm almost out of black. Do I need to get me an animal clipper? I was thinking about just shaving it off. Will that work? Thank you.

[@chrismihulka-nwfishingstuf3852]

The hair sounds a bit long for mink. Men's hats were traditionally made from beaver and dyed black. If the hat is going to be destroyed anyway, just snip off some hair with fine scissors and try it on a fly. If it works, shave the rest off with a single edge razor blade and have some fun!

[@brianlane9534]

@@chrismihulka-nwfishingstuf3852 I used a straight forceps and fine scissors to cut some. Mixed it in plastic bag using can of air. It's really fine and slippery. Once I splurge and get some wax... But I was able to make something black and bushy, weighted and wrapped with red wire with a red tag of poly yarn, and woodcock soft hackle collar. I attempted my first dubbing loop - free hand. I carded the fibers and laid them in a 2.5" length, they stayed together but it was a mess. I didn't care and spun it up. Worked well, not great, but I'll figure it out. Would be better for touch-dubbing when I get wax. Thanks for your videos.

[@bugpower18t]

my daughter has a white rabbit that sheds....can I use the shedded hair or does it have to be shaved?

[@chrismihulka-nwfishingstuf3852]

Get the rabbit used to being brushed and you will have a lifetime supply. When it sheds in the spring is when the most will come off.

[@jmyd83]

👍🏻