Head Cement

Snook712 · Post by **Snook712** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:54 am

I have finally started tying and am having fun. It is a good thing since it was 24 degrees this morning in the big bend.

I have been using some Hard as Nails clear nail polish confiscated from Mrs. Snook712 for head cement and it seems to work OK. What are you using for head cement and does it help to use "real" cement rather than nail polish. I am mainly using it to firm up yarn wraps on crabs flies and on thread wraps on heads.

I will get some photos of the first flies to post.

John · Post by **John** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:06 am

I use hard as nails on mine.

BearsFan · Post by **BearsFan** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:26 am

John wrote:I use hard as nails on mine.

I believe he was talking about flies.

ozmo · Post by **ozmo** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:27 am

I've used Sally's product for quite some time and have never had a problem. It even holds up to all the barracuda that choose to bite my flies when I'm fishing for something else.

Another great adhesive is Fletch-Tite. It's an epoxy for securing fletching to arrows. Absolutely amazing for gluing plastic eyes onto your flies. One time I had a fly (freshwater in the glades) that had survived well over a dozen cichlids, oscars & bass. The actual eyes had fallen off but their silver backings were still stuck on. Good stuff.

Chief1600 · Post by **Chief1600** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:27 am

I usually use a clear quick drying polish as a first coat and then finish with hard as nails for a smooth, hard top coat. Used to use "real" head cement but don't remember what it was.

bonefishwhisperer · Post by **bonefishwhisperer** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 1:48 pm

super glue for me...nothing is stronger or faster

dunfly · Post by **dunfly** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:31 pm

Sally Hanson's Hard as Nails here too. There is nothing better or easier.

mauso1 · Post by **mauso1** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:49 pm

super glue for me...nothing is stronger or faster

Same here but coat after with hard as nails for gloss.

GILs_GONE_WILD · Post by **GILs_GONE_WILD** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:13 pm

In addition to Sally Hanson's Hard as Nails clear, I use Cover Girl "Boundless Colors" and Wet-N-Wild "Wild Shine". Gold glitter in one, silver glitter in the other ... cool stuff.

Chief1600 · Post by **Chief1600** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:41 pm

GILs_GONE_WILD wrote:In addition to Sally Hanson's Hard as Nails clear, I use Cover Girl "Boundless Colors" and Wet-N-Wild "Wild Shine". Gold glitter in one, silver glitter in the other ... cool stuff.

Haven't tried any of the glitters, I do occasionally use the other colors to add eyes and details.

ozmo · Post by **ozmo** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:39 pm

GILs_GONE_WILD wrote:In addition to Sally Hanson's Hard as Nails clear, I use Cover Girl "Boundless Colors" and Wet-N-Wild "Wild Shine". Gold glitter in one, silver glitter in the other ... cool stuff.

And I can confirm Gil looks very pretty when he uses this. He even coordinates the glitter with his evening gown.

pending name change for Gil to GILs_GONE_WET-N-WILD

GILs_GONE_WILD · Post by **GILs_GONE_WILD** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:45 pm

Jealous!? :P

bonefishwhisperer · Post by **bonefishwhisperer** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:53 pm

GILs_GONE_WILD wrote:In addition to Sally Hanson's Hard as Nails clear, I use Cover Girl "Boundless Colors" and Wet-N-Wild "Wild Shine". Gold glitter in one, silver glitter in the other ... cool stuff.

I like the sound of that...its gotta be good scenery to go shopping for it if you can get past the stares

ozmo · Post by **ozmo** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 7:46 pm

GILs_GONE_WILD wrote:Jealous!? :P

Don't you know it! I can never find just the right shade to match my evening gown.

BFW - I use various colored nail polishes to paint jig heads (no really, honest). Of course I never fish with them. Strictly fly rods for me.

. I'm also a person of large stature.

But I get some pretty interesting looks when I forget where I am and ask the sales clerks if they have anything that's closer to chartreuse.

Then I get the look and realize - big guy, in the nail polish department, asking for weird colors... hmmm.... oh can I show you my crawlspace as well?

And the scenery - sometimes good. Sometimes not so good.

Chief1600 · Post by **Chief1600** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:13 pm

Kids always pick on me about shopping for nail polish.

Now, to the important stuff,
Tonight I found something I hadn't noticed before, Sally Hansen Insta Dri. Anyone ever used it? The only thing I don't like about Hard As Nails is it takes so long to dry between coats. The bottle says wait two minutes,apply a coat and it dries to the touch in 30 seconds. It doesn't say if it's made to use with Hard As Nails.

Uncle Ji · Post by **Uncle Ji** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 8:28 am

I too use a medium viscosity Cyanoacrylate adhesive (the runny stuff glues my fingers together before I notice), then top off with NYC Long Wearing Nail Enamel in clear. Sometimes I'll even mix up a batch of 5 minute epoxy when I feel energetic.