How to Make a Dubbing Block

When you tie many of the same type of fly over and over, the process of adding dubbing to the thread for each bug grows tedious. That's why high-volume tiers make dubbing brushes with a dubbing block. The brush is just a strand of fine wire with dubbing twisted into it. You tie the brush in where you need dubbing on your fly, then tie it off and cut the brush when you are done. Make your own dubbing block to eliminate the need to dub the thread for each fly you make.

Things You'll Need

  • Foot-long section of 1-by-6 board
  • Four 2-inch finishing nails
  • Ruler
  • Hammer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Drive a 2-inch finishing nail into the top-left corner of the board, 1 inch from the top and 1 inch from the side. Leave about two-thirds of the nail sticking out of the board.

    • 2

      Drive another nail into the top-right corner, 1 inch from the top and 1 inch from the side. Leave two-thirds of the nail sticking out of the board.

    • 3

      Drive a nail into the board perfectly between the first two nails, leaving about two-thirds of the nail sticking out.

    • 4

      Hammer another nail into the bottom of the board, about 1 inch in from the side and leaving about half of the nail sticking out. This nail goes into the opposite end of the board from the nails, but into the narrow part of the board where the end grain shows. Orient your dubbing block so that the three nails in a row point up and the last nail hangs over the edge of a desk and start making dubbing brushes.