Posted on June 25 2015
There’s a lot of different fly tying tools out there, but if you’ve spent any time at all hunched over the tying vise, odds are you own a bodkin or two. You know, that little needle like tool.
The bodkin might be the simplest tool of all time, but nonetheless its pretty handy for everything from teasing out dubbing fibers to applying head cement or lacquers.
However, it doesn’t take long for a bodkin to become caked up with glue, and one drop on a tile floor renders it about half as useful.
So, today we present you with a cheap and easy tip, used by many tyers, to make sure your bodkin is always in top shape.
Cheap and Easy Bodkin Cleaner in 3 Steps
1. Find a Film Canister. Nowadays, this is probably the most difficult step..
2. Lightly Pack Film Canister with Steel Wool. Just enough that the steel wool fills the canister, but not so much that it is tightly compressed.
3. Poke Your Bodkin Through The Center of the Cover.
Now, after each use, by housing your bodkin in the canister, any excess glue will be left behind by the steel wool, leaving your bodkin nice and clean. Plus, the sharp tip is always protected, making for a great way to travel with your tying tools as well.
