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[font "Poor Richard"][green][size 3][Tongue]Needless to say that I am relatively new to the fly tying game. Seems like just about every day I learn something new. After tying a fly I usually slip a piece of mono through the eye prior to applying head cement or epoxy to keep the eye clean. After application of the cement I will floss the eye with the mono. What did I learn. Well never thought of checking the eye before tying. Today I found the eye clogged after I finished tying. Couldn't break through with a dubbing needle or a pin held with my pliers. Finally got out my Dremel drill and cleared the eye using a needle.[/size][/green][/font]
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So what was clogging it?
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[center][font "Poor Richard"][green][size 3]Some type of milky film. I mean it was hard stuff to break through.[/size][/green][/font][/center]
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A piece of peacock herl works well for clearing out an eye of a hook. The irregular surfaces of the herl works well to break the surface tention and absorb the glue.
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[cool][font "Poor Richard"][green][size 3]Thanks Scruffy_Fly but that wouldn't have worked since I couldn't initially push a needle or dubbing needle through. Most of the time I will feed a thin line of yarn though the eye with a floss treader. I leave the yarn in place until I finish applying head cement.[/size][/green][/font]
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DR,
Try the leftover pieces of the stiffer end of the herl. You may find it slightly easier than using the thread / yarn combination.
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