Once I got the little white plastic tool I have now I wondered how I EVER got
along without it! I think Flex-Coat makes it. I've spent hours using, shaping,
changing, different metal dental picks, cuticle pushers, etc. and always fall
back to my white plastic thread tool and my own thumb nails. I even bought
a box of 25 plastic thread tools just so I have one when I need it!

Thanks Colleen!!!

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

I have tried everything and the best tool I have found by far is a cuticle tool I found at Walgreens and Walmart for about 50 cents. It has a white plastic handle and a pink rubber top that looks like a little horse hoof. I think it is used to push cuticles back and the angle of the rubber makes it perfect for moving and packing the thread together. Most of all, it does not damage the thread at all. If you are intested it what this great tool looks like, let me know and I'll post a photo of it.

Rich Matranga
Folsom, California

#1 tool for adjusting or "pushing" threads is your thumbnail. But I also found a neat little tool at a local craft shop. It looks like a double-ended bodkin but the ends of each of the rods is a small smooth ball. One is half the size of the other but they are both small. Perfect for messing with individual threads - even "A" size - without risking cutting anything. Cost is about $3.50.

Uncle Russ

The thumbnail does not work well if you are tightly packing or moving a lot of threads in a butt wrap. I used to use my thumbnail, and it would get sore from moving threads the way I need to move them to get the wraps as tight as I get them. For guide wraps it's fine, for simple diamonds or chevrons where there aren't many crossover points locking threads, no problem. As soon as you start doing more complicated wraps (if that's what you're into, I think Steve Parks is and this is his question) you'll be looking for any of the otehr tools mentioned.

I agree with Billy. Thumb nails will not work on butt wraps. I have tried a handful of different things. The best thing I have used is the small flat head screw driver sets. I very rarely will nick and break a thread while pushing tight threads in a butt wrap but it would take a micro scope to notice it. For pushing thread toghether on guides, fingernails work but I will sometimes use the opposite side of a dulled razor or my flat heads. I am going to have to try the cuticle tool though.
Sincerely,
Dan Colville

You got it Billy!

I just realizied what that groove in my thumbnail was from!! It's exactly the same size as the diameter of the Rainshadow 3wt on the bench right now. I guess that's another vote for the always at hand thumnail. But I still use the little white plastic burnishing tool from Anglers.

I prefer a fresh razor blade...You get lots of them and they are cheap. No, just kidding. The little white tool and thumbnail..

Also if the day job gets grease under the nails so that also can be a problem.

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)