Head cement

Greenbuttskunk

Greenbuttskunk

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What is the best UV cure head cement? I tie steelhead tubes a lot. What are you guys using. Some products are pretty expensive, and when I get away from the vise for a while, it sucks if products cure hard, or the nozzles on bottles cure…
Thanks
 
I like Solarez Bone Dry. I’ve had my current bottle for years and it’s never dried out. If it gets a bit thick due to being cold or the brush gets funky, you can zap the bottle in the microwave. I’ve never had to do so.
Note, some folks have had allergic reactions to UV cures, but I’ve used multiple product brands and never have.
SF
 
In SoCal we have "hobby Lobby." A UV resin needs to be clear, not stink, cure not sticky. Most craft places are women dominated and women complain when they don't like something. Get your UV resin from there.
 

Are you paying too much for UV Resin? - Part 1

Whenever I started using UV resins years ago for fly tying I naturally gravitated to products from brands found in fly shops and online fly fishing retailers—Loon, Gulff, Deer Creek, Solarez, etc. Until I really learned how to use UV resins properly, I experienced all the shortcomings we see...
www.theflyfishingforum.com www.theflyfishingforum.com
 
@Greenbuttskunk,
I was gonna go @Mike Cline route but I have found I am allergic to the Solarez Bone Dry UV Resin. I think after three years of using this, my body said no more. Total Drag. I love the product and the end result.

@Zak turned me onto Sally Hansen Hard As Nails using multiple coats. This seems to be my solution. The Chironomid's tied with SHHAN look to me, to be just as good, as my old fave, Solarez Bone Dry. It just takes 12 hours between coats to cure and 4 coats seems to be the ticket.

Another option discussed in one of these threads, was the use of a UV Cure nail drying assembly used by the Cosmetics industry. You stick your hand into the cure light and in moments your UV Nails are done. This way multiple flies could be completed in no time at all.

Good luck in your search.

Happy 2026

Bob
 
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@Greenbuttskunk,

For me it was red, itchy skin after the last 3 or 4 tying sessions. The turning point for me, came after a 3 hour tying spree. The red, itchy skin oozed fluid, then scabbed up once that stopped, which after a full day of that unpleasantness.

Called it good.

Like I said. Total drag as I dug the finished product.

Happy 2026.

Bob
 
That sounds pretty awful. Sorry. I knew it could be serious. Still, I couldn’t resist. It’s my smart ass nature.
 
Greenbuttskunk said:
What is the best UV cure head cement? I tie steelhead tubes a lot. What are you guys using. Some products are pretty expensive, and when I get away from the vise for a while, it sucks if products cure hard, or the nozzles on bottles cure…
Thanks
Click to expand...
Another suggestion and how it do mine, i use KISS, brushed on thread just prior to the last few wraps then whip finish. Set fly aside, tie next fly, repeat. Then when I am all done tying I will put a single coat of SHHAN each head. Never had a head come unraveled even if the Sally's gets chewed off.

I love the brush in the KISS and it's basically identical to superglue. Just my 0.02

Screenshot_20251228_214148_Brave~2.jpg
 
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