Paint brush tails

[Larry L]

I've seen the suggestion to use paint brush fibers as cheap "May Fly Tails"

This seems like a great idea, but before I tie up 800 flies <g> are there
any problems with this? I specifically notice that the brushes I grabbed
from the barn seem to have stiffer fibers than "micro fibbits" and I wonder
about them making flies poor hookers ??

[sandy]

Mirofibettes *are* paint brush bristles.
They're made in Japan for fancy art brushes,
not exterior wall painting.

The US distributor used to live in the Boston area.
His name (used to be) Mr. Usui.
Don't know if he's still the guy or not.

--
/* Sandy Pittendrigh >--oO0>
** http://montana-riverboats.com
*/

[vincent p. norris]

>I've seen the suggestion to use paint brush fibers as cheap "May Fly Tails"

> I specifically notice that the brushes I grabbed

>from the barn seem to have stiffer fibers than "micro fibbits" and I wonder
>about them making flies poor hookers ??

The correct spelling is "Microfibetts." I mention this not to be a
critical snot, but to make the point they are named for, and by, John
Betts--MicrofiBETTS, get it?

Some years ago I read an article in which John Betts said he got the
idea for Microfibetts after making tails from paint brushes for his
own use. I infer there's little or no difference between brush
bristles and Microfibetts.

But you gotta use (at least in most cases) bristles from ARTIST'S
brushes, not house-painter's brushes.

They are kind of expensive, but I watched the Michael's (craft store)
ads in the local paper until I spotted a half-price sale on artist's
brushes. I bought three--white, tan, and darker brown bristles--for
about twelve or fifteen bucks. I have a two-lifetime supply of tails.

vince

[Larry L]

"vincent p. norris" <vp...@psu.edu> wrote

> But you gotta use (at least in most cases) bristles from ARTIST'S
> brushes, not house-painter's brushes.
>

and

"sandy" <salmo...@slowtorture.spammers.com> wrote

> Mirofibettes *are* paint brush bristles.
> They're made in Japan for fancy art brushes,
> not exterior wall painting.
>

I'll look at artist's brushes ... it was house painting brushes that caused
me to question the idea. I ran out of the fibers packaged for fly tying and
went to the barn to look at brushes with the idea of saving some $3.10/gal
diesel ... its a 70 mile round trip to a fly shop, ..... more than the
actual cost of Mr Bett's bits.

...thanks, gents