REVIEWS
"...a bobbin suitable...preeminently with true rotaries"
PAUL MARRINER
THE CANADIAN FLY FISHER
Paul Marriner is a publisher, author, the 1991 Gregory Clark Award winner, and a 17-time member of the Canadian Fly Fishing Team as well as its Captain from 1994-96 and again in 2000.
Full bio
Sales of true rotary fly-tying vises are strong, but if my observations are accurate, the number of tiers using their purchase's full capabilities is very small. One reason is the paucity of automatic bobbins, i.e., a bobbin with an integral spring that will rewind the thread after it has been pulled out. Until now, the only one I knew of required the thread be rewound on a special spool. Significantly, the patented
Ekich Bobbin from Flytying Enhancements needs no such preparation. Standard plastic or Styrofoam spools slip on and off the bobbin's spindle with ease and the bobbin feels very comfortable in the hand. Critical to successful operation is a precisely calibrated spring tension that will support the bobbin wherever placed without putting undue strain on even the finest threads. The designer, Canadian Faruk Ekich, calls this
a Constant Force Spring concept. Faruk has succeeded in producing a bobbin suitable for use with all vises, but preeminently with true rotaries.
Paul is the author of How to Choose & Use Fly-tying Thread, a book I consider indespensible - Faruk Ekich
"...my bobbin of choice while tying."
PRESTON SINGLETARY
FLYFISHING & TYING JOURNAL
Preston Singletary has fly fished for over 40 years and, for the past 10 years, has been an associate editor of Flyfishing & Tying Journal.
This bobbin automatically retracts to keep your working thread at a useable length; no more awkward efforts to manually wind excess thread back onto the spool while trying to maintain tension. The key to this bobbin's performance is a spring designed to provide a constant force of 33 g (1.1 ounces), enough to hold the weight of the bobbin and any standard spool of tying thread. Simply lifting the bobbin allows the spring to rewind the thread onto the spool to any
predetermined position. One of the advantages offered by this automatic bobbin is that it accepts any standard spool of tying thread and can be used with any weight of thread down to UNI's 17/0 Trico. The spool of thread is simply pressed onto the spindle, threaded through the tube and it's ready to go. The bobbin's weight, heavier than conventional bobbins, maintains more tension on the thread, making it easier to keep materials in place while tying. And its ergonomic design allows
it to be comfortably used in either the right or left hand.
The bobbin is available in two models: the Trout, with a 3/4-inch tube, or the Salmon with a 1-inch tube. Either model can be had with a choice of stainless-steel tube or ceramic insert. I've been impressed with its smoothness of operation and, while it took me a short while to become completely familiar with it, it has performed flawlessly and has become my bobbin of choice while tying.
"...the Cadillac of fly-tying bobbins."
DAVID KLAUSMEYER
FLY TYER MAGAZINE
Flytying Enhancements is offering the Ekich Automatic Bobbin ($80). This new tool is a tad pricey-as far as bobbins go-but boasts a long list of features. The Ekich Automatic Bobbin allows you to change
thread spools quicker, is ergonomically designed to be more comfortable, allows for precise and continuous thread tension, and automatically rewinds the thread when you lift the bobbin. The Ekich Automatic
Bobbin is machined out of aluminum, brass, and stainless steel, and just might be the Cadillac of fly-tying bobbins. For more information, go to www.ekichbobbin.com.
"...you need to take a serious look at the Ekich Bobbin."
FLY ANGLERS ONLINE
FAOL.COM
Ask any veteran fly tyer what is the one most important thing about tying good flies and you likely will hear, "thread control."
Ask the beginning fly tyer what his major problem learning to tie is and you will likely hear, "thread control."
The Ekich Automatic Bobbin solves both problems - and is perfect for tying on true rotary vises as well.
Rotary Vises present problems of their own. Quoting a Gear and Gadgets Review by Paul Marriner in the Canadian Fly Fisher, " Sales of true rotary fly tying vises are strong, but if my observations are accurate the
number of tyers using their purchase's full capabilities is very small.
The reason? According to Paul, "...the paucity of automatic bobbins ie., a bobbin with an intergral spring that will rewind the thread after it has been pulled out. Until now, the only one I knew required the thread be rewound on a special spool. Significantly, the patented Ekich Bobbin from Flytying Enhancements needs no such preparation. Standard plastic or Styrofoam spools slip on and off the bobbins spindel with ease..."
The Constant Force Spring
concept precisely calibrates the spring tension which will not only support the bobbin wherever it is placed, but it delivers desired thread properties such as uniform tension, flatness with even the finest threads such as UNI's 17/0 Trico.
If you are serious about your fly tying - or perhaps wish to get more out of your rotary vise, you need to take a serious look at the Ekich Bobbin. There are several options available, including your choice of ceramic insert or full stainless steel tubes in standard or custom tube lengths.
"Faruk Ekich ... the “Thread Geek”..."
ROSS PURNELL
FLYFISHERMAN.COM
The Ekich Automatic Bobbin ($90) is a spring-loaded bobbin that retracts or rewinds the thread as you move the tube closer to the hook. Other bobbins do this, but require you to load the thread onto a special spool. The Ekich bobbin fits all standard thread manufacturers’ spools. Faruk Ekich--who’s been called the “Thread Geek” on Internet forums--says the thread is the most important component of any fly and only a factory-wound spool can preserve qualities such as uniform tension and flatness.
The bobbin has a constant-force spring that
maintains tension on the thread whether the bobbin hangs 1 inch or 8 inches from the hook. As you move the bobbin tube toward the hook, it retracts the thread, maintaining tension and preventing slack. Increase tension by palming the spool as you would with a normal bobbin. The Ekich bobbin has only one hanger arm, leaving the opposite side of the spool open for easy palming.
The spindle’s easy-on, easy-off design allows you to slightly disengage the spool from the bobbin prior to cutting the thread--so the thread will not retract into the tube when you
cut it.
There are two models: the Salmon model has a 11/4” tube; the Trout model has a 3/4” tube. Both are available with a full stainless steel tube or with a ceramic insert. Ekich says ceramic is harder than steel, but does not conduct heat well, and the heat from friction can melt and fray fine nylon threads. He recommends a hardened stainless steel tube--that disperses heat quickly--for fine nylon thread and the ceramic insert only for heavier, more abrasive threads. For more information, visit automaticbobbin.com
"...a tool that saves time at the bench."
FLY FUSION MAGAZINE
FLYFUSIONMAG.COM
Fly tyers of all skill levels can appreciate a tool that saves time at the bench. The Ekich Automatic Bobbin was designed to provide enhanced thread control and to eliminate the need to manually rewind excess thread by using an internal spring. The construction of the bobbin incorporates a Constant Force Spring that balances the weight of the bobbin (33gr 1.1oz) with the tension of the spring resulting in the ability of the bobbin to suspend at any point the tyer chooses. While the spring force is controlling tension (without hand palming) the thread is dispersed with a uniform tension that does not create slack.
The force is designed for use with most fly tying needs in mind and is even suitable for delicate threads like the 17/0 UNI-Trico. The bobbin dispenses and automatically rewinds threads from standard plastic and foam thread spools. This allows the material to be drawn directly from the spool, retaining the original thread properties, as well as accommodating quick changes of thread spools.
The bobbin sits comfortably in the tyer's hand and dispenses thread effortlessly. The design allows the tyer to easily clamp down with their palm on the spool when extra pressure is needed for securing materials. 24 inches ( 0.6m) of thread may
be dispersed before the bobbin spring needs to be reset. Resetting the bobbin can be performed using one hand by simply moving the spool 3mm away from the rotating table, disengaging the tension on the spring, and replacing the spool on the rotating table. The Ekich Automatic Bobbin is produced in Canada and comes in 2 sizes, a 20mm tube Trout version and a 35mm tube Salmon version.
Both are available with either a full stainless steel tube or a stainless steel tube with a ceramic tip insert. For more information, visit Flytying Enhancements on the web www.ekichbobbin.com