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Loon UV Fly Tying Kit Review – Fly Tyers Dream
It is no doubt or secret that fly-tying resins have revolutionized fly-tying.
For instance, the Loon UV Fly Tying Kit which primarily consists of three different resins has been getting immense attention on the internet and among anglers at their tying clubs.
Over the past few years since its launch, the kit’s popularity has grown.
Tyers have been clamoring to get a hold of this kit and their reviews will change how you tie your flies.
- Loon Outdoor UV Fly Tying Kit 1/2 oz
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What’s the Fuss About?
Loon UV Clear resins are high-quality light-cured UV resins similar to the Gulff or Solarez types.
With exposure to ultraviolet light, the resins will cure and become rock hard.
For the majority of fly tyers, the Loon UV Clear resin has replaced two-part epoxies.
This is for a pretty good reason as the two-part epoxies need mixing for activation.
A tyer should whip up a good batch and apply it immediately and quickly onto the flies before it thickens and becomes unworkable.
If it thickens and can’t be used, it leads to wastage.
The UV resins allow the tyer to work at their preferred pace and there is no way it will dry before you are ready for it.
The kit contains three resins each with its unique characteristics.
There is one for coating and attaching materials on flies or finishing the smaller flies.
Another one is used for building up heads or coating larger sections of flies for saltwater use.
The less viscous one is for smaller flies like perdigones.
So far, Loon Outdoors outperformed as what sets this kit apart from the competition is the clarity of the resins.
This is what has made the UV Clear kit garner so much buzz.
The clarity and consistencies allow the tyer to craft a wide range of patterns to jazz up the fly collection with numerous unique yet highly effective flies.
There is no limitation on where to use the resin as it can be applied to streamers, nymphs, dries, and sub-surface patterns.
You will love how endless its possibilities truly are.
Most resins cure and leave tack. This doesn’t happen with the Loon Outdoors UV Fly Tying Kit.
This one will harden up well for your liking. Tacks show that the resin hasn’t cured well and will soon cloud up after handling.
If you have a good UV light, this is history when using the Loon Clear UV resin.
A good UV light should kick out about 3 watts which should be strong enough for curing the resin to rock hard in seconds.
Loon advertises is torches as the powerful and best option. Its UV lights emit very different light spectrums that are 8iideal for the Clear UV resin formulas.
One concern about fly tying resins is the noticeable odor that can sometimes be distinct and overwhelming.
Others are more pungent and can aggravate some health conditions.
Loon makes its Clear UV resins almost odorless but we advise that you use all resins in open or well-ventilated spaces regardless.
The resin bottles have thin applicators that make for precision application without any wastage.
It might be an insignificant factor if you haven’t used resins before.
The precise applicators make it enjoyable and mess-free when tying your flies.
The resins’ clear look give killer looks to your flies while the colored ones would have been used for eyes, hotspots, or adding more color underneath clear coats.
You will love how durable they are as there haven’t been complaints of cracks or fractures.
Loon UV Fly Tying Kit resins are less toxic compared to epoxy hence allowing the tyer to be sure of not harming the environment as they fly fish.
Forget about the heat building you’d get when using epoxy.
Another upside is that you can work with resins for as much time until you have the ideal result before curing it.
A fly tying resin that is durable and can take up attacks from rather aggressive fish.
Key Features of the Loon UV Fly Tying Kit
UV Clear Fly Finish Thick Resin – The Clear Fly Finish Thick Resin is the thickest of all the resins in this bunch.
Its consistency is similar to that of molasses. Most tyers use the thick version to create hard yet durable heads on streamers.
For creating wingcases on nymphs, it gets the job done. Fly tyers use it to stiffen hair wings, create hard-bodied terrestrials such as beetles and ants.
You can use it to add a profile to your Spey flies like on flashabou, craft fur, or marabou. Tyers use the thick consistency to make heads for saltwater flies such as Albacore and Surf Candy Flies.
UV Clear Fly Finish Thin Resin – Of the entire spectrum, the Thin Clear UV Finish resin falls in the middle with a syrup-like consistency.
A single drop onto a nymph will tightly hold it before it can drip into its body.
If you are looking for a more universal resin from the Loon Outdoor collection, this one can be used for almost anything.
You can use it to make capping eyes for streamers and other basic heads.
They won’t peel off as you strip and will be great when hardening wedge-head spun deer-hair streamers or bubble-back wingcases on Copper John.
The Thin resin ads realism and durability to the larger nymphs that are used for hunting steelhead.
When tying stoneflies, hexes, shrimps, or wigglers, it adds a good illumination to it.
When light hits these resins, it illuminates it making it look like a well-made translucent beadhead.
UV Clear Fly Finish Flow Resin – The Flow UV Clear Finish resin is the thinnest of all the products in the lineup and in this kit.
It has a water-like consistency.
It makes a good coating over the adhesive eyes and prevents water from going under the edges.
If you’d like to treat feathers so that they retain their shape when they are wet, the Flo resin will do.
It works just as fine as Softex does. Some tyers use it to solidify their dubbing bodies to prevent unraveling after a session of fishing.
Wire ribbing was the commonest method used for adding durability to dubbed bodies.
However, if you have this resin, you can use it on the dubbing before curing it to create rigid bodies that don’t fray.
It cures without leaving tacks and with the watery-like consistency, it is an excellent substitute for head cement.
There have been no critics of the resin drying in the bottle and a tyer can use it to the last drop.
Loon Outdoors packs two applicator nozzles and a functional brush applicator.
UV Bench Light – The Loon UV Fly Tying Kit comes with a bench light with powerful UV capabilities.
This one is slightly compact than the company’s Infiniti light.
It can cure the three resins in less than 15seconds.
Built with a zoom knob, you can broaden or focus the UV light.
Loon Outdoors includes a 1AA battery that lasts quite a while before replacement.
Customer Thoughts on the Loon Outdoors UV Fly Tying Kit
Most tyers find it more convenient and faster to use compared to the epoxies.
Flies tied using the UV Clear finish resins are durable and will most definitely catch fish. As an evolution product, it is more superior.
Unlike older resins that get sticky and needed coating with thinner head cement and could sometimes crack or yellow over time.
The new one from Loon Outdoors is smooth, isn’t sticky, doesn’t crack, and stays as clear even with exposure to the sun for a long time.
If you have used resins before, it will be easy to get accustomed to this one.
Those who haven’t need time and repetition to get used to it.
The resin is easy to use because you have more time under your belt to practice so you don’t have to get discouraged.
Their vulnerability to sunlight is very high and if you will be tying flies outdoors, ensure that you have practiced and are a fast applicator before doing it on many flies.
If your batteries die on you, you can cure your flies outside.
Pros – What Shines on the Loon UV Fly Tying Kit
- Usable on any kind of fly pattern
- Comes in three different consistencies
- Has functional applicators
- Cures quickly
- No pungent odor
- Comes with a UV bench light
Cons – The Concerns
- Can be on the higher side if you are looking to shop on a budget
FAQ’s – Questions about the Loon UV Fly Tying Kit
Q) What is the size of each bottle of resin?
A) Each bottle of resin is 3.5 oz.
Q) Does this come with a rechargeable battery?
A) What comes with a rechargeable battery is the Infiniti UV light while this one operates on an AA battery.
Q) How does a tyer attach the smaller tips on the resin bottle?
A) Attach the small tips onto the black screws on the tips.
Q) Does the Clear resin smell?
A) The resin has a smell but not a pungent one that can be irritating. Ensure you are in a well-ventilated area when using any kind of resin.
Wrap Up
Available in three different consistencies, the UV Clear Fly Finish Resin gives you time to work on your flies before exposing them to a UV light to cure.
While each can be bought separately as a replacement, buying a kit is more economical as you get three resins of different flows at a subsidized price.
For creating neater and more precise flies, the resins are better than epoxies.
These are usable directly from their bottles and come with long functional applicator tips that you attach to the nozzles for precision.
This helps to prevent wastage as you squeeze and a little comes out.
A tyer then shapes the resin to the desired look before focusing the UV torchlight on it finally exposing it to the sun for curing.
Usually, applying thicker resins needs more time to cure.
Having different thicknesses allows you to use a thinner density where needed, a moderate as required, and a thicker one for saltwater flies.
Tackiness is one of the primary concerns of fly tying resins. Most pro tyers advise on using thinner resins to prevent tackiness.
This can be a good way to go about the problem but everything drips down to quality.
That is why most tyers using the Loon UV Clear have achieved tack-free flies with all three consistencies.
Ensure that your bench light has powerful AA batteries. So if you have thicker heads, you can use the light on them without worrying.
There has been no fading or yellowing of flies made with resins even after prolonged use. Some tyers have used the finish on their knots in leaders to secure them and it hardened.
This means that it could be a versatile kit for anglers and tyers. Although Loon has a specific remedy for knots – the UV Knot Sense, you can use the Clear resins.
From the reviews on the internet and our research on the same, the resin kit will be an excellent addition to your fly tying arsenal.
It has proven to do a great job just as the manufacturer advertises.
The company is well known for manufacturing toxic-free substances to ensure environmental preservation.
Some anglers have suggested that the company should consider designing a more powerful UV light to include in this package.
This should work extremely faster than what is issued. However, the bench light still serves the purpose.
If you are looking for a pack of resins that can work on almost any fly pattern, the Loon UV Fly Tying Kit should be a primary consideration.
You can get other Loon products separately if you need to build a collection.
Share with us your thoughts on this and other fly tying resin kits you have used in the past.
- Loon Outdoor UV Fly Tying Kit 1/2 oz
Last update on 2024-07-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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