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 FWdB |
#81 | |||
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Posts: 366 04/24/2009 04:09 |
I've been following this thread with great interest. Would you consider the unfinished lines a good buy? I've always been in doubt about going the
silky way / travelling down the silk route, because of the high costs. Buying a Zhu line and a tin of Mucilin to me seems like a cheap way to try it out
without feeling sorry if it doesn't work out. Am I right in thinking so?
edit: and applying the finish of course... Wilfred de Bruijn
Last Edited By: FWdB 04/24/2009 04:19.
Edited 1 time.
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FWdB |
#82 | |||
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Posts: 368 04/24/2009 14:57 |
Thanks, I'll keep that in mind if I decide to go for one of mr. Zhu's lines!
Wilfred de Bruijn
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tdsmoonchild |
#83 | |||
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Posts: 2 04/24/2009 15:47 |
thanks for the info Leo
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bamb00zler |
#84 | |||
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Posts: 34 04/25/2009 14:53 |
To all those that have purchased one or more of Mr. Zhu's silk fly lines and applied his goop to them: Now what the hell are we gonna
do?
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MontyMontana |
Capitalism at it's best... | #85 | ||
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Posts: 501 04/25/2009 19:09 |
Send the lines to LEO, he is quite experienced in removing the Glop and he will gladly do this to all lines for a small fee (should we agree half of your
401K).
Little humor here, as I was one who thought this seems a little to good to be true...I think I'll wait for a while and see if they ( Mr. Zuh's lines ) are really a good deal....now I'm glad I forked over the money (large sums) for 3 new Phoenix and 2 used silk lines. Monty Montana
Your Signature ... I fish via our criminal justice system..."Catch and release"
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Flyman615 |
Zhu lines | #86 | ||
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Posts: 3205 04/25/2009 19:31 |
Although I may not know any better, I have two Zhu lines which I've polished and then rubbed down with repeated applications of genuine red Mucilin.
They work fine for me. That is, they float well and shoot well through the guides and they're becoming more supple with each outing. Although I'm not too interested in buying unfinished lines, I'm still a happy Zhu customer. Whoda thunk it?! Regards, Flyman 
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Brian Shaffer |
#87 | |||
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Posts: 1164 05/20/2009 06:24 MO/ARK Trout Bum |
So, whats the concensus ? Is it a true DT4wt ? Does the proposed 'Mucilin" mixture ruin the line ?
For $40 or less a line now on the eBay - is it worth a shot on a DT4 or DT 5 ? Brian
" Just once, I wish a trout would wink at me. "
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pmag |
#88 | |||
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Posts: 417 05/20/2009 07:21 |
Yes.
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caddis4 |
#89 | |||
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Posts: 8 07/04/2009 09:18 |
I purchased a DT4 from Zhu's on ebay. I don't own a grain scale, but I MIC'd the belly at .035...right on the money. Problem is that the line
doesn't seem to "load up" my rod. Compared it "side by side" with a 444 Peach DT4...not even close. Seems like the silk line has the
right diameter but for some reason not the proper weight. Is it possible it wasn't treated properly (varnish, oil, etc.)? Maybe the treatment didn't
penetrate into the line. Seems like a three (or even two) weight line. Should I try stripping it down (water & baking soda) and restore it (with a formula
of spar varnish, turpentine & boiled linseed oil).
From my own experience and after reading through this thread, seems these lines lack consistency in production. Any advise greatly appreciated. Thank you.
"All good things are wild and free......"
Henry David Thoreau |
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joaniebo |
#90 | |||
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Posts: 1881 07/04/2009 10:55 |
This past winter, I purchased DT3, DT4 and DT5 silk lines from Mr. Zhu; softened them; and then put several coats of Thebault line grease on each line directly
over the finish that came on the three lines.
The DT4 and DT5 were put on two Zhu's reels that were also purchased, and last week, while in Cheese Country, the reels / lines were fished. Other than the louder-than-normal reel "clicks", I experienced no problems or complaints with either of the two reels or lines and, as far as I'm concerned, I found them comparable to the 4 Terenzio silk lines that I obtained several years ago. I haven't yet purchased any of the Zhu's silk lines without his finish, but would be tempted to do so in the future and then to soak them in the spar vanish mixture that I use for refinishing old silk lines. Personally, I think the Zhu's lines to be a very good value for the price and would / have suggested them to friends who want to try a silk line. Cheers and Safe Fishing Bob |
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weightforward |
#91 | |||
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Posts: 17 07/04/2009 23:36 |
Leo,
Thanks for the update. I had not been able to get my line to strip. I will try paint stripper with Methylene Chlorideif I can find some. Dave |
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Marty |
#92 | |||
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Posts: 212 07/09/2009 13:19 |
Two friends have purchased zhu's lines for this season. Both are cracked and fraying badly already. I had given them the standard refinishing formula but
they had the same "unstrippable" problems. All in all for them a waste of time and money. Far better to buy a quality line to start with either
vintage to refinish or current makers. Sadly I doubt that either of those gentlemen will despite my best efforts to pursuade them otherwise will get to
experience the real pleasure that fishing with silk can be.....
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Flyman615 |
#93 | |||
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Posts: 3309 07/09/2009 20:26 |
Look...I'm just going to report my own, singular experience.
I took my new Zhu line, rubbed it down with OOOO steel wool followed by pumice and four applications of Red Mucilin. I've fished it all spring with no problems whatsoever. It casts, shoots and floats just fine, thank you. Moreover, there is no indication of excess wear, fraying or abnormal quality control. And yes, I have several other silk lines. Do I fish it all the time? No, I don't. Do I expect it to be flawless for the price point? No, I don't. Does it meet my personal expectations? Yes, it does. Best regards,
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greg hall |
#94 | |||
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Posts: 272 07/11/2009 11:33 |
Scott,
Thanks for sharing your experience and methods of preparation. These will no doubt be as useful to others as they are to me. Thanks again. |
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Conor.fiberglassflyro... |
#95 | |||
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Posts: 1 07/12/2009 22:42 |
Has anyone successfully stripped these lines? I have heard from one person that paint thinner and then baking soda worked. While I believe that the lines will
become supple with some effort, I think they are much too rough. I'd rather apply that effort to a new soak of varnish. I might try some steel wool. I
purchased two lines (3 and 5 DT) this winter, and was not surprised by the product (either pleasantly or negatively). It is definitely silk and it seems like a
tight braid. However, the diameters and weights are off for the labeled AFTMs. One end of the line is even different compared to the other (not necessarily
bad, I could see some applications). I found with my lines that the diameters were high and the weights were high. The proportion of the two was light. The
varnish is definitely not linseed or spar, as it kind of stinks like chemicals. The goop they give is suspicious. But, they are cheap, cheap, cheap. Cheaper
even (and less risky) then getting a decent used DT on an online auction. Does he sell unvarnished lines? I'd be very interested in that.
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Flyman615 |
Read previous posts | #96 | ||
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Posts: 3313 07/13/2009 19:27 |
Conor:
Here's a suggestion--read this whole thread. Best regards,
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Conor.fiberglassflyro... |
#97 | |||
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Posts: 2 07/13/2009 22:00 |
I did read the whole thread, avidly. I was quite excited to find some opinions on the lines, and to share my own. I dove in blind last winter figuring it
wasn't much to loose.
There is a bunch of info here on what doesn't work to strip the lines. Useful stuff; it will save me some trials. I was hoping that someone lurking had successfully striped the lines. I'll try to look up the guy I mentioned and get his method. My other question re: Zhu selling stripped lines was not answered in the thread, either. A couple people alluded to it, but it seemed vague. I was simply hoping for clarification. I thought the results of the mic'ing and weighing of my two lines would be an interesting contribution. They differed slightly from the other people who did both on this thread, and the fact that there is variance between the two ends of both my lines is also something new. |
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mtn |
#98 | |||
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Posts: 481 07/15/2009 11:39 |
Conor,
I found your comments interesting. I don't have any helpful info thou. The diameter being high is very strange I recall someone else mentioning this. With all other silk lines I've used it is the opposite, a silk line should be considerably smaller, even to the naked eye without miking. Must be something in the finsh material, heavy application. I have also though of try the unvarnished line route and plan to just contact Zsu directly. Mike |
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Conor.fiberglassflyro... |
#99 | |||
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Posts: 3 07/15/2009 22:07 |
mtn- what I meant is the diameters were high for a silk line of similar weight. They were still smaller than a comparable PVC line. It seems like he might be
braiding larger diameter lines for each size to compensate for poor finish penetration. Or maybe it is a fluke, and just luck of the draw. Also, to clarify, a
friendly PM informed me that a few posts have been removed from this thread. That's why my questions may have come across as redundant.
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Marty |
#100 | |||
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Posts: 236 07/17/2009 15:14 |
Conor,
A lot of posts were removed...zhu seems to have some boosters/ supporters that like to send some unpleasant and argumentative pm's / emails when disparaging remarks have been made about the product and its quality (same for the rods)....takes all kinds......if memory serves there were not any really viable solutions for stripping the line that would not damage the silk or require a respirator..... I know some folks have gotten untreated lines though..... |
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