Choosing a Hair Stacker

I love tools.

I think it’s interesting to learn techniques using different tools, and then determine which tool works best for a particular job. You may find that one type of tool works well under certain circumstances, while another similar tool performs better in a slightly different situation. Such is the case with hair stackers. There are many different types of hair stackers on the market, and each one can be used effectively under given conditions. The primary function of a hair stacker is to help you align the tips of clump of hair fibers before tying them on to a hook.

Here are some of the Hair Stackers that I use, along with some notes to indicate how I like to use them. The largest stacker (1), is one of my custom design. It is specifically intended for large bugs with 3-5 pencil clumps of deer hair. It is useful for mixing hair colors, when you place several colors together and blend them together by stirring with a large bodkin. Stacker (2) is the Godzilla Stacker that Chris Helm used to sell. I’m not sure if new owners of Whitetail Fly Tieing offer this model. It is also good for blending hair and working with large clumps. Once you get into the stackers labeled 5-7, those are good for typical deer hair work with 1 or 2 pencil clumps. Stackers 8 and 9 are good for trout flies. I especially like (9) for stacking calf tail hair.