FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions or “Tuffleye
101”
We,
at Wet A Hook TechnologiesLP,
suggest that all Tuffleye owners look through this
page.
1. What exactly is Tuffleye?
Tuffleye
is a special acrylic of the highest quality that will
cure
(set)
with a very narrow spectrum of visible blue light. There
are two consistencies now (Core and Finish) and others are
being developed. Tuffleye has been formulated to begin
curing within 5 seconds and completely harden in 10-20
seconds. It is packaged in light proof syringes. The
syringe has a twist off cap that is easily replaced with
the provided curved tip applicator if desired.
This applicator tip can be trimmed like the tip of a
caulking gun to best suit your needs.The
syringes are not for re-use.
2.
Will any LED light work with Tuffleye?
Not
likely. The Tuffleye light has been specifically designed
to optimally cure this material. It has a particular
spectrum of light and intensity that will not be matched by
purchasing a generic LED light. It is very similar to what
dentists use in both the spectrum of light, and the
intensity of the light.
3.
Will regular room lighting cause Tuffleye to harden?
Most
room lighting is capable of eventually curing Tuffleye but
it is expected to take well over an hour or more depending
on the intensity of your lighting. You should have plenty
of working time in regular room lighting. Some halogen desk
lamps may be an exception to this. You can always squeeze
out a small dot of Tuffleye and time test it under your
lighting.
4. Can I use Tuffleye in direct sunlight?
The
Sun has almost all spectrums of light in it. There for it
will cause Tuffleye to set very rapidly. Within 30-60
seconds usually depending on the sun's intensity. You may
not get a fast cure and might have to leave it longer.
5.
How close should I hold the Tuffleye light to the Tuffleye
Core or Finish?
For best curing, the Tuffleye light should be held about
5mm (one-fourth of an inch) from the material being cured.
On large applications you should allow the light to remain
for a few seconds on each section of the material.
6. Will looking into the light hurt your eyes?
If you were using the Ultra Violet (UV) light spectrum the
answer would be yes! The visible light spectrum is farther
away from “X-Rays” than UV. Visible Blue light
is a very narrow spectrum that has been used safely in
dentistry for years. Nevertheless, we provide an eye shield
and recommend that you observe the light curing process by
placing the shield between your eyes and the material.
Looking into any light for a sustained time is not
recommended and we want you to keep your eye sight good to
allow you to tie the best flies and lures.
7.
How long does it take to cure Tuffleye Core or Tuffleye
Finish?
With
the proper light, it will begin hardening within 5 seconds
and completely harden in 10- 20 seconds. If this is not the
case there may be a problem with either the light (see FAQ
#10) or the photo activator may be expired. Heat will
decrease the shelf life of Tuffleye. Please contact us if
you encounter any difficulties with this.
8.
If my batteries get low, will it affect the quality of the
cure?
Yes, if you have purchased the Tuffleye flashlight powered
by batteries only
(discontinued 26/Mar/2007),
we suggest changing the batteries after 1-2 hours of
use.
Effective 26/Mar/2007 we introduced an AC/DC light with a
warning sensor to indicate low intensity that may affect
the cure.
9. Why do you now only sell one LED Curing Light?
We now provide one high
quality and very versatile light. It contains a high
intensity and high quality "Luxeon" LED rated to last
between 75,000 - 100,000 hours. This light will cure the
"Tuffleye" material completely in about 10-20 seconds and
has been developed specifically for this purpose. It is
capable of running on either 3AAA batteries or the AC
current with the adaptor included. The AC adaptor is able
to self adjust an electric current from either 120 or 240
volts. Making International tiers happy. We have also added
micro circuitry that will notify the user of the intensity
of the DC current. When there is not enough battery power
to adequately cure the Tuffleye material, a red light will
appear. This will notify you to either place fresh
batteries or move to an AC power source. The DC only light
was difficult to judge when the battery intensity was too
low for proper curing.
10..
Is it possible to tell if my light is bright enough to work
correctly?
The
only sure way is with a light meter. Each light is checked
before shipping to assure it’s intensity level for
curing. If you have a genuine question about the light, you
can take it to your dentist and ask him if he will check it
with his light meter. It should give a reading of above 200
mw/cm2. (A reading all dentists should be familiar with)
Don't’ be surprised if he wants to know where you got
it and how much it costs.
11.
Will Tuffleye yellow over time like epoxy?
No. Tuffleye will not yellow even if left in the sun for
months. In fact, if you have not completely cured the
Tuffleye, it may have a slight yellow cast that will get
more clear as it ages in light. When testing Tuffleye, Bob
Popovics placed a Surf Candy on the dashboard of his car
for months with absolutely no yellowing.
12.
What is the tacky outer layer on the Core?
Core’s tacky outer layer is a chemical reaction to
air (Oxygen). All light cured acrylics have it and it has
pros and cons. The pro is that you may add eyes, overlays,
wings, legs, etc. to your fly and Tuffleye will not only
act to help stick them in place, but an additional covering
of Tuffleye will irreversibly bond to itself. The con is
that once the fly is tied, many tiers desire to eliminate
the tacky surface.
13.
How can I get rid of Tuffleye’s tacky outer layer?
There
are several ways. (Refer to our "Hot Tips" page for more
info on this.) "Tuffleye Finish" can be painted as a thin
coating over Cores tacky layer and cured. Merely polish the
oily residue off Finish and you’ll have a glossy
coat. Although it is a bit more difficult, you can also
wipe the tacky surface off the Tuffleye Core. You can also
use rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover or an adhesive
label remover like “Goo-Gone”. Rubbing this
surface with a rag or your finger can restore the glossy
finish. Tuffleye Core is the most durable of all surfaces.
If the final surface is more dull than wanted
(In
the water, a frosted finish is not as
visible.)
for show or shadow boxes, many of our testers will paint on
a thin coat of Hard as Nails or Hard as Hull after removing
the tacky layer. The following photos show the Tuffleye
frosted surface on the left that comes after being wiped
with Rubbing Alcohol. The side on the right is a thin
coating of Hard as Nails and the bubble is a tiny droplet
of water.
14.
Is Tuffleye Core as durable as UV acrylic resins or epoxy?
Tuffleye
Core is as strong or stronger than most epoxies. It is made
of an extremely high quality acrylic. While most UV based
acrylics available will bend, tear or break under normal
hand strength, Tuffleye Core will not bend, tear or break
under that same pressure.
15. Can I use Tuffleye Finish as one application and skip
using Tuffleye Core altogether?
Yes. For smaller flies or applications, Tuffleye Finish
will work superbly. Tuffleye Finish is a bit more flexible
and flowable than Core. Our testers have used Finish for
all kinds of applications. It is excellent for head cement,
attaching body parts, etc. However, it is not as durable
alone for forming larger flies and we recommend Core if
your desire is the most durable, longest lasting fly.
16. How should the Tuffleye syringes be stored when not
being used?
Remember,
the same cap you had to unscrew to get to the Tuffleye, you
can place back on the tip of the syringe, or if stored out
of the light you can simply pull back slightly on the
syringe till you see the Tuffleye material retreat back
into the curved tip then store it away form any light.
While using Tuffleye, the light proof syringes will protect
it from normal room lighting. We suggest when not using
Tuffleye, you keep the syringes stored in a light proof
container. Tuffleye is easy to store if kept in a cool
light proof place.
17.
Is there a shelf life for Tuffleye Core and Tuffleye
Finish?
Yes,
after 12 to 18 months, Tuffleye could begin to be more
difficult to cure as the photo initiators begin to age. By
refrigeration, when not being used for long periods of
time, you can extend the shelf life substantially. Be sure
to warm Tuffleye up a bit if bringing it out of
refrigeration since Tuffleye is very thick if cold and
flows more the warmer it gets.
If you have other questions or comments about Tuffleye, click on the Contact us link. We will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank-you!