Bobbins–The Rite Bobbins
These bobbins are manufactured by Merco Products, and come in several iterations, including a newly introduced version that allows the tyer to make half hitches and whip finishes using the bobbin tube. Really slick! You have to watch this video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f8uJssaV0k.
The Rite bobbins have some distinct advantages for the tyer: (1) Light weight, (2) Only one leg allowing easy orientation of the bobbin in the hand. (3) Very accurate and smooth thread tension adjustment; in fact no other bobbin offers a more easily used and wider range of tension adjustment.
I like the tension to be set so that the thread stretches just a bit before the spool begins to turn. This is obviously below the breaking strength of the thread, but when the thread stretches, it makes a much tighter and more secure fly. One of the big problems with silk thread is its lack of stretch. Nylon and gel-spun threads do stretch and offer the tyer a much greater ability to really bind materials to the hook. The Rite Bobbins all offer this ability to adjust the thread tension most precisely.
The single disadvantage of these bobbins in time required to install a new spool of thread. Admittedly, not a very serious problem for the hone tyer. You can see their entire line of bobbins and vises at www.ritebobbin.com.
The one-legged, Rite Bobbin is easy to orient in the hand.
The 4-pointed star adjustment allows very precise tensioning of the thread.