SSW001 TieYourOwn.indd 31 20/07/2018 17:07 S S 1 7 : 0 7 SS 17:07 BAND SETS 031 SAFETY REASON FOR TAPERING BANDS Always use tapered bands. I will never use simple straights ever again. The reason 99% will give, is the physics of rubber contraction. Meaning that tapered bands will give you a faster projectile speed than the exact same amount of rubber, as a straight. Simple fact. However, a straight band can fail anywhere along its length, whereas a tapered band will fail at the skinniest bit near the pouch. So broken elastic will be moving AWAY from your face/anchor point/eyes if it snaps as you pull it back, not towards your eyes. CHECK YOUR BANDS BEFORE EVERY SHOT AND ALWAYS WEAR EYE PROTECTION. Squaring:Elasticsheetisneverperfectlysquare,so Marktrimsit.ThisisGZK0.7. Template:GZKonesarepopular.Someusesheetsof steelcutintheirtaper,astemplates. Readytotie:Thepouchandbandareheldstretched andreadytoaccepttheconstrictorknot. Blobbingtheknotend:Therelativelylowheatofa regularlighterisperfecttomelt-sealtheknot. Liningup:Arrangingthetemplatewiththetapers, ontopoftheflatbandsheet. Separatethecutstrips:Partthecutupbands, carefully… It’sflybacking:Mark’spreferredtwineforcon- knotsisclassiclinebackingforflyanglers. Cutting:Smooth,firmpressurefromabove.Mark alwaysstandsuptodothis. FitPouchonElastic:Thewaythisfoldisdoneis differentforOTTandTTFbandsets. Constrictorknot:Youcanseethewaythisworks, cinchingdownuponitselfasittightens. SSW001 TieYourOwn.indd 31 20/07/2018 17:07