You can make a furled leader with little expense and effort. The following instructions are for a simple three-step tapered leader. For your initial attempt and just a few leaders this simple whorl and jig will suffice. If you decide to make numerous leaders you can improve on the equipment and process by adding springs and hooks to the anchor hooks and using an electric motor instead of a hand-held whorl. Click here for a layout pattern for a 10/8/6-thread, three-step pattern.

Tools & Materials

3- or 4-ounce sinker 7 inches of stiff pliable wire like coat hanger wire pliers hammer 1" X 6" board 6' or 7' long seven 2-inch finishing nails spool of 3/0 or 6/0 tying thread

Whorl & Jig
Make the whorl by fastening the sinker to one end of the wire and forming a small hook at the other end. The long center portion of the wire between the hook and the sinker helps in spinning the whorl. A variable speed reversible drill or a Dremel tool with a cup hook in the chuck can be used in place of the whorl and will speed the operation.

Make a jig for the three step taper by placing the board on a horizontal surface in front of you. Place a nail in each corner at right end of the board. Leave the nails sticking up about 1.5 inches. Call these Hook A and Hook B. At the other end of the board place a nail on the centerline about 1 foot from the end of the board. Do not place this nail in too deep as you will reposition it after the layout is complete. This will be Anchor Hook C. Next place a pair of nails one-third the distance between A and C. They should be perpendicular to the edge of the board and about 1 inch apart near the top edge. Repeat with another pair of nails near the bottom edge at two-thirds the distance between Hook B and anchor Hook C. These two pairs of nails are your pylons.

Layout
Tie the thread to Hook A and make two complete loops around Hook A and the first pylon. Now take the thread around Anchor Hook C to the second pylon, around it, then back around Anchor Hook C to the first pylon. Pass the thread through the first loops you made on that pylon. From there take the thread back around Anchor Hook C to Hook B. From Hook B make two loops between it and the second pylon, passing the thread each time through the first loop around it. Tie off the thread on Hook B.

Carefully slip the thread from the pylons which will cause some slack in the thread. Take up the slack by repositioning Anchor Hook C back toward the end of the board.

Furling & Forming
Reposition the board to a vertical position with the Anchor Hook C at the top. Remove the thread from Hook A and attach to the whorl. Spin the whorl clockwise until the leg shortens about 10 percent. Remove the twisted thread from the whorl, tie to another nail and tap it into the board keeping tension on the thread throughout the process. A stout push pin can used instead of a nail if desired. Repeat the process with the other leg of the leader. Be sure to twist the thread in the same direction.

To form the leader, reverse the board so Anchor Hook C is at the bottom. Attach the whorl to the thread from the Anchor Hook and spin the whorl in the counter-clockwise direction. Use your fingers to keep the legs separated as the twisting progresses up the leader. Tie off the ends at A and B with a simple overhand knot to keep the leader from unfurling. Condition the leader with a bit of gentle stroking and stretching. Finish by whipping loops at each end.