I need my SPACE!! (for tying, that is)

[FlygURL]

What sort of workspace do you fly tyers have??

I've been looking for a case of some sort to hold everything and that I could clamp my vise onto.

Currently, I have a bag of all of my supplies that I end up carrying though the house, still trying to find the best place for me to tie. Usually I end up sitting on the floor using the coffee table for my "fly tying workstation". But, then my butt goes numb and I have to stop. Any suggestions??

[superchub]

B****pro has a wooden box with a sliding lid that has a little platform to attach the vice....$50 - $60 I think. I am making a similiar box with a hinge top lid.....wait till the 1st and I should have one made to show you. The boxes keep all of your stuff together and the vice attachment makes it easy to find a clamp spot. Remember, a very novice tie-er expounding!!
SC

[Loren]

I bought several wooden cigar boxes from a local cigar shop ($2.5 - $3 each) for holding thread, dubbing, etc. I filled one box with styrofoam and drilled holes in the lid to hold tools. A rod inserted in one of the holes holds thread. Feathers, fur are stored in plastic tubs. I work at a desk most of the time, but I can easily move boxes and a vise to a table in another room.

Just one approach.

best fishes

Loren

[Flyguy]

Take a trip to Home Depote and check out the Rubber Maid type tool boxes...They work great. I sort my necks, tails, dubbing, and things in zip lock bags and put the in the bottom and all the smaller things fit in the tray inside the box. The one I have even has a upper lid and storage area that holds the tying tools and hooks with no problem....And the price aint bad either.


Flyguy....

[The Drifter]

I use a large fishing tackle box which has four inside shelves. There is a container that buckles to the bottom of the box which has enough space to store large items such as your vice, and necks. I think the box is/was called a "possum belly" tackle box. You could always get a pedestal base for the vice.

Happy holidays,
The Drifter

[HNeal]

FlygURL,
The tool box or tackle box is a good idea, the tackle box (I have one with several drawers) may require some modification. The dividers in the drawers are a little too small for bags of dubbing, cards of chenille, etc. I'll look in my references and send you some plans, etc. that I have collected (I'm always looking for a better way to store and/or carry my "stuff".

[edwin]

Flygurl,
You can always go high-dollar and get one of those nifty flytying benches. I personally like that closes up like a big wooden lunch pail. I think that it's made by Orvis. It's got big heavy handles on it for mounting a vise and holds more stuff than the flytying "bench." OR if you're poor like me, try getting one of those wooden slats that are pre-cut to fit around your body (I think some people call them "study-buddies") that sits in your lap while you sit in a chair and then drill a few holes in it for bobbins, scissors, etc. You can clamp your vise right to it. It will cure your fanny fatigue and keep some money in your pocket.

[Loren]

I found this recommendation on another fly tying board:
<<I have been looking for a tying bench for some time. Recently I discovered one that seems to offer the best of function and value. Its called a FreeStone 1, and has tons of storage space and a fold down top/cover. Very inexpensive as far as benches of this caliber go. I really, really like mine and anyone looking for a bench should take a look at this one before making a decision.

Contact the maker at FreeStone Design phone #336-454-4151. I do not know if they have a web site or Email, but they do have a catalog. >>

Loren

[BUDMAN]

I went to the second hand store and bought a used microwave cart it has one drawer and two doors plus rollers so I can wheel it anywhere in the house when I want to tie. I have an eye on the wife's rolltop desk but.....

[Mr T]

FlygURL -- Years ago I invested in a large plastic sewing box at a fabric store for about $7.00. The kit was perfect because it has two removable shelves with a multitude of compartments. The top shelf also has ten spool holders for thread, tinsel, lead wire, etc.

Then my wife had a friend make me one of those little portable benches with a small shelf on the left for the vice, felt feet on the bottom and a cork floor to hang hooks in. Similar ones can be purchased from Cabela's for. as I recall, about $30.00. With this arrangement, I can set up on a card table, clamp the vice to the shelf and go to work.

More recently, I bought a portable tool kit with a self contained pedestle vise from Cabela's for $24.95 then found a large fanny pack with a zip down front on sale at K-mart for $9.95. The portable kit fits neatly into the bag and it has several see-through plastic pockets to hold stuff. Other stuff goes into ziplock bags. It even
has a water bottle pocket that I use to hold my round stacking hook container.

I really set this up to take streamside, but it's so convenient that I'm now using it at home. Happy holidays.

Mr. T.

[The Ole Man]

flygURL

There is an article in this months American Angler titled "Bringing order to chaos" but its sort of a mega approach. I use the rubbermaid tool boxes with a few mothballs in the top shelf, but i'm up to 3 boxes now. I made a flytying station in poplar using craftwoods from Lowes. Minimal cutting and drilling. It will hold a clamp vise and /or a pedestal plus tools and thread , etc. Less than $20.00. If I can get it drawn up soon, I'll try to make it available to all members either for an sase or perhaps Aaron can publish it on the board. Sorry, but I'm too busy tying for the flyswap right now to work it up. How about those Anywhere Anytimes???, or is it the other way around.??

[FlygURL]

Thank for all of your suggestions!!

As soon an I can decide, you know how we women can be sometimes, I'll let you know.