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Okay fellow tyers got a question for you all. In the preocess of designing a fly tying station. I have narrowed it down to an approximate size of business desk, 3x6. What I'm seeking is any and all inputs as far as what you would want in a fly tying station.
Cheers
That should be a pretty good question and illicit some really good suggestions.
To start out...I really like computer desks...they come in many sizes and configurations...can be quite inexpensive...and I particularly like using the pullout keyboard shelf.
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Respect Your Elders!
Maddawg,
Two of the most important issues with a tying station are lighting and seating but I don't think that is where you are going with your question.
You don't state if your vise is a clamp or pedestal which of course will have some impact on your station. I use a clamp vise so my comments will reflect that.
It would be very convenient if your station has a back on it within easy reach of your seating. I suggest that this back be 3/4 inch material painted off-white. Place several rows of finishing nails into this board to hold excess tools, bobbins etc to keep them off your working surface. This seems to work better than a tool caddy for me. You might attach a few small magnets to hold those items that don't hang well on the nails This means that 3 feet would be too deep. Mine measures 18 inches from the front edge to the back.
I would also strongly suggest that you use a replaceable work surface. I recommend 1/4 inch masonite with the off-white surfaces (name escapes me at the moment) It is inexpensive and obtainable at most home supply stores. Over time your work surface will become spotted with head cement, epoxy, paint and other crud. When you reach the point that it is too much then flip it over and use the other side. A couple of small foam blocks on the front edge about 15 inches from the vise are handy to hold the bobbins. Put them on with hot glue so you can rip them off when your reverse the board.
I think you will find that the 6 ft width is much more than you will need for a work surface so consider some shelving on either side for storage of material boxes, etc.
If you are going to make it yourself, an inexpensive work surface can be made from a wood paneled door cut to size. The excess pieces can be used to support shelving on the sides.
Good luck and have fun.
Jim Cramer
[This message has been edited by Jim Cramer (edited 17 July 2005).]
Jim,
I LIKE the "turn over" surface. Going to apply that around here.
Organization and neatness will NEVER be among our attainables though! http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/smile.gif
.....lee s.
Plenty of drawers and shelves, more than you think you will need. Decide if you are going to store your reels and line and such, or if the station is soley for tying. What an great project. That size desk seems large to me too, but then I am using a surface that is 2x3.
here are some small stations. Quite the variety.
[url=http://www.flyfishusa.com/fly-tying/oasis-1.htm:3fc75]http://www.flyfishusa.com/fly-tying/oasis-1.htm[/url:3fc75]
I know that you have probably seen these, but I was drooling on the keyboard and thought others might enjoy. The stations, not the drool.
[This message has been edited by Gardenfish (edited 17 July 2005).]
Some year I will have the "Perfect" desk built to my exact spec's....
I think the greatest single feature a desk for Tying, Can have is a LOT of Shallow drawer space....2 in. deep or less as most materials to be stored require little height space and shallower lends it's self to keeping things on top and at hand....I also think a roll top is very nice to keep things where they belong while not tying...there is just so much I've come to find a great need for in a desk....I've had 6 since I've started tying..all had good features ,but none were perfect in thought or design...I now have the worst of them all....This appartment living is not kewl at all...do not buy the drop top desk from Cabela's.....just trust me..I am now in the process of reversing that feature.....after which,I may just like this desk...MAYBE...lol..but I feel a seporate fileing cabnet type storage unit is also needed..a white or changable tying backround is a must!!!!....best of luck in your quest.
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"I've often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before" A.K.Best
"Wish ya great fishing"
Bill
Jim,
What keeps the 1/4" masonite, from moving around on the work surface it's laying on?
I've had a small room with a wood top desk, painted off white. My storage is an 8'x4' peg board.
I tie with a pedestal base, Renzetti Traveler.
Next month we're moving where my wife and I will share a room, for my fly tying, and her sewing, drawing and knitting.
My storage will now be "upper" kitchen cabinets, set on the floor, under my bookshelves. (I'm addicted to fly fishing and fly tying books.)
My tying desk will be at the window, with my computer on one side, and the obligatory TV on the other side.
Suggestions?
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Swing hard, in case they throw the ball where you're swinging. Duke Snider
I see the advice is from roll tops to a tying bench that you pick up and put on a shelf--If you plan to tie in the living room or den the roll top would be great to hid your mess. With a tying room like I have everthing is left out. I build tables like--- [url=http://www.flytyingfurniture.com:d050b]www.flytyingfurniture.com[/url:d050b]
A simple oak,maple etc plywood top and trim to match with caster legs. You dont need much of a top space to tie. I have built one with a white formica top, but simple poster board paper will work for protecting the finish.
If it's in the basement some tiers use a kitchen counter top from the hardwarw store.
Storage space is the problem I have three shelves 8 feet long in the room and more in the garage.
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Bill
Very nice william,
But I know of a certian Brother of mine with an awesome wood working habit.( He spends his days in Kreamer PA working for "Wood Mode" custom Cabinetary)..and I can and will do it all one better,and for sooo much less...those are sweet furnishings...But those prices leave alot to be desired,In this mans eyes.
I've already done the drawings and looked into the building of the roll top it's self..and found that is a whole lot simpler than I'd ever imagined...I want alot more drawer space than even those provide...amazeing what one can accumulate over time....
Bill
[This message has been edited by billknepp (edited 17 July 2005).]
McManus,
As I said in my first reply, I use a clamp type vise and the clamp spans both the work top and the masonite. However I believe it is heavy enough that movement should not be a problem. Depending on your setup you may want to cut it to fit. What I forgot to mention in my first post is that before floping it over, I reverse it end for end so I actually get four uses out of it before replacement. It should be good for a few years unless you start spilling head cement. *smile*
Sorry to hear you lost your tying room. Having a separate room for tying is the way to go if possible. We moved two years ago and I had to squeeze into a smaller room. My tying station fits into what could be a closet space with multiple shelves and horizontal surfaces. Much of my materia lis stored in three oak cabinets with a total of 72 drawers and I've just acquired a library file with another 15 drawers that I intend to incorporate into the tying station as an auxiliary bench/worktop. One can never have too many drawers or too many shelves. Now to finish reorganizing!
Are you really going to have your tying station facing the window? Seems you'll be looking into the light and your work will be backlit - ?? I've seen photos of those tying orientations and never understood them.
[This message has been edited by Jim Cramer (edited 17 July 2005).]
Jim,
The window, facing east, will have shutters, to adjust light. Over the desk we will have 3 halogen can lights. There will be a ceiling light in the center of the room. Finally, I have a flexible arm light on my vise, that I think is made by 3M.
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Swing hard, in case they throw the ball where you're swinging. Duke Snider
billknepp--I mentioned the T.V.Tyr site to show what one can build--they are expensive. I also have a large wood shop and as you mentioned it will give you great joy to build your own. I also build and sell the tying bench that one can pick up and store on a shelf when finished tying for the day. That uses up my scraps. Roll tops are a challenge but easy to build. I know of Wood Mode--when I was in college I worked for a builder and installed a few.
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Bill
My requirements are lots of storage and something that can be easily "covered up" when you're done working. A rolltop desk is ideal. The multi-thousand dollar rolltop desks made specifically for fly tying are beautiful but I'm not willing to spend that kind of money. You can buy a very nice rolltop desk in the $400 range. The store that I bought mine from went out of business recently, but I found another store called "Nostalgia Oak" that sells similar desks.
Hi Folks,
Different strokes for different folks.*G* Here is my tying bench for
consideration. As you can see, I'm set up
for dremel bugs. The small drill press is
for punching out plugs for shaping bodies on
the dremel lathe. Foreground center. The
portable bench on top is designed to slip
over the dremel lathe and position my vise
where it is most comfortable for me. Just
food for thought and another idea. I got
everything for the tying bench and computer
desk combo from a local builders supply for
just over 200 dollars. Works well for me.
Ample storage in the drawers as well as the
3 door overhead cabinet above. All of my
feathers and goodies are stored above in
labled clear plastic shoe boxes. Warm
regards, Jim
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ch/dremel6.jpg
Just a few words of caution.
Make sure you make it big enough
and versitile so you can change
and/or add to it at a later date.
We all started out with the cigar
or shoe box, and you know how long that
lasted!
I prefer the plastic drawers on wheels
that slide under the end of the desk.
This way, I can grab everything without
having to pull it all out of the drawers,
and put it all back later.
Just grab the whole thing and go!
Works great for tying classes.
Also, those old grey "battleship" desks
work great. Lots of drawer space that
can be divided and if they have the hanging folder rack, you can "file" your necks and capes. They can be purchased used for
about $40.00 at used office equipt store.
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**MW**
[This message has been edited by MPW (edited 19 July 2005).]
Jim,
The dustbuster is a nice touch,I bet your wife just loves you to death......!!!.....lol
and I now have mines permission to buy a vise attached collection bag!!!....lol
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"I've often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before" A.K.Best
"Wish ya great fishing"
Bill
Hey Bill,
I asked my wife for a Sage rod for
Christmas. I got a dustbuster instead.
Does that tell ya anything?*G* Jim
Tells me that, This was her gag gift prior to giving you the "Real" gift......
Speaking of rods...
Any chance you'd part with the two in the photo...fer say 5 a'piece http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/wink.gif..... http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/biggrin.gif
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"I've often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before" A.K.Best
"Wish ya great fishing"
Bill
Jim,
That hardly looks like a tying area at all. Where's all the stuff and clutter? Way too neat..
Could even make some of us look bad.
[This message has been edited by chewydog (edited 19 July 2005).]
Hey Chewy,
What can I say. The dustbuster works!
But it does get a bit messy at times. It's
just an easy cleaning bench. I like the
white formica surfaces on everything. Helps
these tired old eyes find stray hooks and
stuff. After a busy few days of tying and
a generous mess, I can usually stow everything and wipe it down in just a few
minutes. Warm regards, Jim
Thanks every one. I like the rolltop idea but was leaning toward a secretary style with a little mission in there. Like the all the ideas and will change and incorperate them.
Cheers
After seeing Jims pic,I sure would'nt look at it in the presance of a certian woman I know.....Nore would I dare post a pic of mine.......I have to digthrough a foot of material's to find my tools most of the time.... http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/biggrin.gif...but I still don't lose nuth'in....
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"I've often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before" A.K.Best
"Wish ya great fishing"
Bill