Foam for Fly Box

[DarrinG]

Thanks guys. Local craft stores here only seem to have the 2mm foam, but the 4 or 6 mm sounds like it might work fine. I'll keep looking and see if I can find some. Will the standard craft-type foam hold hooks decently if slit longways and glued down in a box?

[Whitewolf]

desertman just had a good idea. and it triggered a thought in my mind. I was just at a wally yesterday and looked at a sleeping bag size blue foam bedding mat. It was only $7+ and was about 2.5' wide and 6' long. It should work and would make a ton of fly boxes. a little thick...but if slitting it might be perfect.

tks desertman.....

[ScottP]

Will the standard craft-type foam hold hooks decently if slit longways and glued down in a box?

I made this box with the 4mm foam slit lengthwise & glued; works fine:



Regards,
Scott

[bluefish]

Darrin, the ensolite camping pad foam works very well. Though I like Cliff's boxes and have bought a number of them, I find one fault which may come from my own laziness. I don't like large flies to be left out in the yak and I put them away in the box where they came from. The foam traps moisture very well, and if the fly goes in wet and is not stainless the hook begins to rust, especially where the bend meets material. I've had severals good fish break off hooks from this, and had to throw a number of good flies away. The boxes I still use now have wd-40 sprayed in the grooves, but for the most part, I just use foam strips with the hook point only held and replace them when they are torn up. . I may be the only unfortunate person on earth to suffer from this problem, but it happened.


Charlie

[herefishy]

I wonder if you can buy those little dessicant pieces that they put in some of the Flambeau boxes?

[Uncle Jesse]

Go to the Dollar Store, look at the door knob hangers, they are about a quarter inch thick, probably a little less. I cut a piece the width of the box with pinking shears, then use an Xacto knife to cut a slit in the "valley" of the edge. Works great.
fly patch on hat.jpg

[DarrinG]

More good ideas...thanks fellas!
Charlie, brother, it is sure good to hear from you again!

[bluefish]

D, the girls and yourself remain in my thoughts and prayers. Muskies?! I hope I see some pics of you with a trophy .

Charlie

Uncle Jesse, that's a great solution for my problem. A slit that holds the hook without totally hiding it where it can rust, yet the foam doesn't get all torn up because of the slit. Thank you very much, sir.

[physiognomy]

Thanks for the great ideas already shared! I was thinking the foam in my boxes would need replacing sooner rather than later & I'm sure I will prefer foam with slits as apposed to pearcing it all the time.

I wonder if you can buy those little dessicant pieces that they put in some of the Flambeau boxes?

Any sort of silica-based dessicant should work well assuming the ambient humidity where you store them is on the low side. You can also try 'baking' out moisture before use...

http://www.google.com/products?q=silica+dessicant&hl=en

For the 'brave'... Possibly a lifetime supply? http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...uctId=11256828

[dmdmd]

do you know anybody who works in an operating room? the foam on the inside of the needle coounters works well and could be slit with ease. Also if you cut the foam in half and round the corners it fits perfectly inside an altoids tin and will hold a days worth of flies easily