I’m looking for good bench designs, so can any of you post pictures, links or ideas about fly tying benches? I’ll appreciate it.
I’m not saying your bench should look like this, but it’s an idea to start with. 
Don’t do, THIS!
Often times, search parties are sent out, to find me for dinner…
However, me thinks, you’re maybe asking about "types & styles?
Like anything, in fly-obsessing,(newer members, call it “Fly Tying”), “personal preference” will be your guiding force and of course… “how much ROOM” one has to begin with.
My, “cave”, is an entire room. One, small, corner is set aside for a home office, but the rest is taken up with fly-obsessing and gear.
Somewhere, underneath it all, I started with a 6-foot folding plastic table, from Costco. That gave me a “base” to sort of start with. On top of that…went an “Oasis Turntable copy” tying set up, that I made myself. Then, cabinets, boxes, drawers, drawers on wheels, shelves on the walls, shelving units, ans the floor all sort of “grew out” from, and around, the starting table.
Years ago, I purchased one of the actual “fly tying table setups”, with the various slots and holes and a place to clamp or set a vise. It lasted about 6 months, before I was out of room.
Everyone has to decide on their own, really, “Just HOW MUCH space”, to dedicate to your hobby, obsession,sickness, sport, whichever way you care to look at it!?
I feel much better, now. Thanks Paul! 
Ken Y,
Since you didn’t set a price limit, what would be my favorite fly tying table would be the 2002 Model built by Desks By Charles. The company is a sponsor of FAOL and when I have the room, I will be ordering this desk.
Larry 
—sagefisher—
http://www.fly-tying-desks-by-charles.com/images/Oak_Desk_029.jpg
I like computer desks…
you finally came out of the closet???:D:D
Nope…:D…here’s the other one;)
Right now I just use a table I built out of a 4’x8’ sheet of select fir, with 2x4 framing and 4x4 legs. It WAS my computer desk, but now I need a tying and rod building table…so I’ve been cleaning it off and moving my computer to one end to free up 3/4 of the desk HAHA!!! Addicts!
Mine will soon look like the others:)
Shane
Go simple, save space. I keep my materials in that popcorn tin on the floor. And yes, its a star wars tin.
Thanks for the setups you have. I enjoyed looking at some of your messy tying desks. Ken Yamazaki
Holy Cr@p you guys have a lot of stuff! Maybe one day I’ll have enough extra cash to be able to have every imaginable color of every material I have ever even heard of, but right now I’m gonna have to live with just making sure I have hooks to tye on. ducksterman how much cash do you suppose you have wrapped up in materials and tools? I am so envious that I may have to sell a kidney to have cash to buy stuff…
OH yea, my wife LOVES the in the closet joke, I tye on a wooden tv tray in our walk in closet. It’s the best place that I have found to try to keep the cats out of.
chris
Chris…I’m not sure a kidney would cover it:rolleyes::rolleyes:
My bench is in the basement. It’s a multi-purpose bench I built. Originally it was for reloading, but it also see duty as my tying area and work bench. It’s been involved any many “break it” yourself project around the house as well as constructing some of the finest Pinewood Derby Cars to race in the local Cub Scout circuit. Here’s a couple of pictures along with my materials storage area.
I wonder what else I could sell for cash…
With the tiny areas most of you are showing I would have trouble storing my hackles… 
Was taking some picturs of reels a while back and used capes and saddles as background and they were pretty enough for their own photos. Many look a little ratty for pictures, but my hackles bag is a monster Zip-Loc that holds many cubic feet.
There are three complete Conranch skins along with at least a dozen other capes or saddles from Denny. There are also dozens from other suppliers… Cannot think of a color and type I do not have covered…
art the materials hog
After a quick review of most of these “personal” spaces, where people tie their flies, I have come to the conclusion that I don’t have enough material to tie with… Unfortunately, I also lack the funds and space to begin to acquire that much material…
To keep myself from hi-jacking this thread, I use a kitchen table, and keep my materials and most tools in a large tackle box. I use an old table lamp for extra lighting. Simplicity at its best…
However I am seriously considering building a desk for tying/rod building and whatever else I may be able to use it for…
Joe;
It’s MY GOAL in life, to “make you feel better” so here’s the “remaining two pics” of my “fly tying cave”. I hope it improves your day!?
Also, a few have mentioned “the costs of acquiring so much material, etc.”. It’s not really, the expense in obtaining all the materials that makes fly fishing/tying “expensive to the stage mine may be”, it’s the cost of the lawyers, until you find a bride willing to put up with this sort of addiction that’s truly expensive. Well, worth it, but expensive nonetheless!
The actual “amount of materials” really comes from years of accumulation.
Tucked away in a corner of my attached garage is my hole:
(click to enlarge)
It’s a tiny little space about 5’ X 6’ that is hard to even photograph but it suits me just fine. My tying station is my sister’s old POS kids desk with a bad 1960’s “antiquing” paint job. It has served me well and moved with me to 6 different residences. It’s small but with the addition of an extension shelf on the side it works out well. As you can see, I keep only the stuff I am using out on the desk. Not because of a lack of space but just because I like to keep clutter to a minimum. This is about as messy as you will ever see it. The process isn’t hard; I take out what I need, tie the required quantity and sizes and put the stuff away and get out what I need for the next pattern. Since I never switch to a different pattern before I tie at least 16 flies in a given size; it works just fine for me.
I keep my tools in the top center drawer in a Plano box. In the side drawers I keep my hooks and beads in compartmentalized containers. Dubbing and other non-feathers are in large Zip-Locks in the other drawers separated by color.
The TV is for entertainment and the small plastic boxes beside it are for spooled stuff like extra thread, floss, tinsel, wire, etc. while extra stuff is in bins above:
(click to enlarge)
In other bins I keep all of my necks and other feathers along with extra stuff like fur, synthetic hair & other materials:
(click to enlarge)
Tucked away behind me is a shelf with a few extra items along with the most essential:
(click to enlarge)
I also can easily transport my binned or bagged stuff when I travel along with an extra vise & light which make a separate travel kit unnecessary.