This is my first post, so allow me to introduce myself. My name is Dave Drouillard. I live in Carleton Michigan. I was introduced to flyfishing by my grandfather over 20 years ago. While Michigan has fantastic trout fishing, the rivers near me hold moslty bass and carp, I do manage to get up north a few times a year, but I definately do more tying than fishing, especially this time of year. I thought I would jump into the fray here by showing you what my wife (who obviousely loves me very much) bought me for Christmas. It’s a new desk lamp with a daylight bulb. It also has a magnifying glass and a clip to hold patterns. My wife also allowed me to take over the Cherry Chipendale desk that has been in her family for generations. [/quote]
Welcome aboard Dave. I’d be extra careful with that beautiful desk. I always end up getting head cement or epoxy on my desk and I sure would hate to mess up a family heirloom. Very nice set-up and please jump in to share any information you have on patterns, techiques or equipment.
I have to echo the thoughts of others. That table is waaaaayyyyy too neat. I noticed a cover over the top of that beautiful desk. I hope that’s to protect that finish from spilled head cement and such.
Thank you all for the advise. It wasn’t messy yet because I had just re-organized it. My wife would laugh hysterically at the thought of me being overly neat. I do have to keep it reasonably neat,because it’s in the living room. This is what it looks like while in the middle of tying. I am tying up some yellow sallies that where the fly of the week a couple of weeks ago. I don’t have any yellow hackle so the closest I could come is some badger hackle. I’m also having trouble taming the elk hair. My flies never seem to look like the pictures, but they do catch the occasional fish.
Nice setup! Make sure you have a surface under your tying stuff and over the wood on the desk that nead cement CAN’T penetrate should it be knocked over or otherwise dribbled onto the wood. Your wife and all those other generations would be very unhappy if the wood were damaged.
Beautiful desk and yes that light is evidence that your wife thinks you’re a “keeper”.
If the picture you showed is as messy as your desk gets,you’ve got a long way to go before I would consider it messy.
I’ve been watching Antique Roadshow too much. You mentioned the desk, I looked at the phone, and the first thought was…wow…
Yes, you most definitely need something to protect that finish. I assume it’s the original finish on this furniture. The hardware looks original, too.
I’m thinking a extra large silicon mat that they sell at cooking stores. It’s non-skid, odorless, flexible (roll up and stuck away after tying), and the best thing is if you spill some head cement or epoxy, it will not soak through.
Don’t think we’re talking butcher blocks here. :lol: If that desk has been in the family for three, four or five or more generations, we could be talking some serious value.
I had the desk appraised about ten years ago and it was worth about 2 g’s back then. Somewhere along the line, someone changed the hardware, and there used to be a hutch on top that is now missing. My mother-in-law says they used to keep it under their stairs, so I’m guessing it disappeared when that happened. I doubt that it still has the original finish. Furniture was routinely refinished or waxed or varnished before people knew anything of ruining it’s value. Anyway, the antique value is only important if you plan on selling it, and we don’t. I think that desk was made to be useful, not to be sat and admired. The reason I was able to take it over was because it was basically being used for a storage bin. I took the time to clean it out and store the things that were in it in other places. Also, its in our living room, so now I can be social with the rest of my family and still tie flies, what could be better? That being said, I do definitely plan on taking care not to mess it up, I hope my great grandchildren can use it in years to come.
I must say, this is the first time in my life I’ve ever been chastised for being too neat. While growing up, I was referred to by my Mom as “Dirty Dave” and not because they though I had a dirty mind, they didn’t find out about that till I got older. Part of the deal for me to use the desk was that I can’t totally trash the place for any length of time, a small price to pay for such and awesome desk.
Thank you all for taking the time to reply to my post, this is truly and awesome group. I will be spending a lot of time in here, I’ve learned so much already.
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