You’re tying at a show and you want to show off your finished flies, how do you display them and pass them around so that other tiers can examine them during your demo? I have seen some just pass around the fly, others put them in forceps and still others put them in this type thingy, which I really don’t know what it’s called. I think it is an “electronics wire something or another” (how did you like that technical jargon?).
Two questions, what do you call this thing if I go to a Radio Shack and ask for it. Next is there something better to hold finished flies for inspection. I have used one of those extendable magnets in the past as well. With the Electronic thingies, I have seen some drill holes in a wooden block and the insert them vertically to hold a series of finished flies.
I use plain old alligator clips that I mount into a wooden block. Since I hardly ever tie anything smaller than a #10 this works out fine. If your tying smaller stuff the clip that you show would work better. Sorry I can’t help with the name of the thing.
I purchased 4 of those things. Drilled holes in a block and use them to display and sometimes to let flies dry. They are used to test connections in wiring. The clip end goes on whatever you are testing and a wire can be inserted in the other end. I got mine about 3 year ago at Radio Shack and can’t remeber the exact name. Just describe to the clerk what they do and look like.
So does everyone think that a few of these would make a nice way to pass things around at a demo?
I can’t remember anything better for demos, but thought that I would ask the collective group before I spent a few bucks and then found something better. Thanks for the quick help. This site is the greatest.
i cannot see the pictures at work (company i work for blocks alot of sites) but i think the blocks are what you are asking for. this will give you some ideas on what to GOOGLE or even for the DIY.
I have a block of wood with a dozen holes drilled in it to fit the test clips. I keep my pattern flies in them. I have a few spare clips that I use to pass around flies that I have just completed, allowing everyone to get a good look at the fly. Kids shows usually get the flies that I tie during the shows. If you give away the flies, have a few containers available to put them in.
The photo shows what I use. My son made a nice display stand for me (you can see it with my name across the top in the right of the photo) and I attach samples of the flies I’ll be tying that day so they don’t have to wait for me to finish. Anyway, this works well for me. Also, the test clips are the best hackle pliers I’ve ever used, if you haven’t tried them, you ought to.
I have never seen any of those postcard holders, but if I did I’d have to pick up a few. The test clips are fairly high…I haven’t found a good place to get them yet. I needed quite a few, and thought I would go to an electrical supply to see if I could get them cheaper.
First of all if you KNOW they can be found at Radio Shack, how hard is it to actually look it up on the web before you go there??? If you type ‘radio’ in Google, Radio Shack is the first in the list.
As for the post card holders, all you need is a pack of alligator clips (8 to 12 in different sizes/styles at Radio Shack for less than $3) and a couple feet of vinyl-covered 3/32 wire rope available at the home center for about $0.35 per foot. Cut to length, crimp in alligator clip and set in base of your choice (small wood block etc.). Want to get fancy on the base? get the liquid acrylic mix in the dry-floral-arrangements section at wally world and pour in your own molds with a few split shot in the bottom and a small fly floating in the acrylic. Let set, then drill a shallow hole for the wire rope.
It was for me. :lol: I was on the site and tried to search electrical tester and didn’t find them. If you don’t know what they are called it is hard to do a search among thousands of items.
For those of you that helped push me in the right direction, thanks.
I was in my local fly shop today and noticed that they had a display set up showing a fly pattern that they made up showing each stage of the fly being tied and they used a wooden block that they had glued some small bottle corks on. They glued the large end of the cork stoppers to the wooden block and had the fly hook stuck into the side of the cork at the top. Worked well and you can purchase cork stoppers in many sizes from your local Lowes or hardware store. Just another idea…
Mini Hook Clips are also great for applying head cement, or Sally Hansen Nail polish to the head thread wraps. I have a wood plank that is drill to hold 6 of these clips, when coating the heads of fly patterns with Sally Hansen, by the time you finish the 6 fly, you are ready to apply the next coat of polish to the 1st.
Also great for holding the finished fly for primping the fly hackle and removing stray fibers, and I also use them for trimming the bodies of spun hair bodies.
Yes they are also great for wrapping of collars and swept hackle around the hook shank, as well for ribbing and other uses.
