I have a opertunity to get a roll top desk for $85.00. I had thought about getting it for flytying. Does anyone here use one as their tying desk and how does it work for you? Is it worth the money spent. any advantages? thanks in advance
Bob
It would depend on the quality of the desk. My wife uses a secretary desk kinda the same premise; when she folds up the desk you can no longer see the mess or should I say her filing system.
If it a good quality I would jump on it for $85.00
It is good quality made of oak and used a little. found it at the youth ranch so the money goes to a good cause.
I have a drop lid desk for fly tying that I’ve used for years. The main advantage, and I think this would apply to a roll-top too, is that I can quickly and easily conceal my tying mess. This is particularly handy if your desk is a living area and / or if you have pets around that might get into your stuff. My drop lid desk doesn’t have as much work surface as I’d like, but I suspect a roll-top would have more work surface.
I’ve had a big roll top for years and love it, the only changes I did was to line the drawers with cedar. I holds a ton of stuff and has a large work area.
I upgraded my fly tying desk to a rolltop that I picked up from a local Goodwill store last year and I absolutely love it. Since I only got the desk top, I had to find an oak desk to match which I did through Craig’s list. I customized it a bit by raising the height of the desk top about 4 inches which is a MUCH more comfortable height for me to tie flies. I found this out by researching what jewelers use for a bench and found that they use an elevated height to relieve the strain on their necks/backs. The “usual” height for a desk is around 31 inches which is perfect for writting, not for tying flies. I added a pull out work surface in the space where I elevated the desk top. I think that you will really enjoy a roll top desk, especailly if you’re like many of us that don’t clean your desk in between tying sessions. I know that my wife likes it a lot better than my old desk for that very reason.
Jim Smith
Roll top desks are the best thing to have if you have the space and at $85.00 I would be making space for it!
Currently I have a massive office desk that I got for $40 from my previous employers but my wife says it has to go as it takes up too much room. Too much room? It has it’s own room!
That is a nice take on the Bureau set up with the two independent parts, must be a pleasure to sit at!
After 30 years of tying Im not sure any desk is large enough to hold all my stuff. Still, its nice to able to slam that top down on my roll top to cover up the mess. Im sure the wife appreciates it. Remember :“if Mamas not happy, nobodys happy.”
I would get the desk for 85 dollars.
James, your desk is neat, and I love the idea of the jeweler desk being raised…if I get a desk one of these days…I would like to raise it too. Thanks for that idea.
Kelly
My setup is a desktop that I put into a cup board and a fold up table that hides away. It works for me because space is limited. That being said, I tend to lack in the neatness/organizational skills and the roll top is perfect. When I get an upgrade in space, that is the way to go. If the mess overwhelms anyone else, just roll down the desk… Awesome!
Jim,
Congrats on a very nice desk you put together here. I like it and it keeps you from doing what I’m finding I do…collect a lot of stuff! You did well with this set-up and it looks good to boot.
I bought a rather large size “student desk” and made a couple of wall shelves for my tying area (read…“room”) and it seems I’m always getting more “stuff”.
Looks good !!
Harleybob…if you can get decent rolltop for that price I’d say go for it, even if it means a bit of a refinish. I’d say you made a good find.
Jeremy.
I have a teak roll top desk that I picked up in Taiwan 30 some years ago. It is in the basement family room. The best feature is that I can leave my vice set up with material set out and just roll the desk shut so my wife doesn’t complain about the “unsightly” mess. I also have an old cedar lined dresser, next to the desk, with most of my tying material. I can plop down whenever I find the time to tie a few flies, unfortunately not as often as I would like, and don?t have any wasted time setting up or taking down and putting stuff away.
Get the desk, you won?t regret it!
John
What a nice accessory. Look at all of those drawers. I could almost be Mr. Organized with one of those. When one more kid moves out of the house, I might have to have one of those in a fly tying room. :oops:
Rick
WOW!!!
Carpcrazy has a fish tank next to his tying desk to try new fly patterns in.
That is totally awesome!!!
The desk is a bargan at 85 buks, GET IT!!
If after trying it you don’t like it, you can always sell it, and get your money back.
Take care,
chris
…Get the desk. $$85 is a bargain. You will like it. Your wife will love it.
…Get the desk…ModocDan
I’m in the market for a roll top as well. Before spending the $85 I’d find out dimensions, make, configuration & such. I’ve been finding that there is a big disparity in the term “roll top” desk. Most of the ones I’ve seen similar to the desks pictured in this thread are in the $200 - $300 range on craigslist (for my area). If it’s like those and $85 grab it!
I don’t have a roll top but I would love to get one just to hide the mess from my wife and dog (who is now very interested in ripping up my stuff!).
What kind of fish are in that there tank?
For 85 bucks … if the top still rolls, … it’s a DEAL. I’m currently looking for one here and I’ll be hard pressed to find a working one for twice that price. (new grilfriend has a cat and he likes playing with the materials :mad:
Maybe it’s time to use the cat as material…