I have been using a Renzetti foam tool caddy. While I like it for shows or tying classes it’s just too small and too crowded for home use. I did see that a pro tier, Dennis Potter have one of these foam type caddys that was much larger. So does anyone know of a larger one of these or is making one my only solution?
Points that I don’t like about the Renzetti caddy:
My bobbins especially are too closely spaced, that goes for most of the other tools.
I need something larger.
The post on lights and placement with others posting pictures of their set up started me thinking along these lines.
I have a big piece of styrofoam type stuff (the rubbery stuff, not the stuff that goes all over) from a TV box, or Furniture box, or something. I just made my own holes as I saw fit. My bodkin makes its own holes as we go. If it gets too ratty? Find another one.
I like the two Renzetti foam block idea! H&H has a carousel thingie with a spring like deal around the top that you hang bobbins (with the thread in 'em) from. Doesn’t take up much room on the desk and they’re right at hand!
Maodiver … I don’t mean to sound simple but don’t you get styrofoam stuck in the bobbins? Do you “pre-hole” it?
Thanks for the thoughts. I actually thought about two but again am not happy with the spacing. Maybe with regular bobbins they are fine, but using Rite Bobbins, the spacing is just too tight. I won’t get rid of the one that I have because I can travel with it nicely. Looking for some ideas for a bench organizer. Leaning toward a wood working project if nothing shows up commercially available.
I tie on an old draftsman’s light table. The backlighting still works but the truth is that I usually tie on it without the backlighting. It’s not a huge table, but it’s sole purpose is to tie.
Nicely done arrangement Ducksterman. What do you think of those fancy Ekich bobbins? I could have bought one from a guy at this years fly tying class that didn’t like the one he had. While I could have bought the one, I was afraid that I would like them and want a half doz of them or something. Sounds like he was having some troubles loading the thread on it and getting the tension spring adjusted just right. I know that this is a strange twist in this thread, but since I started it - ha.
Back to my bench and even though it is a stand alone bench just for tying it is out of metal and not wood. Still looking for some ideas on a tool caddy that is larger with some more space between tools than the nice portable Renzetti foam that I have.
I have a tool box that holds all my fly tying tools and threads and some materials that I take to the monthly TU meeting to demo fly tying. It has plastic puka’s (that’s Hawaiian for little holes) formed in the top of the lid, just the right size for spools of thread, wire, etc, with clear plastic covers. Inside the main box on the top is a plastic tool tray. The tray has two stowage areas running the length of the tray with a 1/2 or so rib and handle dividing the two areas. I glued a strip of wood in the rib area under the tray running the length of the tray and drilled various size hole in the rib/wood and in the handle/wood too. I then sort whatever tools I need for a particular fly, putting the scissors in the holes in the handle/wood. I use the tray as my tool caddy on my roll top desk at home, that way I don’t often leave any tools behind when I take the box with me for fly tying demos or when I go camping/fishing with my son’s scout troop. I have one bobbin with 6/0 white thread, one with black 6/0, one with black 8/0, and one with tan 6/0 thread and one extra bobbin that I put other less often used color/weight spools of thread. Works for me!
John
I actually wrote Dennis Potter of Riverhouse Fly Co: http://www.riverhouseflyco.com/ If you go to his website you will see a photo at the top left hand corner of the screen of Dennis and his tool carrier. I wrote and asked him if he sold this thing and this was his response:
"Rick, buy a second Renzetti carrier. Find a band saw and trim the end off of one and the second cut as big as you need. Use Marine Goop to glue them together. That is what I did.
Best,
DP"
So he said what you guys did, get a second one. Not the answer that I was hoping for. Looks like it’s time for a wood working project. Anyone like to post pictures of what they have done?
A wood project?? I have a beautiful burl given to me by a friend. I was going to drill holes in it for a tool caddy … but it was so pretty, I just use it for displaying fancy flies I’ve tied! It would be functional. and good looking as a tool caddy!
You have the right idea, that is what I do, I use two of the Renzetti foam caddies. I have a number of bobbins, some short some tall. I alternate them that way in the block, a tall, a short, ect, then the bobbins don’t get in each others way.
If you’re not happy with the spacing on the Renzetti tool caddy, why don’t you get one of those dense foam blockls used by people that practice Yoga. You could cut it in half and make the tool spacing you want and glue the two pieces together side-to-side or get one of the other sizes like this one http://www.yogadirect.com/2-inch-foam-yoga-bricks.html which is 8x12 inches. Just a thought…
Another…not very elegant …but inexpensive and easy…is to get one of those knife holding blocks at a thrift store…many sizes available…most slant towards you which is good…and you can drill holes in it according to whatever pattern you want.
Some cool ideas, thanks for sharing. Never would have thought of the knife block but it would take a larger project to do one from scratch. Will have to go shopping soon.
My tool caddy on my tying bench, is for storing the basic tools and bobbins I find that I need on a regular basis. I select what I need and lay them out to my right, all the tying materials for the fly pattern I lay the materials to my left. I pick something up, and then lay it back down in its place.
Thea materials on my left, I have in plastic trays that i clean-out and save, from the microwave meals that I snack on when get hungry. That way my stuff does not get mixed up or end up on the floor.
