[BeadHead]

I have been tying flys for almost a year now. I use to sit at my computer desk and tie them. It was good but I wasnt spending "quality" time with my wife, as she put it. So now I sit in the living room and tie as we watch TV,Gotta love that "quality" time. I think she was just lonley. I have been siting in the floor with a little workbench I made. I am looking at building a bigger better workbench/desk to get me off the floor. Having problems with the dog liking my animal hides a bit to much. I have some ideas what I want and have even drawn a picture of a prototype. Its a desk on wheels. Big enough to store my gear and small enough to roll out of the way when compainy comes.Before I build it tho I want some feedback.Here is what I want to incorperate into it.
1- Spool Holders
2- Hook orginazation and storage
3- easyly empted trash bin
4- wheels
5- good lighting
here are some sketch's of what im thinking
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/4229/flytable3ho.jpg
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/2431/tabletop6dl.jpg
Any feedback you have will be great. Thinks im intrested in are.
1- What does your Tying Station look like?
2- What do you look for in a station?
3- Whats the biggest item stored?(this will help me figure out what size drawers I'll need.... im thinking pheasent tails,they seem pretty long)

 

[Topsail Angler]

Wow - sounds like a great plan. The top link only showed a partial picture for me - not enough to see the desk itself. the bottom link worked fine. It might be the third party server where the image is stored so I'll try again later. Do you have any rough dimensions?

 

[basilwilliam]

Sean, Those are some awesome sketches, did you do them yourself? The only thing I could think to add is a little shelf / holder for a tying pattern book. I have seen a few commercially avaliable tying stations that had these and always thought that would be a good idea. Seems like when I tie (on my kitchen table) that the book is always either covered or in the way.

As far as spending quality time with your wife. What my wife and I do is we will have what we call a crafts night. We sit at the kitchen table and I will tie flies while she does cross stich or some other craft hobby. This works out real well and we both enjoy it. Sometimes we will have a few adult beverages while we do it. Afterwards we just chill and listen to music or somthing. A little "quality time" before going to sleep also helps.

Just thought of something. If you use like the plano type clear storage compartment boxes for your tying materials, you might want to design the shelves o fit these.

You will have to share the finished product with us. One of these days I think I am going to try to build one for myself. Good luck.

 

[BeadHead]

O Yeah, The book holder. How could I forget the book holder I have the same problem its always getting covered up. I might even add a place to put the laptop. I sometimes tie from patterns I have seen on the net(good old Orvis). I usually print them out for my own book. I have also seen CD to play on your Computer with step-by-step procedures, Hadent tried those but someday maybe. As for the Craft night thats a awsome idea Only thing is with my tollerance I better stay of the adult bev's until the fly is tied. I would hate to end up with a Tenn. Wullf on a #6 streamer hook As far a deminsions go, none yet. I orignally started drawing out plans for a portable box. If anyone is intrested in that type I have some started prints. As for drawing yea I drew those. With the real-draw pro program it was actually pretty easy. My 30 day trial is up tho so until I buy it no more pretty drawings Ill keep everyone posted on my progress as I go.

 

[lefty]

As for drawing yea I drew those. With the real-draw pro program it was actually pretty easy. My 30 day trial is up tho so until I buy it no more pretty drawings

It ain't as pretty, but about a year ago I found "CadStd" for free on the web -- basically it's his five-year-old 2D CAD software, he offers as freeware. If you want more-recent features or 3D, then you pay for it.

 

[fojoloy]

FLIES ON WHEELS. Thirty bucks for a folding desk from Big lots, a set of casters. a little imagination. Move from back deck at coast to front porch and anywhere in between.

 

[sinker man]

You guys are embarassing me. No wonder it takes me so long to turn out a few flies. I guess I could use a little organizing. Planning a foray to the discount stores tonight to try and catch the final markdown on some more halloween specials. I want a fly board as big as FOJO'S by new years.

 

[redfishtom]

bead head tried to download a picture of my tying station. bought a discontinued writing desk at a friends furniture company and several storage bins. it works and it beats paying several hundred$$$$ for basically the same thing. you are right about the lighting, nothing can compensate for the right amount of light. if I did it right the photos might be in the photo section

 

[NCangler]

Redfishtom, let me know if you need any help with the photo upload. You can email to me if you like and I'll post them for you.
Randy

 

[BeadHead]

$30 at Big lots! Thats a good looking stand. Like Sinker I was admiring your Fly board. Looks like you have gotten your $30 from that. thanks for all the ideas. I actually have autocad to draw my prints with. I just like the pictures from Realdraw because they give me a idea on what the finshed produt should look like.

 

[fojoloy]

BeadHead--- Stick with your plan, thats part of the satisfaction of fly tying, designing your own desk and whatever you need. I just threw this one in because it was quick and cheap.