Please post pictures of your fly tying desk

[Neal Osborn]

Dear All,

I have recently moved to a small townhouse and had to give up my large basement and spacious fly tying room.  I now only have a single room that serves as my office/photography_computer/fishing/fly_tying_room.  I have spent a great deal of time recently trying to organize all my fly tying equipment (and rods/reels/lines junk etc).  After searching the internet I conclude that there is very little out there in regards to actual pictures of people’s fly tying stations.  What little I did see helped me get some great ideas on how to make use of very compact space.  I have posted a picture of my little corner with some of my thoughts.  I would like to start a discussion of how people organize their work space and any additional ideas people might have (especially money saving ideas or things we can buy at the local craft store, etc).

As you can see in the picture, I have put together a fully functional fly tying room and compressed it into one corner of my office.  I grew up the son of an interior decorator so I have the obligate plant in the background and the clutter is kept to a minimum (by orders of my wife).

1.  I bought a cheap piece of scrap peg board and cut it long but thin so that it stands up.  I put this behind the desk and it allows me to actually see my materials but also looks organized and uncluttered.

2.  A wooden tool chest; usually found at Sam’s Club or Costco, $100.  These things work great for tying.  My feathers and hackle to in the top and the drawers hold all the other essentials.  It can sit on the desk just behind the vise and is very functional.

3.  This the removeable tool holder from the wooden tool chest.  It perfectly holds the cheap plastic “bead” box inserts that you can get from the craft store.  For about $10 you get 25 large and 15 small plastic boxes and they line up well in the wood grooves.

4.  Dog bed below the desk.  This is a must for me since the dog is addicted to smelling the hackles and furs and must be with me at all times.

5.  I bought a standard “laptop” fly tying stand that holds all my tools and equipment.  You can see to the right of the chest that I use a garage-sale purchased “bar” tool holder for my tinsel/flash.  

If anyone else has pictures or ideas on how to better organize materials or how to make use of ordinary items for fly tying or a fishing room please post.

[Mike Cline]

If anyone else has pictures or ideas on how to better organize materials or how to make use of ordinary items for fly tying or a fishing room please post.

Don’t Do it my way!!! :-[

Although I have found the plastic shoebox containers to be very useful.

Mike Cline

[Neal Osborn]

Mike,

I like the wooden drawer setup.

[Mike Cline]

Neal,

Not sure what robot thing you are talking about.  This desk doubles as a rod building desk, so there are some rod turners underneath.  There’s also a heater tucked in that corner as well.

This desk was built by an Uncle about 15 years ago based on the TV Tyer line of desks.  My uncle was a great amateur furniture builder and put this thing togther for  me from a couple of photos.  The current line the TV Tyer desks can be seen at: http://www.flytyingfurniture.com/Catalog.html

What I really like about this desk is that all the drawers are made of aromatic red cedar which really keeps the the feathers and fur bug free.

Mike Cline

[Philip Smith]

I don’t have time to clean up the messes I make when tying. So that leaves one option for me…

…a rolltop desk. Out of sight, out of mind.

That pic is actually cleaned up a bit.

[charlie kreitler]

Wow. I started tying this year, and all of my things still fit into a few big shopping bags. It’s not convenient but it keeps my wife happy, until I can stake out some territory in the house for a bench. I am definitely NOT sharing any of these photos with her, because that will only clue her in as to how bad a fly tying addiction can become!

[Neal Osborn]

Charlie,
It is almost more addictive than fly fishing because you can do it any day of the year.

[Neal Osborn]

Here is a good link on this topic.

[Rich Kovars]

Great topic!  Here’s my setup.  It is still a work in progress.  The desk I got at a place called the Mill Store.  We have several up here in the Northeast.  You get pretty good deals on unfinished furniture.  This one is called the postmaster I think.  I paid around $100.  I could install thread storage in the top piece, but I like the racks on the wall better.  I use UNI thread and they have a great color coded label system so I know what gauge of thread I have just by the color of the label.  On the wall I get to see everything at a glance.  

The thread racks I got at Walmart in the craft section.  The Gerstner toolbox serves as a tool/supply cabinet and a travel box.  

I drilled a 2 1/2″ hole in the top over the drawer.  I have a nice wooden box that sits right under the hole and captures all of my excess material.  Works pretty slick.

If you look close in the bottom right, that is a rod rack I made from a table I got at the same store.  I think I paid $35 for it.  I drilled 2 3/4″ holes in the top.  Really great for storing rod tubes.  Of course, below the hat on to the left of the Gerstner is a dormer beer fridge.  

I still have some finishing and stain work to do.  I also bought a nice display wrack, but I don’t have pics of that.  I put some of the reels I have collected on it and I also use it to dry out the reels I still use.

I have a rod making table set up in the same area of the basement.  There is a nice wood stove to the right of the tying  desk.  In the winter it is a very inviting place to sit and tie.  

I eventually want to replace the plastic storage bins under the Gerstner with something that is wood.  I like the Gerstner roll around and toolbox base, but I am still looking for cheaper alternatives.  So far I haven’t found anything that would look quite right.

[matt_dotts]

Rich
thanks for the tip on the simple rod storage table.

[Steve K.]

Neal,

I also do the Gerstner tool box deal. It’s an antique so the wife seems okay with it.

[Neal Osborn]

Drifter,

I don’t know what was better looking . . . the wonderful view outside from your tying bench or the rack of reels hanging on the wall.

[mtngrousehtr]

I built it using the plans located here:

http://www.appalachianflyfishing.com/FlyDesk/FlyDesk.php

[Neal Osborn]

MGH,

Very nice desk, thanks for posting the link with detailed build information.

[yuhina]

MtnGrouseHtr

That’s very nice desk! Like a commercial tier’s desk! Are these little cells for hook/beads? or for the finished flies? I would be very productive if I have this desk!

All others have great setting too! Love these desk photos!

I really don’t have a tying desk…(that’s why I did not post photo.. :() Mine tying desk could be on living room or bed room…. a vise and a case of material… I “dig” things out of the box… no organization at all… 🙁

[mtngrousehtr]

Neal,

[gavin poppen]

As you can see, I’m not very organized. Cheers.

[Neal Osborn]

That is awesome!

[Neal Osborn]

I have managed to get my fly tying station down to 4′ x 2′ in my little office 😀

[ron eagle elk]

I an couple ways I’m very lucky, my wife also ties flies and fly fishes.

[Author]

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