New to fly tying

[Thursthouse]

Hey guys,

Just picked up my first vice and tools and some materials (haven't actually tied a fly yet as I'm waiting for Charlie Craven's Basic Fly Tying book to come in). I was wondering what type of container(s) you guys use to hold all your materials? Is there a specific product I should be looking into or just picking up some plastic storage bins from a crafts store (can't stand going in those places but will make an exception :crap? I find a ton of information on everything to do with fly tying except where you guys hoard all your hooks/dubbing/feathers etc. in. In addition, should I be adding anything to these containers to preserve the flies or to keep bugs out of any natural materials that I have harvested?

As always I appreciate all your guys help and advice.

Thanks,

Tom

 

[tomfly]

Hey guys,

Just picked up my first vice and tools and some materials (haven't actually tied a fly yet as I'm waiting for Charlie Craven's Basic Fly Tying book to come in). I was wondering what type of container(s) you guys use to hold all your materials? Is there a specific product I should be looking into or just picking up some plastic storage bins from a crafts store (can't stand going in those places but will make an exception :crap? I find a ton of information on everything to do with fly tying except where you guys hoard all your hooks/dubbing/feathers etc. in. In addition, should I be adding anything to these containers to preserve the flies or to keep bugs out of any natural materials that I have harvested?




As always I appreciate all your guys help and advice.

Thanks,

Tom

That is exactly what I did. Before you go, print a 50% off coupon one item from Michaels crafts. If you keep you materials sealed in ziplocks in the storage containers you should keep out the moths.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Welcome to the world of fly tying, you are about to become a hoarder. lol I use sterilite plastic storage bins, the ones with drawers. They are fairly priced from wal-mart and they hold a lot stuff. As for hook storage, hands down the best hook boxes are the craft mates lockable compartment boxes. Each compartment is locked via a bar, simply push the button on the side of the box and open the compartment. You can shake the hell out of it and the hooks wont mix and you can drop it and the hooks wont spill. They are available at craft stores and they are commonly on sale. You can find them in the bead isles

 

[Thursthouse]

Awesome, thank you guys! That was the exact information I was looking for. Do you guys use cedar or moth balls in your storage containers/zip lock bags or is that over kill? I personally hate the smell of moth balls and would prefer to avoid using them.

"As for hook storage, hands down the best hook boxes are the craft mates lockable compartment boxes. Each compartment is locked via a bar, simply push the button on the side of the box and open the compartment. You can shake the hell out of it and the hooks wont mix and you can drop it and the hooks wont spill. They are available at craft stores and they are commonly on sale. You can find them in the bead isles "<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

Perhaps I'll see SIMS in the bead aisle when picking those craft mate lockables.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Awesome, thank you guys! That was the exact information I was looking for. Do you guys use cedar or moth balls in your storage containers/zip lock bags or is that over kill? I personally hate the smell of moth balls and would prefer to avoid using them.

"As for hook storage, hands down the best hook boxes are the craft mates lockable compartment boxes. Each compartment is locked via a bar, simply push the button on the side of the box and open the compartment. You can shake the hell out of it and the hooks wont mix and you can drop it and the hooks wont spill. They are available at craft stores and they are commonly on sale. You can find them in the bead isles "<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

Perhaps I'll see SIMS in the bead aisle when picking those craft mate lockables.

I dont use cedar or mothballs. I just keep all skins in zip lock bags with a touch of borax in the bag. The borax is a good bug deterrent and its odorless. If you keep your bags closed you wont run into any issues.

 

[Pete]

The only real benefit from smoking.
Lots of cigar boxes to store your materials.

 

[JeffK]

Zip lock bags are fine for stuff you buy. However, I offer a word of caution about animals you collect from hunting or roadkill. They can spread bugs that can do a lot of damage. Lots of info on the internet, but for any bird or animal you harvest be sure to at least clean real well, freeze for at least a month, and cure in borax or salt. I use pieces of No Pest strip in my containers. However, that is toxic stuff and you may not want to use it with kids or pets around.

If you get a bug infestation from something you picked up along the road that could be the most expensive "free" tying material you will ever use.

All sorts of storage containers - either general storage, food storage, or from a craft store - are fine for storing your stuff. This tying thing is addictive and you may be over-run with containers sooner than you think. Try not to be too cheap and get something sturdy. At first anything will work well, but with time the boxes will crammed full and better closures will be a blessing.

Quart size zip lock bags are great. It is a good idea to label the bags. Without labels the different chunks of fur or whatever will be hard to identify some day.

 

[Barleywine]

Thursthouse. Good zip-lock bags should do the trick for store bought materials. I've only had one infestation problem when I noticed a few moths flying around the house and traced it back to a pack of snowshoe rabbit feet. I hadn't put them in zip-locks, and the bag had a hole in from hanging on a hook.

Shoot me a PM if you want to tye some night. I live one town over from you in Wyckoff.

 

[Trout Guy]

I cut small pieces of cedar siding and put them in the drawers with my materials. Never had moths or any sort of insect infest my materials..

The only parisite to ruin any of my materials was my damn dog.

 

[Johnny Utah]

I cut small pieces of cedar siding and put them in the drawers with my materials. Never had moths or any sort of insect infest my materials..

The only parisite to ruin any of my materials was my damn dog.

My dog ate a wood duck skin and a whiting silver grade neck. I just laughed lol My own fault since I didnt clean my table when I was done. The good part of it was I had already remove the flanks off the wood duck hide.

 

[tomfly]

My dog ate a wood duck skin and a whiting silver grade neck. I just laughed lol My own fault since I didnt clean my table when I was done. The good part of it was I had already remove the flanks off the wood duck hide.

you chase him around like Chong did.

 

[Johnny Utah]

No, I dont like shitty feathers. lol

 

[Trout Guy]

My dog ate a wood duck skin and a whiting silver grade neck. I just laughed lol My own fault since I didnt clean my table when I was done. The good part of it was I had already remove the flanks off the wood duck hide.

One time my dog got a hold of a whiting cape and literally plucked every single feather off the skin. So there were feathers strewn ALL OVER the place. Im still finding feathers to this day!