Fly Traps

[WDH]

What a great idea!  This is perfect for those smaller pieces of wood that trend to pile up and spill over in the shop .

[Norm]

Chris I'd like to buy the box in the above picture if you still have it. PM me so we can work out the details.

[metalspinner]

Good tips, Phorester!

The boys in the merit badge class will receive one of these as a little gift for completing the class. But they aren't my primary target at this point as they have no money. :D

These boxes are fairly small.  The routed opening is business card sized (my secondary market ;))  I'll need to talk with several flyfishermen to see if they would prefer something a little bigger.  I'm not a flyfisherman and have no experience standing in a river to fish. But as a tool guy, I like to have several smaller tool boxes rather than one larger box.  This alows me to quickly find what I'm looking for. In addition, if a smaller box were to be dropped in the current and lost fewer flies would be lost and the fishing could continue. :D

At our summer camp this year, we bathed in the river.  There is nothing more undignified than stumbling through the current trying to catch the bar of soap you just dropped. :D A string on the box sounds like a good feature. ;)

The magnetic strip was my "next idea." However, the first material I tried isn't strong enough magnetically.  A few different samples are on order to continue experimenting.

WDH,
After this little project, my scrap pile now consists of even smaller pieces I couldn't throw out. :Dn 

There is one board - a piece of 4/4 soft maple - that I set aside until everything is worked out just right.  It is perfectly quartersawn and shows tons of tiny ray fleck.  In addition, it has a bit of curl and some spalt. It is only about a foot long and 6" wide. I've been holding on to it for years. : :D

[Lud]

You might look at "recoilers" or "retractors".  I use a big key chain retracter on my golf bag for the head of a brass barbecue brush but that's too heavy.  I seem to remember a clip on retractor for I.D. badges that used a nylon line.  Strong but light.  That might let you clip the fly trap to the vest but save it from a dunkin'. 

[Claybraker]

I'm still thinking of different ways to secure the flys in the box. The cork strip just isn't cutting it.  I little bumping around and the flies knock loose. 

My procurement manager is out securing materials for the next idea...

3mm craft foam should work. Take a look at the Scientific Anglers fly boxes for examples.

[isawlogs]

Quatersawn sycamore...



 

  Chris, I would like this one, if still available. PM me the details 

[Norm]

I got mine and let me tell you there's no way these are going anywhere near water! Too darn nice to risk having them float off downstream.

Awesome craftsmanship Chris thank you. 

[isawlogs]

 Chris, as to how to put flies in there, I would look into getting a lamb hide with wool attached , cut pads out and glue the pads into the boxes. Or get the synthetic replacement of the wool. The flies hook well to wool and are easy to unhook. As for the magnets, I would stay away from them as they would compress the flies and may deform said flies.  Just a thought here 
Those are really nice boxes . 

[metalspinner]

I really like the wool idea. We have a Tandy Leather place in town and they have wool hides.

[isawlogs]

 If there where not a border between us with zellous guards that try to hold anything that grew, lived or inbetween from entering either side I would send you one ... But I doubt that it would make it across. I had to give up some oranges the last time I went across for gas.. they where Floridian oranges... : 

[SwampDonkey]

Those fly boxes look great, lovely figure, and nice work. 

I was a fisherman (what we call an angler) in my younger days. I fished for salmon and trout. I also tied flies, mostly hair wing, not the classic patterns with feather wings. But I knew an old timer who tied them and he gave me a few classic feather winged salmon flies when he was too old to take the boat out for a salmon any more. I made a small display case that you can look through a glass top and see the flies from the top and the side, by installing a mirror in the back of the box.

I think some of the classic salmon flies are $50 now, maybe more.

We also have a salmon angler's museum in Doaktown, along the famous Mirimachi River.

Salmon angling was a part of my grandfather's way of making a living, as a guide.

[metalspinner]

Let's have some fun!  I want to flash mob the Forum's Paypal button.

I have these five fly boxes that I will donate to the first five forum members that go to the Paypal button and make a donation to the forum.  It does not matter to me the amount that is donated.  And I do not ever want to know. That is a secret between you and your bank account.

Here are the steps...
1.   Respond to this thread which box you want. That way everyone knows what is still available.
2.   Go to the Paypal button and make a donation to the forum.
3.   Send me a PM with your mailing address and forum name. I will send them out tomorrow through the post office.

These are the five boxes up for donation. Each box has a beveled cork insert to hold your flies.  The insert is double stick taped in there, so you can remove it and replace with something different if you want.



 


 




Quartersawn Sycamore 


 




Walnut


 




Figured Ambrosia Maple


 




Spalted maple 


 




Spalted beech


 


Here are the steps...
1.   Respond to this thread which box you want.
2.   Go to the Paypal button and make a donation to the forum.
3.   Send me a PM with your mailing address. I will send them out tomorrow through the post office.