Introduction: Fly Tying Station

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About: Fly tying, woodworking, mandolin jamming one of a kind.

Having a fly tying station really helps with keeping tables, desks, and couches clean of materials. It's also very handy to have all materials and tools in one portable place, making tying more efficient. Nice ones cost a fortune, while making them is better, cheaper, simple and more personalized. I've made a few of these for friends, mentors and myself, so I've documented this most recent one I've created for a buddy. Hope this gives you a few ideas for your station.

Step 1: Wood

Walnut, aspen and excess 1/4 inch plywood (or 1/4 inch planed wood). This project cost me about $70 with enough wood for 2 stations. (About $35 each)

Step 2: Glue

Cut to length and width and glue together.

Step 3: Sand

Scrape glue and sand top. 60, 150, 220, 400 grit sandpaper.

Step 4: Layout

Draw blueprint of the tying station desired. Sketch wood burning designs.

Step 5: Putting It Together

Cut pieces, drill holes and glue together

Step 6: Top It Off

Add top pieces. Overhang edges for clamp-on vice mounting. Drill holes for tools(right side for right handed). Drill holes to add dowels/metal rods for spools in back (not shown).

Step 7: Router

Router top and sand all edges up to 400 grit sandpaper. Wipe with wet rag to pull up wood fibers and sand with 400 grit one more time before poly.

Step 8: Woodburn Desired Design

I wood burned a trout and an Old English font "D. E." For my buddy's initials.

Step 9: Poly

I used semi-gloss Polyurethane. 3 coats. Lightly sand with 320+ (I used 400 grit) between coats.

Step 10: Complete

Let last coat of poly dry, sand one more time and tie! Having a material station as this has increased my efficiency drastically. Make your station custom and personalized. Find magnetic strips, cork, alligator clips, foam squares (hair stacking), slots, and other accessories to make your tying easier. I got an amazon fire tablet for graduation, and I put a magnetic ball mount on my other station so I can You Tube different tying videos. Making a station will make tying easier, faster, and organized.