CADenali

Scott, My dad helped me bring my ideas to fruition 43 years ago. I still use it to this day. I have several other containers for storage and I sit at this bench at least once a week and sometimes 4 to 5 evenings a week depending on the season. While it is heavy, large and cumbersome it was portable, I could close it up, put it in the truck and head off to the next port of call. At 59 I believe it has found its long term home, my work & hobby room. Over the holiday my youngest son, 24, needed a portable tying bench. He is a chef and a guide and moves about the high country as the seasons change. I put my past experience and some common sense to work and this is what i came up with. He is happy, he is bigger than me and younger than me. The last text he sent from Leadville was a picture of a fly box that he is rapidly filling up and he said all was well! can't ask for more than that. CADenali

All I can add is that a good chair should fit the person sitting in it. I am 6'5" 265lbs, a proper chair eluded me for years. My wife's company did an office remodel about 10 years back and employees got first crack at the office furniture. I picked up a couple office chairs made for big folks that adjust for height and seat depth and have arms that have about 6-7" of height adjustment. I have one at my tying desk and one at my office and are very comfortable. The seat depth and height adjustment are key for me, legs bent at 90 degrees and thighs parallel to the floor and supported by a deep seat. No back fatigue. A tying session for me will be 2-4 hours 3 to 4 nights a week in season. Charlie

Thank you Flat Rock Native

I have been tying streamers this month for my sons, one in the upper midwest and the other in the Roaring Fork valley. I have to get imaginative at Christmas to keep it interesting. This is a variation of a dubbing brush minnow. I have been staring at a small pack of olive emu feathers trying to imagine different ways to use them. I had seen a picture somewhere recently of them used in streamers and the texture they contributed was unique. These pictures are a bit lacking, my apologies. #2 TMC 8089 Stinger hook 3/0 black monocord thread light grey or white baitfish flash 3/4 length of the saddle feather two shad grey saddle feathers undersides facing each other emu feather tied in between them on top of the flash grey icelandic sheep on bottom / olive icelandic sheep on top 2-3 strands of Krystal flash Bright red rabbit dubbing bump in front of the sheep, picked out and swept back grey & olive IS again over the previous layer dub remainder of hook shank to eye/brushes wrap and grab easier EP 1.5" Foxy brush dk olive EP 1.5" Sparkle brush lt olive Glue on eyes of choice

Power shooter, Beautiful job!

Centennial, CO

All of the flies this month are great!! Have been tying in earnest this month to fill holes in my fly boxes and put Christmas presents together for my boys. Charlie

Better pic of vise mounted on extension. Charlie

Herbbr, I have had great success with brass threaded inserts for 1/4-20 and brass bolts if your base/stand is wood, hard wood is best ie: maple, oak, bois d'arc etc The inserts are available at at wood shop supply or Ace, True Value etc. as are Solid brass closet bolts (2/pkg) are 1/4-20 thread solid brass bolts won't scar the stem. The bolt can be cut to length easily and then a black hard nylon handle (Ace again) can be threaded onto the bolt for tightening/loosening. I have several of these over the years for different variations on my tying cabinet. My vise base is removeable so I can close and my cabinet when not in use. The picture shows the latest version, the two brass finger screws lower center go through brass inserts to anchor it in place. The SS stem left of the vice base is the vise extension stem which is anchored into the base with the same hardware. I also use them on the maple rod holder (2nd pic) for rob building so they break down into a stowable package. Charlie

My dad and I built my bench 39 years ago. I'm on my third vise, fourth chair, have added additional light and several storage bins for materials but other than that its my work space several evenings or more a week depending on the season.

Thursthouse, Thank you! Umpqua C200BL 12,14,16 Blk 8/0 Uni-thread Silver oval tinsel fine Body - Black Rabbit / black SLF squirrel nymph mix Thorax Mid- Orange nymph dubbing Thorax Front - Black Squirrel w/ "bench trash" sparkle mixed in Wing - Lt Dun CDC feather tied in bubble style Bench trash is left over tinsel/dubbing that I set aside when tying. When i have a small tray full I toss it in the spice grinder and give it a whirl or two. I have found it comes in handy for things like thorax dubbing, beetle & grasshopper under bodies etc. a little sparkle but not too much and coarse texture.

Emerger patterns, anything that rides in the surface film. Mayfly, caddis, crane and midges - I have has more consistent success over the years whether it be still water, streams and rivers, especially seams and eddys.

Do you use a brush for the heads? Yes I do. It make for a quicker, cleaner tie. I use Pantone pens to apply shading as needed.

Barto Minnow variants Woolhead baitfish

Jake, I started as a teenager 40 years ago with an Orvis pattern book. The frustration for me was technique and understanding and following the material list. With time it got easier and the flies looked better and better as skills improved. We are now blessed with YouTube and magazines and places like this forum that provide far and away more information than was available previously. My boys are in their early twenties and have become very good fly tiers in a much shorter time without much input from me thanks to that information and really great fly shops here in Denver and Wisconsin. As mikechell eluded to, fish are not nearly as picky as fisherman and the best thing I can say about early attempts - fish with them, you will be pleasantly surprised and it will provide good information to enhance and improve your techniques and confidence. And remember, fish don't laugh but they will fight which is the desired result.

DrVette, The lighter colored wood is the piece that he sent with the vise. The darker wood is the same, African Rosewood, but sourced at local supplier here in town. I sent him a sketch of my bench and the "block" I intended to make. So he drilled it for the adapter and locking lever and I modified to fit my block and attached it. My kit fits inside the wooden box, the vise block straddles an oak center divider that keeps the drawers closed when the drop front is closed up. My dad and I built the box 40+ years ago (I was a teenager). The original vise block was ash and not as robust as the Renzetti traveler is much smaller and lighter. The postage charge is stiff but it is what it is. There is a gent that brings several in a year in Oregon, Wasatch Fly Tying Tools, and offers a base as well. That might be an option to investigate. Charlie

Pete, I have always admired your tying and commentary. It was some of your posts that I found several years back while researching the JVice that helped make my decision. And it was a good one! From Jay to the rosewood block he made for me and all the great stuff in between I can honestly say its the best money i ever spent! And well spent it was. I started the hobby 40 years ago as a teenager and I have never tired of the fascination in materials and applying them in a way that is pleasing to my eye as well as the eye of the fish. Charlie

A little more detail...

A little late in posting this - With some help from a great teacher here is what the JVice with gallows tool attached looks like. It is a very simple yet effective tool to use. It can be added or removed in a matter of seconds and has just enough spring to hold great tension as the fly is completed by moving the hackle plier from the top of the arch to the back of of the arch. I use the TyFlyz Toolz hackle tweezer for just that purpose along with a little spring from the hardware store when needed. Charlie

I didn't answer you question - (after seeing the picture you posted earlier in the thread I can see what you are referring to.) Yes, I can leave it on the vice when tying other patterns and because of its shape and design the vice rotates without issue. It can be taken on and off so quickly that it is really just like grabbing another tool. Charlie

Good morning Idaho, Yes sir, I do use it often. The attachment is easy - loosen the brass knurled screw on top the j-arm and place the U end of the gallows arm under the head of the screw and tighten. Literally takes 10 seconds. It has enough 'spring' in the arm that it keeps perfect tension. I use the TyFlyz Toolz hackle tweezer with the gallows, the loop of the tweezer is the right size, easy to manipulate and I can slide it back towards the anchor point when adding dubbing in front of the post and/or finishing the fly. The entire set up is a very thoughtful easy design that works very well for me. The amount of room available behind the hook for my hand makes manipulating materials easy. If you would like email me and I can forward some pictures to Regards, Charlie

First time posting- I don't know if this is helpful in stirring up some creative juices but the JVice gallows tool might give you some ideas in coming up with a rotary gallows tool. I got a JVice about two years ago and when tying parachutes and paraloops the gallows arm is very helpful. Look up JVice fly tying and go to accessories (I have no idea how to post pics - i am at the bench more than the computer) I tied with a Renzetti Traveler i bought almost thirty years ago, replaced the jaws with the cam version about 10 years ago and finally bought a new vice 2 years ago, The J was a great purchase for me. I fashioned a gallows tool for the Traveler with a small clamp and steel control rod from an R/C hobby shop formed to the arc, It connected to the Travelers arm in about the same location as your arrow points to. It took some tweeking but once in place it worked as well as the J's gallows tool. The Traveler arm has a much smaller diameter than the Master but very doable I think. You might also check Wasatch Fly Tying out of Oregon as he sells Jvice and accessories on his website. The gallows tool is bent in such a way it might make mounting to the arm much easier and sturdy. I hope this was helpful. Enjoy that beautiful vise and catching fish on the fly! Regards, Charlie in Colorado

"Sure hope SHE gets home before HE does...... C'mom honey, where are you......dammit, they carpooled today!"

Beautiful fish!