stony 0 Report post Posted June 7, 2008 When I send my flies out, I usually use some type of large and hard container. Altoids tins for the most part. I want to make sure my flies are protected and just in case somebody ties a larger one, I want to make sure it fits. I have received some many different containers in my swaps that I host. Film canisters, Altoids Tins, Mustad hook boxes, some weird duck tape self folding envelope thing, aluminum foil, saran wrap, a dental floss thing, a tic-tac thing, or even no container at all. For those of you that send the non-conventional type of containers, how do they hold up when they are returned to you? How are the condition of your flies when you send a smaller container and receive a large fly that may take up the whole thing and everything has to get jammed in there somehow? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fred H. 0 Report post Posted June 8, 2008 I am probably guilty of using too small a container.Usally big enough for my flies but not large enough for the ones I get back. In the swap I'm in now all the flies should be five to six inches in length and I had to buy a plastic pencil box to hold them. I had thought to find some old VHS boxes and fit them with foam to hold the flies this should be large enough for most swaps in the future. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TerryLee 0 Report post Posted June 8, 2008 I like to use a cheap fly box I got from Bass Pro Shop. That way, when I get the flys back they're ready to hit the water straight out of the mailbox. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Floyd 0 Report post Posted June 8, 2008 I've been in several swaps and only had a problem one time. I used a plastic box the same size as an Altoids tin. It was a hard plastic with little flexibility in it. The post-office used it in their new package crunching machine. The flies survived but the box was a disaster. I use metal boxes and padded envelopes now. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RDL 0 Report post Posted June 8, 2008 I've used a few different containers, my first choice is Altoids tins, unfortunately I only have 4 or 5 and they are often out. I have some hard plastic containers a little larger than Altoids for larger swaps, or when I figure some of the flies will be larger. I've used the Mustad hook shells a couple times, usually when flies will be small and crushing damage is not an issue, otherwise they don't do well. I do try to take into consideration where they are going, type of flies (size, delicacy, etc). About 1200 flies swapped so far since last fall and no serious casualties except a couple lost packages ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steelhead-hunter 0 Report post Posted June 8, 2008 i normaly use altoids boxes with no problems yet Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
juice 0 Report post Posted June 8, 2008 Altoids tin by far the best choice. I went to WalMart and bought self adhesive craft foam and line the boxes. (8 sq. ft. for $3.00). Anytime I deviated from the tin I had troubles either with not enough room or damaged boxes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cruncher 0 Report post Posted July 8, 2008 The PO used to sell small (3x6x1) cardboard containers that a plastic 6 compartment box would fit. Now two things happened: 1) they don't sell those anymore and 2) I realized after a few swaps that you never know what's coming back, as far as what other sized flies people are tying. So while they are still selling these, the PO has a larger cardboard box available and I've changed to using a clear VHS tape box. Plenty of room to hold whatever you're sending and should cover any and all flies coming back. I don't use much tape to seal it because then the swapmeister can reuse everything for the return trip. Have 6 round trips logged on one of the cardboard boxes already. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted July 8, 2008 for larger flies i use a vhs tape box. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dnthmn 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2008 I've used altoids tins, plastic pill boxes, plastic containers that card decks came in and a few others. I have had a fly or two come back to my in less than pristine condition because I sent a container that was too small, but all in all everything has worked out fine for me. Doing the cross border swap thing the altoids tins are just a hair too big to meet the criteria for regular mail and result in more than double the price for postage compared to a thinner container, so I generally reserve the use of these for swaps with larger flies. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites