Custom Fly Boxes

[mdunc8]

So I started tinkering in the garage with some drops I got off one of the cabinet shops in town. My initial intentions were to make a few for friends and get the resin figured out on some smaller pieces before moving up to a couple coffee tables I want to make for our place. Now I'm hoping to turn it into a part-time gig that will fund a new raft this year and maybe scale up to the point where I can focus on them full-time for a couple months during the winter next year. I really like the riveted tops. Tried some normal hinges, but don't like the look, so I'm going to give some barrel hinges a try. I've been playing around with other ideas for tops, which should be really cool when they're finished...

The last one is redwood and the rest are walnut. I've got a big slab of maple that I'll start working up soon. I've also got some local juniper and aspen drying in the garage.

I'd love to hear what you think.

 

[JLS]

Wow, those are sharp!

 

[RobG]

Those are very nice. They would make a nice surrounding for classic steelhead flies. The main issue I've had with custom boxes is their bulk.

 

[mdunc8]

Yeah...cheap plastic boxes are definitely more functional...don't tell anyone that though...

 

[Bulldog0156]

Those look really nice!

I did one for a friend out of juniper about 6 years ago. Turned out pretty nice, especially considering the tools I had to work with. You'll like the juniper; it has good color.

 

[rtraverdavis]

Man, those are gorgeous. That last one especially. I’d be afraid to use them for fear of slipping and floating one!

 

[mdunc8]

Thanks, Davis.

Those are sweet, Bulldog. I've been wanting to play around with some juniper ever since TJones made these for me a few years ago. Do you remember where you got that latch?

 

[widnert]

So I started tinkering in the garage with some drops I got off one of the cabinet shops in town. My initial intentions were to make a few for friends and get the resin figured out on some smaller pieces before moving up to a couple coffee tables I want to make for our place. Now I'm hoping to turn it into a part-time gig that will fund a new raft this year and maybe scale up to the point where I can focus on them full-time for a couple months during the winter next year. I really like the riveted tops. Tried some normal hinges, but don't like the look, so I'm going to give some barrel hinges a try. I've been playing around with other ideas for tops, which should be really cool when they're finished...

The last one is redwood and the rest are walnut. I've got a big slab of maple that I'll start working up soon. I've also got some local juniper and aspen drying in the garage.

I'd love to hear what you think.

You're indulging in something I've been looking into for a while myself! Nice looking boxes! Woodworking with epoxy resin just seems cool to me and, let's you use some very interesting pieces of wood that would normally wind up in the burn-pile. Thanks for sharing your work there. Really like the look of those.

 

[Bulldog0156]

Thanks, Davis.

Those are sweet, Bulldog. I've been wanting to play around with some juniper ever since TJones made these for me a few years ago. Do you remember where you got that latch?

I think I probably got the latch and hinges at either a craft store or Ace hardware. It was a fun project. Juniper anything looks good in my opinion.

 

[406LIFE]

They look great. They would certainly be nice for presentations and gifts. But the flyguy in me would not take them on the water for the simple fact they aren't waterproof. The number of times I've dropped a box in the water or gotten dunked myself, they gotta be waterproof. PM me a price for the one in 4706.

 

[dcopas78]

Very nice! I've got some black walnut, aged 100+ years, that I've been looking for something to do with it. It's a 9"X9"X7' hand-honed beam that was a support for the main floor beams running in my basement. I took them (2) out and replaced with metal jacks because I was concerned the about them starting to draw moisture and rot. I gave one to a friend for a mantle and kept the other. It'd make fine fly boxes

 

[mdunc8]

Thank guys. I love how they're turning out, but like I mentioned before, you can definitely buy more functional boxes for a lot cheaper than I intend to sell them for. I hope to eventually focus on local materials and designs to target folks visiting a particular area or river and want to head home with something to remember the trip by. I also would love to have people send in pieces of wood (not trying to get your business dcopes78) and do custom boxes for them using the materials they provide. I've had TJones do this several times for me and I love ending up with his pieces that also have a story behind him. The elk calls and wine stopper above were made from a piece of juniper along the Madison that I collected with my boys for a Mothers Day present for my wife. It's a spot we visited a lot at when the kids were small.

I think they'll hold up to minor wear and tear, but do worry about taking a swim or crushing them on a boulder when during one of my inevitable yard sales on the Gallatin.

 

[mdunc8]

Round two drying...

 

[dcopas78]

Thank guys. I love how they're turning out, but like I mentioned before, you can definitely buy more functional boxes for a lot cheaper than I intend to sell them for. I hope to eventually focus on local materials and designs to target folks visiting a particular area or river and want to head home with something to remember the trip by. I also would love to have people send in pieces of wood (not trying to get your business dcopes78) and do custom boxes for them using the materials they provide. I've had TJones do this several times for me and I love ending up with his pieces that also have a story behind him. The elk calls and wine stopper above were made from a piece of juniper along the Madison that I collected with my boys for a Mothers Day present for my wife. It's a spot we visited a lot at when the kids were small.

I think they'll hold up to minor wear and tear, but do worry about taking a swim or crushing them on a boulder when during one of my inevitable yard sales on the Gallatin.

If I can get the beam turned into some boards, I'll get some to you just for you to have. I've been trying to get a guy to saw it for me that has a larger saw than I have. What dimensions would you need? Like 1" thick? This old house has a story I could share with you quickly. Near 100 years old, Sears-Roebuck print house, lumber came off the farm. Built by two bachelor brothers (large land owners and horse brokers), who in old age were cared for by a bachelorette niece, who was cared for by two bachelorette sister in her old age. My wife and I were first married couple to live in it when we bought it in 2007. My son was the first child to learn to crawl on its floors when he was born in 2014. You're more than welcome to have some of the wood, and use it as you see fit. I'd be happy knowing that a piece of wood from my house was on the Madison or some other river I might not personally ever be on. I'll let you know when I can get some to you.

 

[mdunc8]

That's really cool, dcopas. I'd love to use some of it. Thanks for the offer. 1" would be just fine. Width doesn't really matter, but it's nice to have something at least 2' long to work with. That way the corners have the same grain. If that's too much trouble, I can use shorter pieces for tops and bottoms, so it's not a big deal either way.

 

[JohnCushman]

Those are amazing!

 

[dirtclod Az.]

Hey Cushman,Saw episode of you hunting with Randy.Great Stuff!