I am looking for ideas to make a decent size Fly Tying vice base, most are about 190mm x 75mm or thereabouts, I'm thinking a large piece of Oak bottom recessed and lead inserted, I can then rout whatever I want on top, any better ideas?
Fly tying vice base.
- Thread starter MikeJhn
- Start date
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Sounds like a great idea.
You'll be routing etc so any hard, close grain wood would be ideal.
As a kid, I remember melting lead off old lead sheathed electrical wires with my dad. Old saucepan on a gas burner outside, and pouring weights for beachcasting. You could cast an insert for the base of your block.
On the top, the plate you picture above could be secured to your stand using that high performance pressure sensitive adhesive used for fixing dashcams and the like to the inside of windscreens.
You'll be routing etc so any hard, close grain wood would be ideal.
As a kid, I remember melting lead off old lead sheathed electrical wires with my dad. Old saucepan on a gas burner outside, and pouring weights for beachcasting. You could cast an insert for the base of your block.
On the top, the plate you picture above could be secured to your stand using that high performance pressure sensitive adhesive used for fixing dashcams and the like to the inside of windscreens.
Thanks for the thoughts.
Did all kids Dads melt lead for sea fishing I know mine did as well.
The only thing I want to attach to the base is the stem boss and a magnet to hold hooks, had thought of your route, but discounted that as defeating the object of making a nice looking base.
Stem insert sorted:
https://scottieproducts.co.uk/shop/...vice-accessories-fly-tying-tools-2/stem-boss/
Did all kids Dads melt lead for sea fishing I know mine did as well.
The only thing I want to attach to the base is the stem boss and a magnet to hold hooks, had thought of your route, but discounted that as defeating the object of making a nice looking base.
Stem insert sorted:
https://scottieproducts.co.uk/shop/...vice-accessories-fly-tying-tools-2/stem-boss/
Just seen this on e-bay, don't think there would be much of a market in the UK:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/22637677...lp:3959035&itmmeta=01JB1MQFXZ2E4MWJ5P8247F10C
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/22637677...lp:3959035&itmmeta=01JB1MQFXZ2E4MWJ5P8247F10C
Lons
Established Member
It's a shame you're at the other end of the country I probably have a bit of granite and definitely have 25mm thick solid surface kitchen worktop which is almost as heavy and easier to work with.
I'm a fly fisherman and tyer as well an have a tying station I lift on to my desk. The amount of tying materials I've collected over the years is, in my wife's words " ......... crazy"
That might be a little thin.
Worktop suppliers might give you the sink cut out for nothing.
An alternative could be a granite pastry or food-prep board (Buy and Queue £20). Also sold as chapatti boards.
Or, dare I say, do you know any monumental masons?
With the routed, lead-filled base, maybe the underside perimeter would benefit from a sort of half dovetail, so even if the lead shrinks, it cannot drop out
@Lons Ditto with amount of materials, what I find most annoying is the amount of thread reels I never use, but make space for them on bits of dowel glued into my station.
@ChaiLatte Granite worktop come in at up too 40mm thick.
Worktop suppliers generally sell on sink cut outs as cutting boards.
Monumental masons chip the off cuts to spread on monuments.
Any Lead filled grove on the base will have a metal cover with a felt/cork bottom to prevent scratching the worktop surface of my bench.
@ChaiLatte Granite worktop come in at up too 40mm thick.
Worktop suppliers generally sell on sink cut outs as cutting boards.
Monumental masons chip the off cuts to spread on monuments.
Any Lead filled grove on the base will have a metal cover with a felt/cork bottom to prevent scratching the worktop surface of my bench.
Lons
Established Member
I used to fit a lot of kitchens as part of my business Mike. Didn't keep much granite but the solid surface material is useful for all sorts of projects and turns nicely. That's my excuse anyway.
If you have any industrial estates nearby have a drive around looking for any kitchen companies as they throw smaller bits in the skip, usually bigger than you need. Skips cost a lot of money and a nice smiley ask to a receptionist will get you something suitable FOC
Lons
Established Member
You haven't lived Mike.
I wouldn't do it without asking though.OrangeFive
Established Member
Just type in granite off cuts on eBay. There’s plenty on there 
Recycle shops at council tips usually have weights and fitness equipment for next to nothing. Those big round ones screwed onto bars are useful for all sorts of stuff! Not pretty but plenty weight.
Distinterior
Established Member
I used to tie flies and fly fish, I made a fly materials and tying bench from an article in Trout and Salmon in about 1987. It was a multi drawer filing cabinet with a ply top and a lift up flap on the side, served me for years, didn’t hold all the gear of course because I’m like you, I had too much !It's a shame you're at the other end of the country I probably have a bit of granite and definitely have 25mm thick solid surface kitchen worktop which is almost as heavy and easier to work with.
I'm a fly fisherman and tyer as well an have a tying station I lift on to my desk. The amount of tying materials I've collected over the years is, in my wife's words " ......... crazy"
Still got the magazine somewhere.
Something I have often said to others is that most flies in shops are designed to catch fly fisherman not fish.
Distinterior
Established Member
I was up in Northumberland for a weeks holiday back in Sept 2023.
My mate and I booked a days fishing on a beat on the Upper Tyne.
When we turned up and met with the "Ghillie", he said all the flies we had with us were not suitable for catching there.....He then promptly sold us the "correct" flies at, what we both felt were exorbitant prices........We didnt catch anything, but still had a good day in the river....
My mate and I booked a days fishing on a beat on the Upper Tyne.
When we turned up and met with the "Ghillie", he said all the flies we had with us were not suitable for catching there.....He then promptly sold us the "correct" flies at, what we both felt were exorbitant prices........We didnt catch anything, but still had a good day in the river....
That is so typical of a Ghillie always on the look out for extra cash, I fooled one on Gallway Weir by not using the fly he sold me, but used a very large dry Klinkhammer, he tried to claim kudos for it with the crowd when I caught a couple of Salmon one after the other, but was put right by my fishing partner.
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