How to Build a Fly Tying Bench

A fly tying bench is the ideal way to organize your fly tying materials. A fly tying bench will allow you to leave materials out in an organized fashion so you can work efficiently. Follow these steps to build a fly tying bench.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Purchase a set of three maple cutting boards in graduating sizes, a roll of 1/2-inch magnetic strip, a 1/4-by-36 inch dowel and a 7/16-by-36 inch dowel. You can purchase all of the materials at Wal-Mart.

2. Saw the two smaller boards of the maple cutting board set in half lengthwise. The smaller of the cutting boards will be a two-tiered rack for the threads and the smaller items at the rear of the bench. The medium sized cut boards will be the left and right arms on the sides of the bench and will be raised up and supported with 4-inch pieces of dowels. The large cutting board with be the actual fly tying bench.

3. Sand the edges of the cut boards until they are smooth and rounded. Lay the boards in their positions on the larger board as described in Step 2. The two side arms should be extended off the edges of the large cutting board. You will drill two holes in each "arm" to support them with dowels, and they will overhang off to each side of the large cutting board of the fly tying bench.

4. Clamp the smaller boards in place with c-clamps while you drill the holes to insert the dowels. You'll be drilling through the smaller boards, into the largest board so you can insert dowels into everything for assembly onto the largest board. Drill one hole into each lengthwise end of the two smaller boards all the way through to the largest cutting board. Drill one hole into each lengthwise end of the medium-sized boards and into the largest board to attach them on each edge of the large cutting board. They'll overhang the large board off to each side.

5. Cut the 1/4-inch dowels to hold the spools of thread at 3 inches apart. The dowels will hold the spools of thread on the top tier of the two-tiered rack at the back of the fly tying bench. Cut the 7/16-inch dowel into four 4-inch pieces and two 6-inch pieces.

6. Glue the dowels into the drilled holes on the large board using wood glue such as epoxy or Gorilla Glue. The 6-inch pieces will support the two-tiered thread rack at the back of the fly tying bench. The 4-inch pieces support the bench arms off to the sides.

7. Attach the magnetic strips to the side bench arms to hold the fishing hooks and other small pieces of metal. Glue the 3-inch pieces of dowels onto the top shelf of the rear rest to hold the spools of thread. The lower shelf of the rear rest will be the cubicles for glue and lead wire of the fly tying bench.