I love to fish, most any type of fishing. I think it’s because I like standing in streams. I grew up next to a stream, not one that supported fish but crayfish and salamanders. My sister and I were in it daily provided the weather was ok.
Nick and Todd got me into fly fishing and Nick was the one who brought up Tenkara rods when he saw a guy using one on, I believe it was Yellow Creek in Pennsylvania. I really like the thought of it, simple as you can get. Since, chest bags had always gave me a headache from resting on my neck and so I had moved to just a lanyard. The next thing was to get the simple rod set up too!
It’ll take about 10 clicks into researching Tenkara before you read the name, Dr. Ishigaki. He’s world renowned for this style of fishing and thus everyone who knows of Tenkara knows his fly box. I’ve always wanted to make one and this is a good time to do it in New Zealand as it is winter here.
Well this one was never meant for the stream, my wife tends to leave earings around the house in places that make me nervous. I can’t take myself out of this since I have a few rings, including my wedding ring, which I tend to forget here or there. This box will be the place lost items go, hopefully. Either way it’s a prototype for when I attempt a ‘good’ fly box.
I wanted to add this image in since it is without a doubt the best end grain work I’ve ever done. Granted, I used a shooting board so 90 degrees is no issue (*cough). What this does show is that I made that plane blade super sharp. I really do believe the best kept secret to loving woodworking with hand tools is loving to sharping metal. Otherwise frustration will break you quickly.
I used a coping saw with zona blades, a brace and auger bit (5/16ths), some rasps and files as well as sand paper to shape the insides of the top and bottom. It took less than 50 minutes to do this so this is easy and anyone could easily try this. I would just warn that stock coping saw blades will make you pull you’re hair out. In this day and age good blades are two days away via the internet and not anywhere near as expensive as you think. Boy do they make a huge difference.
I book matched the top and bottoms and glued them on. I still have issues with hinges but I’m much better. I also used a neo. magnet as the clasp. This wasn’t enough. If you do intend to make this a fly box you’ll need at least 6 like Dr.I’s has or some physical latch on it. This is the part I need to figure out before I make my real fly box like this. Also, Three coats of shellac is good for my purpose. If this was going to used on the water I’d probably go with a poly instead.
I’m pretty pleased with this, I could really stare at the end grain all day. Since I moved to New Zealand last fall, I really haven’t fly fished in almost a full year. This really gives me cabin fever.
It’s time to plan the next fly fishing related project for sure!
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Clean Phil