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Made a foray into the depths of Michaels Craft Stores yesterday trying to resolve a problem... I wanted to purchase a magnetic hook box on my recent trip to Portland, but had a heart seizure when I saw the $17 price tag on the C&F box!! They are nice units, but way beyond my budget.
The prey that got away: C&F Magnetic Hook Box http://www.worleybuggerflyco.com/flyboxes/images/CFT30.jpg -$17
At Michaels, just by chance, I noticed a product in the beading area: they are called Craft Mates Locking Caddys, and are a brilliant solution to handling small parts prone to spilling, like beads and hooks. The box I purchased for $4.30 has rounded bottoms like the hook boxes meant for flytying. There are 14 separate compartments in this box, each with its own lid. The nicest feature of this box is it has a special latch system that keeps all the other lids locked when you open the lid on the compartment you want. (I inadvertently tested this feature by knocking onto the floor the box I was loading with hooks... and it works *whew*)
If you have been wondering why you saved the little magnetic rectangles from Tiemco hook packages, you will be glad to know that these fit almost perfectly into the base of a bin. Add a little Goop and you're in business! I didn't have enough of those Tiemco magnets, so I bought a roll of magnetic tape which is 1/2" wide, is self adhesive and comes in several lengths. Two cut strips fit into the bottom of each bin. Terrific functional hook box, and it costs probably $6.50.
Then I noticed that if you buy the Caddy Tote, you get six of these boxes (84 bins) with it, and the whole McCoy costs $40. You can add two more 14-compartment boxes for a total of 112 bins!
On a more practical scale, they have neat little Travel Tote cases that will hold say 28-bins in a package 9-1/2" x 9" x 1-1/2" This thing seems idea for my purposes, enabling me to take along a selection of my most used hooks, beads, lead eyes, coneheads, dome eyes, etc.
In the BEADING area:
Caddy Tote includes (6) 14-compartment boxes, with room for two more boxes (112 bins potentially) -$40
http://www.jdr-be.com/C6316.jpeg
Travel Case (4) 7 compartment storage boxes (28 bins) -$20 http://www.jdr-be.com/C6319.jpeg
Page of Craft Mates products http://www.jdr-be.com/embroidery-cases-bags2.htm
Another find in the beading area are what are called Crimp Beads marketed by Beadalon. One hundred 2mm gold or silver plated brass beads are around $2. These have an extra large hole in them that allows them to be put on debarbed normal wire hooks, but on the smallest hooks, the bead may slip over the eye of the hook. But quick testing will tell you what hooks will accommodate these inexpensive beads. I had, for example, no problem putting the bead on a #14 heavy wire scud hook. I have seen these sold by the 1,000 at very cheap prices on eBay.
Beadalon Crimp Beads (2mm, pkg. of 100) around $2 http://www.beadalon.com/crimpbeads.html
Also in the beading area was Peacock (electric) Blue 26 awg. coated copper wire, for those of you who would like to try electric blue Copper Johns.
And to recap previous finds:
In the GIFTWRAP area:
Whisper - pebble textured pearlescent plastic sheeting in three colors, featuring a very nice pearl.
In the ARTIFICIAL PLANTS area: Package of 10 premium Peacock Sword feathers for $5
In the CERAMIC PAINTING section:
Delta Ceramcoat Exterior/Interior Varnish - glossy (water based polyurethane)
My favorite tying cement.
While these items were found at Michaels, they are well-known brands and should be in most good craft stores.
Yours, Wes Wada Bend, Oregon
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