RE: [VFB] Craft Store Safari

[mark romero]

Dang, i just did a tyin' gig at Ramsey's Outdoors in Paramus, N.J. today and 
about three doors down in that mall, is a Michael's Craft Store. It's ok, i 
know where another one is even closer. Thankx for the tip Wes. I'm 
definately gonna check that out. As usuall i had to temporarily "borrow" a 
few things today that just didn't get packed.......(isn't it always 
something?) like a salt water size Materelli whip tool, head cement, wax, 
and a few materials. They gotta great fly tying department. So i go to pay 
for what i had "borrowed" at the end of the day, because the stuff couldn't 
be put back on the shelf by then.........and the head of the department, 
says........"just keep it." Wow, bout $40 in "Perks." What a guy. He asked 
me for a fly and a signed card to frame and be put on dispaly in the shop. 
NICE trade. So i gave him the second of the only two i did the whole day 
between 10 and 4. My wife named it......The Aviator. I had about 30/40 flies 
on dispaly in front of me all day, and at one point he took the time to come 
over and pick up each one and look it over. Pretty involved cat. Another pal 
of ours who works there, (especially because i have a bunch of his), got the 
other one. mark.....

From: Wes Wada <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: <vfb@troutnet.com>
To: <vfb@troutnet.com>
Subject: [VFB] Craft Store Safari
Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2005 09:07:39 -0800
<CUE JUNGLE SOUND EFFECT>
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
(CUE END JUNGLE SOUND EFFECT)