fly tying ergonomics

[Charapa]

what positions/tool relationships is optimum...what's comfortable to you? Thanks

[Cameron Derbyshire]

I have a small pair of scissors that I keep in my right hand the entire time I tie. You'll notice that you'll save as you're not continually setting them down and picking them up. I usually lay a pair of hackle pliers directly under the vise as I use the pliers often along with my bodkin. Here's an idea. Start out an evening of tying with all of your tools well away from your vise. Then as you start tying , set the tools you use right in front of yourself. If you're going to be spinning deer hair for bass bugs, you'll need a comb and hair packer as well. So your arrangement and number of tools may change depending on what type of fly you are tying. For most all of my tying, I only use four tools: bobbin, scissors, bodkin, and hackle pliers.

[Minx]

I normally set all the tools I need right next to the vise, then start tying. From that point, I get up at least four more times to get either more tools or more stuff to tie with. Then after screwing up a couple of flies, I decide that its not the night to tie, put it all away, and pour a scotch to sooth my frayed ego. ;)

[Charapa]

what about vise to eye/hand ....chest?, belly hight? straight back, chin straight............I'm 'paying' for a lifetime of bad posture;) ............nowadays, lack of pain is my incentive to have a good posture doing anything :ray1:

[Don Stracener]

Charapa,

I was told, can't remember from where, the vise should be at least chest high. So I set mine up that way. You don't bend over to tie. I don't seem to have any back trouble with that setup.

I also set up the tools I use the most to be close to the vise. I made a tying station and almost everything is close, but I have the scissors and bobbin the closest.

[Charapa]

thanks Don, it is what I understood also, however, in process of updating a few things....gadgetitis has been an 'habit' all my life.... got a griffin vise offset, which opened a variety of set-up options for the vise....which my back thank me for it.
Regards

[cabezon]

I find that tying is less tiring for my eyes if I have a good background behind the vise. I've a sheet of light gray foam that I place just beyond my vise but in my line of sight; it made quite a difference. Also, you can be more efficent if you can prepare some of the materials (hackles of the right size, sections of wire ribbing, ect.) ahead of time. And, I usually lay out the same types of materials in the same position around the vise. I wish that I had gotten into the habit of never putting down my scissors, but I haven't learned this bit of efficiency after 18 years of tying and probably never will.

Steve

[mr trout]

Boy, I have seen more and more of that high vise stuff. I tied a fly on my friend's vise and it was at about neck level. I prefer to have my vise way lower, so my arms are in a more natural position, usually around belly height.

[Minx]

Mine is belly high also, never thought about a background though. That'll be tried tonight, the present background is a darker brown & cluttered with books. Got me wondering if a light green or gray would change the mood in which I tie and give me a better view of what's going on. I use a magnifier with a natural blue bulb in it and tie sitting almost upright. Tools & stuff, well I might as well forget it, I get in a session tying size 16 drys & end up with conehead wooly bugger....no disipline:rolleyes:

[speyfisher]

One of the things I find missing in this synopsis is mention of a good chair. I find a good office type chair a great help. The more adjustments on it, the better. Gets you the height you want, good back and butt support, arms rests optional. Hey, you're gonna be here for hours. Get comfortable.

[toddsbernina]

I agree with Mr trout on the belly level thing.

Good posture is important tho you don't want to end up with a back like Julia Childs because you didn't have good posture while tying.

[Don Stracener]

You might try a piece of colored cardboard behind the vise held with some clips on a stationary base for your background. You can change the color to enchance the flies your working on. We have several people that set up this way at out tying club.

[Minx]

Yepper doodle...y'all must think I'm crazy, being a "right coaster" on a "left coaster" board, but I gotta tell ya, y'all have taught me way bunches here. I went out an got me a couple pieces of colored artists boards, or what ever they call that mess...one gray, one green. Talk about changing the way the hook looks.....MAN, I gotta tell you, instant visability! The gray one was okay, but put the green one up and it really made a big difference. Soon as I figure out how to build a stand to support this, I expect my tying to take yet another turn to the better. Thanx, all y'all....great thread!!!!!!!!!!!! chuck

[Don Johnson]

1) you gotta have good light (eyegonomics)
2) sounds nuts, but try tying while standing at a workbench...your back and posterior will thank you
3) keep your scissors in your hands and use a hand whip finish

[Hywel]

Don't forget music that's conducive for tying (or the absence of a shrieking wife) - also known as 'ear-gonomics'.

On an aside; Don, keeping my scissors in my hand (while tying) results in one of two things - inadvertantly cutting some critical part of the fly I'm dressing, or poking myself in the eye.

Hywel

[Randy Diefert]

Hywel's right , I like listening to the Xm Blues station while I tye . I keeps me going well after 11PM. and I also can't get my fingers in the scissors holes to keep them in my hands while I tye. I've got big hands and can't get them in past the second knuckle without having them become permanently mounted.
I've poked myself with my Dr. slicks before and all I can say isbawling:

[Charapa]

iagree with everything above, seating/lighting/tools:ray1:.......... see the attached pics for the vise extension - allows you to tye up/dn & the scissors that has minimized flesh/thread cuts :hmmm:

[Minx]

One more time....background has made a difference. I'm now using a medium green backgound behind the vice, eye strain, visability, much better. Using the KISS principle, I used a heavy, legal size file folder, cut a piece of the artist paper for the inside, and stapled it in place. Open up the folder, put the vice on the lower half and the upper half rests against the light. Finish tying, clean up, put the folder in with the tying books and the Spousal Unit is happy. Additional bonus: when I set a hook down next to the vice, easy to see....won't leave one behind by mistake making Spousal Unit really :mad:
Thanx for the thread, great ideas as always from y'all......bests, chuck