Wes, Nice finds... I guess I'm not the only one who uses these things not only for storage but to use as a "Traveling Tying Kit"... My wife is a "beader", and she found some real nice, small 6 1/2" long, 5 1/2" wide by 1" deep plastic boxes that have 20, 1"X1", round plastic bottles that have a clear plexi-glass window in the top for all my beads... I think she got them at a "beading" store... My "tote" I found @ "Wal-Mart" in the fishing department, made by "FLW Outdoors", that has four 18 compartment boxes and the "Tiemco" magnets fit perfectly in each compartment...
Rodney.. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Wes Wada" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, February 19, 2005 10:07 AM Subject: [VFB] Craft Store Safari > <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) > > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.8.8 - Release Date: 2/14/2005 > > -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 266.1.0 - Release Date: 2/18/2005
