Fly tyer beware, Paul Fitzmaurice tells us why we need to make sure we tidy up after a tying session.
I have great little study. It has windows facing south and east and therefore catches the morning sun.
The L-shaped desk has one arm along the south facing windowsill with computer, filing, etc. above and below it.
The other arm sits along the west wall of the room and has all my fly tying equipment permanently out and ready to go. A captain’s chair swivels conveniently between the two.
A few mornings ago, the first decent day in ages, I was happily sitting at the computer part of the desk browsing the internet.
Suddenly, my wife cried out in considerable alarm that something was on fire in the house.
I was out of my study like a shot, nose twitching like a rabbit scenting lettuce, just as the smoke alarm burst into siren mode. I, too, caught a strong whiff of something burning!
Strangely, it seemed to be coming from behind me! I returned to my study to find flames licking up the white card I place behind my vice to improve my view of work in progress! Having doused the flames, it was clear a two inch hole had been burnt in the card.
The culprit was the magnifier mounted in front of the vice - the combination of a sunny morning and the distance between magnifier and card perfect for focusing the sun on the card.
Happily no serious damage done but I hate to think what might have happened had we been out or elsewhere in the house with the study door closed.