Ironing Board

July 18, 2019February 24, 2021

This week’s Throw Back Thursday post is about an ironing board.

This isn’t just any ironing board. It was the one used at Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone, MT to iron all the Zelon to make Straight Zelon.

Millie, the chief ironer, used this ironing board for many years to prep the Zelon. I’m guessing she filled hundreds and hundreds of bags which you found hanging in the shop for you to buy.

My wife and I were recently at Blue Ribbon Flies and Bucky took us to the area where they prep Zelon as well as dye all their Zelon, feathers, and hair.

I took a few pictures of several items, including the ironing board. You might have seen Craig Matthew’s fly tying chair last week.

I use Zelon in several fly tying patterns, like the Sparkle Dun and X Caddis. It happens to be their Crinkled Zelon. I’ve purchased Straight Zelon as well, but found I can stretch the Crinkled Zelon to make it a little straighter. But the problem is it doesn’t stay that way. Heat helps set the Zelon to stay straight, hence why the ironing board is important.

Enjoy…go fish!

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