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Looking for ideas on the best way to organize my tying materials.

Something's got to be better than a cardboard box.

3 ring binder? Ideas?

Years ago the local school system was selling very cheaply their library index card cabinets that were used to index the books. I think I paid $20.00 each for two sets which had 20 drawers in each cabinet for a total of 40 drawers. Each drawer is approximately 4" wide x 3" tall x 16" deep, and the total cabinet is made of red oak.

Check with your local school district and see if they may have some in storage somewhere. In this computer age they do not use them today.

I got a roll top desk free for the pick up from Craigslist. If that is to big, I keep my hackle in a file hanger box. Kinda like this, but mine is not as fancy. http://www.officemax.com/office-furniture/storage/file-storage-boxes/product-prod3110202

The card index thing sounds great for synthetics, threads, tinsels, cements, etc. Fur and high end hackles or exotic feathers, however, always go into airtight containers with a few moth balls tossed in for insurance.

Sort of like computers, motorcycles, and pickups; always go bigger than one thinks he will need.

I been using plastic shoe boxes for years, I just mark them with what I have in each one, I use the Bigger bins for furs, skins and pelt along with moth balls to keep the bugs at bay, it all stacks well in a closet, of course not being married, I can store stuff were ever I like, I got boxes and boxes and boxes of stuff, I bought some bead heads the other day, I needed the really small ones for a 22 scud hook so I bought some, later I found a stash of bead heads I forgot I had, they were still in the bag and the receipt was in the bag, the old Mill River Fly Shop (gone now) when Gabe was still alive, date 1988! You get into this and its like being a pack rat but in a good way- found some Orvis Braided leaders that you super glue to the fly line no loop to loop connection, had them stuck in the box in the bag I bought them in too- dated 1984 out in OR from Kaufman's Stream Born - I was working In OR at the time. This winter I am going to do some thing I should have done years ago, inventory all of it to see what I actually have and how much I do have, think I might not have to buy anything but tippet and fly lines for the rest of my life!