I will soon be back in the US and would like to invest in a top shelf vise, anyone have suggestions?
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I will soon be back in the US and would like to invest in a top shelf vise, anyone have suggestions?
I have a Rinzetti Traveller. It is a rotary model with a solid base. My only complaint is the jaws seem to slip on very small flies. They "fly" (literally) across the room and at that size they are never seen again. If you are tying 20 and above its great. I have tied up to 2/0 without problem. (May be why 26 and 28 size hooks go sailing.) Safe return.
To me it is a very personal choice, at the top end there isn't much difference in quality. What I mean is that you are paying for top end engineering, and, mostly, you'll get it. The best thing to do is make a list of your requirements. Decide how much you want to spend, and use those as a filter. Once you have done all that if you can try tying on each vice left in your short list. This may not be easy but one will stand out as giving you the most. The things to consider are:
Rotary or fixed?
True rotary? (Can be set so the hook shank rotates around the center of the shank) Mostly used in tying larger flies (Salt water and pike)
Fixed tying position or mobile?
Traveling?
Hook clamping method. Some vices use a collett which force the jaws closed by a cam. Others use two plates forced apart with a pivot operated with either a cam or screw. Spring jaws that are normally closed and open with a lever to place the hook. An unusual method, but some like it, is a hook or loop which pulls the hook into a grove.
Ascetics, you'll spend a lot of time looking at it.
Clamp or pedestal? Consider your tying position. My tying position will not permit the use of a pedestal.
There may be other considerations, that's a start.
When I bought my first top end vice I was amazed how much difference it made. Tying became much more comfortable. Now I can sit for long periods tying without strain. Also I can cope with just about any tying job I may need to.
The lack of any recommendation of any vice is deliberate. I haven't tied on all the available vices so can't say one is better than another. You are not looking for the "best vice", but the best vice for you. Good luck with your search.
I hope you have a swift and safe return home.
Cheers,
A.
I suggest you try out as many different brands and choose the one that will fit you. There are many great vises out and if you stick to the ones that have a good following and no cheap knockoff or plastic then you be good to go. I personally like my HMH Standard so much that is easily my favorite to tie on.
My vote still goes to the Peak rotory vise. Built like a tank and hard to beat for the price. The only other vise I have bought recently is the Anvil. Very well built and perfect for smaller flies but still for all around use and function , price and quality of construction I still like the the Peak the best. Just my two cents.
I purchased a Renzetti 2000 within the past year. Tied lots of flies on it...really like it.
I have two. A Regal C-clamp and a HMH Standard with both the pedestal and c-clamp. The HMH is nice and can be used as a rotary when needed. But I prefer the Regal for it's simplicity. Have tried selling the HMH and it is still for sale.
I've got a renzetti traveler, works great, now issues.
This is the best review of vises I have seen gives you a lot of good plus and minus comparsions and the reason why.
http://www.flyfishohio.com/Vise%20Re..._Shoot-Out.htm
Very helpful thank you, what about the Nor-Vise anyone know anything about it?
What sizes/types of flies will you generally tie? Most quality vises can handle a fair range of sizes, but hooks at the extremes of the size spectrum may be challenging for some jaws and vise designs.
What vises have you tied on? What are you presently using? And what features do you wish to gain with the new vise?
Folks will have differing opinions on "top shelf." It may help to quantify this with a min/max range of expense.
I want a good all around vise, Uncle Jessie gave me a great site to compare several quality vises in a very reasonable price range. Actually I would not have a problem spending a lot more money, I have not been able to spend any for awhile so again price is not really an issue quality and ease of use are. I want something that is capable of handling size 2/0 to 24. Currently I have a couple of Griffens and not even sure of what it is I have with me but the Griffens have been good to me I just want something more and now is the time. As for what do I normally tie, whatever I think the fish mght want to eat.
Thanks
It is a VERY personal choice.
For me....it is a Regal Medallion Pedestal with stainless jaws.
Ralph
Regal, with stainless jaws
Peak vise. that's all............
By now you will see just why I didn't mention a specific vice in my earlier post! If you get 100 responces you'll probably have 70 or 80 recomendations, and be none the wiser.
The Nor Vice you asked about is a completely different approach to tying. If you are used to a conventional vice you will have a big learning curve tying that way. "It does what it says on the tin", and is a quallity piece of kit. If you are happy to adopt the approach this vice is designed for then by all means go for it. Those who use them all seem to love them.
Cheers,
C.
I really like my Griffin Mongoose. Not sure what you have for a Griffin now.
I have tied a lot of bugs on my Renzetti Traveler and it has given me no issues.
Rob
I have a Dyna King Ergonomic Supreme, Dyna King Ultimate Indexer, Renzetti Traveler, and a Regal. I love them all! I use the Traveler and the Ultimate Indexer the most, each about equally. The Traveler gets used more for trout flies size 12 and smaller.
There are a lot of very good vises on the market.
I have the Renzetti 2000 Presentation with Deluxe base and a Griffin Cam Jaw Odyssey. The Renzetti is without a doubt my preferred vise between the 2, due to its adjustable design. Would like to get a 2200 Renzetti Traveler for my travel kit.
I've got a Renzetti Traveler, great vise for the money. I started off with a cheapo vise, they get the job done but they suck. Since you've been deployed for a while and have some extra cash that you're looking to spend on this, look at the Traveler as the starting point and go from there. Personally I don't need a higher-end vise than what I have, it does everything I need it to...that doesn't mean I wouldn't like to have the "Special Edition Master Vise", but I can't justify spending that much on something I don't need.
I've had the good fortune to own and tie on three good quality vises. I started with the Regal Clamp vise and while it was a very solid vise and held the hooks very well, it wasn't very good for rotary tying which I wanted to try. I switched to the Dynaking Baracuda and while it was also a high quality vise, it was a pain to use it in true rotary fashion. Then, I switched to a Nor-Vise, and I stopped looking. Top quality vise that makes tying much easier and faster for me. Holds a wide variety of hooks well and is very versatile. I didn't have any difficulties at all making the transition and I love the Nor-Vise system. Bottom line, I would never switch back to any of the other vises. To top it off when you buy a Nor-Vise you get outstanding and personal service from Norm Norlander.
As others correctly stated, selecting the "best" fly tying vise is an individual choice based on personal preferences. That being said, you have some excellent recommendations here in this thread and if at all possible, you should at least put your hands on each of your top three candidates and give them a whirl before making your final selection..
Jim Smith
Jim,
How long have you been using the Nor-Vise? How about sizes 18-24, how is it for the little guys?
I've been using my Nor-Vise for the past 11 years and I have never experienced any problems with hook size. That being said, I usually don't tie much smaller than size 16 flies so I don't have too much experience with the really small hooks on my Nor-Vise. There is a special jaw set available from Nor-Vise that is designed specifically for the really small hooks. If that is what you usually tie, I would suggest that you contact Norm Norlander and ask him how much the vise would be with just the small jaws. You also want to use the Nor-Vise bobbins as they are so much easier to use than traditional bobbins (IMHO). The only disadvantage to the bobbins is that you have to re-spool your thread onto the aluminum bobbin spool, but that only takes a few moments with the chuck provided in the kit and an electric drill and a spool lasts me quite a while. I have five bobbins and probably 25 extra spools already spooled with the different size/color of threads I use. The Nor-vice really is a great system. If you want to know how people feel about them, try finding a used one for sale.
Jim Smith
I wouldn't take any amount of money for my Montana Mongoose. I can't imagine a better vise.
I have bought the Nor-Vise, and to me it was the best $ spent. It has some amazing features that you can do with it.
Well I have a Nor-vise, a Renzetti Saltwater Traveler and I have a Peak ( I sell Peak actually) and I tie on my Nor-vise. I like it a lot and Norm is a great guy. I may have most options they make, not sure since every once in a while he adds something lest, but I do have the normal Jaw as well as the larger one and the Fine Point and the Tube Fly Conversion as well. I do change it up a little, but mostly use the normal straight jaw, but I use the large Jaw Counterweight so it spins easier as I didn't care for the counter weight that has the little arm that stands out from it. The little arm keeps coming out for me so I just started using the heavier one from the large jaw on the regular one. I hardly ever tie on any of my other vises and they are both pretty new as I think the Renzetti was only 1 year old when I got the Nor and the Peak came later. SO Love the Nor, but as some have said a vise is a personal decision type thing.
Good Luck,
Skip
I have been tying on the Nor-Vise for well over a year and my son has had his for a couple years longer. We have a lot of different top-end vises in the house and the Nor-Vises get far more work than any other. My wife still ties on her Traveler but she does little true rotary tying. We all do a large amount of tying.
There is nothing you can do on any other vise the Nor-Vise will not do as well. There are few vises that come close to the options and functionality of the Nor-Vise.
A big kicker for me is the support Norm gives Project Healing Waters and the Alaska Fly Fishers. I am pretty certain he gives a fancy discount to military folks.
art
I will strogly encourage you to get a Renzetti Traveler. I belong to a group of amateur tiers and see all types of vises and note many pluses and minuses of each. An interesting thing to remember when reading the comments from vise owners is that they all will always give a big "plus" to the model they use. This is like asking a guy how he likes the car he just bought. My second choice would be a Peak. But again, remember I have both.
I recomend drinking, smoking & if you're still able chase some wild women. If you're in the service you probably already know about those vices. All that from over 20 yrs experience.
Seriously, when you do go shopping, be strong. Don't cave to the first fast talking fly shop opperator. Make 'em show you a few & explain their merits & short commings. First one should be inexpensive. After you use it a while remember what you like & don't like about it & use that info when you get the next one. Think portabillity & stabillity.
Oh trust me I have you by 10 years I know all about those vices and time to really focus on the other vises and the fish!
My choice as wellQuote:
Originally Posted by flybugpa
my vote = HMH standard
:cool:
welcome back!
Clarkii