Who ties on these and what are your thoughts?
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Who ties on these and what are your thoughts?
I tie on a HMH Spartan, and I like it a lot. It is nothing fancy, but it is a tried and true vise, made in the USA. It would be hard to get a better built vise. Now the Spartan has only one thing that bugs me, the cam pin likes to slip out every 3 months or so, but that can be fixed. The pin just screws in with a flat head screwdriver, and there is no nut on the other side to lock it in. I can go to the hardware store and get that taken care of with new hardware, but that is my only complaint. It holds a hook extremely well. The Standard I am sure is a better vise than the Spartan, and I think you will be pleased with it. These vises are made in Maine if I am not mistaken.
Have you had any problems with the head moving when pusing down on the cam lever?
No problems at all. The vise works perfectly. If you go to their website, they have a video of the vises, and how to set them up once you get your package in the mail. I plan to keep this vise from now on. It will be years before I upgrade, as this vise is a solid vise, and to me it was the best for the money.
I have been to their website and have watched their video. Seems simple enough.
I tie about 25% of my time on an HMH Spartan. It is a very nice vise. The only issue that I have with the Spartan (and I don't think it would be present on the Standard) is a lack of room under the barrel - I always get tangled up with the vise stem. Beyond that, it grips a hook like nothing else, is well made, well finished, and an all around joy to tie on.
I also tie on a Spartan. I have looked at the Standard but can't spend the money when the Spartan seems as good of a vise. They both are basically the same construction, same jaws, etc. The only practical difference that I can see is the longer barrel on the Standard.
I have one and love it. I will usually use it for some of my larger flies. I will however from time to time make it my primary when I want a change of scenery.
When I was looking at getting the Standard or the Spartan the difference seemed slim so I went with the cheaper Spartan.At first i liked the vise it is solid and will last forever. but on mine the whole head would move when i would lock in the hook no matter how much i would try and tighten the hex head bolt it would slip. Also as my tying would progress and i found myself wanting to tie more rotary the vise just fell short. All i use my HMH Spartan for now days is for tube fly's. This is just one mans opinion but if you are going to spend the money for a Standard look around there are better ones out there for the price.
I bought my Standard in late 1980's . The only thing replaced in all that time is the delrin washers on the barrel . Absolutely the best vise I have seen or used ever and it is versatile for any hook I have seen with the four jaws sets I have acquired over the years . Plus it's American made and built to last forever . Twice a year I take it apart then clean and oil it and it's ready to go ...........Frank