Hi, Any tying position where you have to "carry the weight of your arms is going to hurt sooner or later. However I have never come across a fly tying instructor who starts by showing everyone how to set up their vice.

Resting your elbows on the chair arms helps a lot. If you adopt this approach there is an easy way to set your vice at the correct height for you. It is what I was taught for setting a vice when I was an apprentice. Sit in the chair that you are going to use for tying and place your fist under your chin. The height of your elbow is the height to set your vice head at. Try it now. Notice how your arms are relaxed at your sides.

You may find that you can not see the flies too well at this distance. The best solution to this is to get a special pair of spectacles made. Ask them for a 10" focus rather than the 8" normally used for reading glasses. I would wait until your optician has a two for one offer on then away you go.

Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Alan.