Can anyone recommend a good beginner vise? In a price range under $40.
Good Beginner Vise
Can anyone recommend a good beginner vise? In a price range under $40.
Raiderhunter....Always In Search Of Water and Fish....
these would be a good start
http://shop4.mailordercentral.com/ho...s.asp?dept=343
or these
http://shop4.mailordercentral.com/ho...s.asp?dept=229
For under $40 you could probably find a used Thompson Model A. Good, simple, reliable, it will last a long time. Doesn't have rotary feature, which is nice to have. I've seen used Danvise on Ebay for $70 - never tied with one but many folks like them. I would resist buying a cheap knock-off vise unless you just want to get tying and plan to replace it.
Regards,
Scott
I know, it's more than you wanted to spend, but I don't think you can go wrong with a Dan-Vice. BT's Fly Fishing Products, a sponsor of FAOL, has it for $85, plus shipping. I've had mine for almost 2 years, and wouldn't trade it. I started with the cheapie Thompson A knockoff that came with my starter kit. It was fine until I could scrape together cash for a better vise, but I knew I wanted a rotary from the start.
Fly Fish Ohio has a review of under $50 vices that may help you make up your mind.
I did a quick google search with "Thompson A Vise" and found a whole slew of vise options from $15 to $75. Some of them looked interesting.
Kirk
here is a good one on ebay, http://cgi.ebay.com/Griffin-Enterpri...3A1%7C294%3A50
I like the griffin vise model 1a or 2a easy to set up and holds the hook well. the 2a sells for about $60 new
Eric
"Complexity is easy; Simplicity is difficult."
Georgy Shragin
Designer of ppsh41 sub machine gun
One of my good friends has been tying on the $45 version of the EZ Rotary vise for years. After tying a few flies on it, I can say it's a solidly built vise, works very well and the rotary function is very smooth. A lot of vise for the money.
My wife ties on a Dan Vise from BT's, among others, and really likes the vise. She did get the extension that allows more room behind the hook. Another very solid vise.
REE
Happiness is wading boots that never have a chance to dry out.
I would second Ron on the EZ rotary vise. I bought one from Hook and Hackle as a cheap rotary vise and have just kept using it. For the money it's hard to beat.
3rd for the....
E-Z rotary - Can't be beat for the $$$
http://cff1611.proboards.com
Sow a thought....reap an act;
Sow an act....reap a habit;
Sow a habit...reap a character;
Sow a character....reap a destiny!!!!!
Beginner's fly vise
Are you handy with tools?
Do you have access to an electric drill, some clamps and a bench grinder?
If so you can make your own vise.
During May of this year I led 35 high school students in a macroinvertebrate study which included building their own vise and fly tying.
What's the catch?
I would appreciate photos of you and your vise and your assurance that you will not publish the directions that I would send to you.
The cost of the hardware and wood..........about $4.00
Ed
" Fishermen, hunters, wood choppers, and others,
spending their lives in the fields and woods,
in a peculiar sense a part of Nature themselves,
are often in a more favorable mood for observing her,
in the intervals of their pursuits,
than philosophers or poets even,
who approach her with expectation."
Henry David Thoreau
I always recommend the Thompson. When mine finally wore out after 20+ years of use, I bought another one to replace it. When that one wears out, I may have to whittle one out of scrap. I just can't see spending $ on a fancy vise when all it needs to do for me is hold the hook steady.
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