Well i finaly took the plunge and bought a new vise. I just tied a some flies on my new Apex Anvil and i must say i am in love with it. It grips hooks so well you could bend even a heavy hook in half. This vise is built like a tank to say the least. Its a beast that will allow you to tie even the smallest of flies with finesse. The rotary function is great and though i dont use it like a rotary vise its great to be able to rotate to check your fly or add a dab of glue. The cam is very forgiving for hook size. It does not require a lot of tweeking between different hook sizes. It came with a base that is sturdy and solid as well as a C clamp. I can tell i just bought a vise my kids wont wear out after i am gone. I got it for 70.00 from flyfishing dicounters on line. they were outstanding to work with!! I also found a place to buy my supplies online. the prices are great and service was world class. Overall i would rate it a solid 9.5 I could not be more pleased.
Its also made in the USA!
I’ve had my Apex for several years now, and I’d hate to guess how many flies I have tied on it. It stands up to any size hook I put in it and doesn’t flinch one bit. Still very happy with my choice.
CJ
Backing up the comments in the prior posts, this website has thoughtful comments on many of the “less elite” pieces of machinery.
http://www.flyfishohio.com/Vise%20Review%201/so_many_vises_summary.htm