I have been looking at the line of Dyna-King vises and would like some comments from anyone who has tyed on the Voyager/Voyager II models or the Baracuda/Baracuda Jr. models. What is your experience tying on any of these vises and the pros and cons? If you have tyed on 2 or more of these vises how do they compare? Particularly if you have tyed on a Voyager model and a Baracuda model, how do they compare?
Thanks in advance.
Dr Bob
I have 2 Dyna-Kings. One is a Kingfisher and one is the Voyager 2. I wouldn’t trade either of them for anything. When I first got them I wasn’t really crazy about them but I think that was me being stubborn more than anything. I use the Kingfisher when I’m on the road and the Voyager when I do a show like the Sow Bug Roundup. I have had to deal with customer service by choice, not by necessity. It’s a first class operation and I have no problem recommending their vises or accessories.
Mike
There is no greater fan of flyfishing than the worm.
Patrick McManus
[This message has been edited by maddog48 (edited 16 January 2006).]
I tied on a DynaKing baracuda for three years and found it to be an excellent vise. Outstanding hook holding capability and top notch quality materials and workmanship. Good products.
Jim Smith
Dr Bob,
I happen to have both of those Dyna-King vise models. I mainly use the Barracuda Indexer at home. I had them put a wheel on the Barracuda instead of the handle because it is more ergo for me to drive it that way with my palm. DK aims to please their customers.
I bought the Voyager II for travel and taking along to tying classes. The V-II is a great litle vise and although it can be used in a rotary mode, I tend to use it as a fixed position vice. I like the size and have it on a base. I also use the V-II anytime I am tying very small flies.
Both models are great. What are you tying? If you tie mostly small drys, then the V-II is all you need. IF you will tie SW flies, or flies to catch bass, Salmon etc and put epoxy heads on your flies, the “Cuda” is hard to beat. It is just so solid and bulletproof!
The Indexer model takes the “Cuda” even further and allows precise control and makes it easier to mantain symmetry on elaborate patterns. The indexing feature helps more than I thought it would.
The “Signature Vise” is somewhat like a Barracuda and is built lighter and it is a very, very good vise. Really smooth. I have one as well. If you want an all around DK recommendation-I’d say get the Signature model with both jaws, the material catcher basket and maybe even the clamp and the base. Don’t neglect getting a Profile Plate for it too! Those really help improve your tying like you would not believe. With a “Signature” you can travel with it and also use it for small drys and very big flies too.
You can’t go wrong investing in one of the Dyna-King vises and the accessories to make it all work. I have no regrets on these aquisitions. Dyna-King make great tools!
Rich
Rich:
Thanks for the comments. I generally tye trout flies on hooks in the range of size 6 to 24, mainly 12 to 18. I have a Regal vise I use for large hooks, size 8 and larger. I don’t tye too many large flies so currently the Regal fits my needs.
For my trout flies, I have been using another brand of rotary vise for several years. I don’t use the rotary function, but the vise has served me well. However, it has several design features that are annoying as I have become more skilled in tying. Thus, I am considering a new vise.
Additional comments are welcomed.
Dr Bob
Bob,
As long as you are also considering other vises in your search, you might want to look at the Nor Vise system. If you notice in my previous post I stated that I tied on a DynaKing Baracuda for three years, past tense. I traded an old Regal and a few bucks for a Nor Vise and like it so much, I ended up selling my DynaKing Baracuda. The DynaKing vise is a solid and very well made tool, but in my opinion, the Nor Vise is easier to use, especially with the Nor Vise bobbins. If you get the chance, try one out in a shop or show before you make your purchase. Just one man’s opinion.
Jim Smith
I tie on a Barracuda Junior and love it. Fit & finish are excellent. Holds hooks rock solid for me. I did buy the midge jaws though too - they’re much better for anything under #18. To top it off I bought the vise and jaws from Hook & Hackle (a sponsor here) and got a 20% discount. Can’t beat that.
“If we carry purism to it’s logical conclusion, to do it right you’d have to live naked in a cave, hit your trout on the head with rocks, and eat them raw. But, so as not to violate another essential element of the fly-fishing tradition, the rocks would have to be quarried in England and cost $300 each.”
~John Gierach
I have both of the vises you mention, as well as the Kingfisher model. I also have a Griffin, a Renzetti, a Regal and an HMH. I can honestly say, after having used all of them, I really like the DynaKings. If you plan to tie as a rotary, the Baracuda is probably a better bet. The Voyager is a bit awkward as a rotary vise. I don’t think the Kingfisher can be beat as an entry-level vise.
Joe
First of all, thanks everyone for your very helpful comments. Together you have all answered my questions on the Dyna-King vises.
My thinking right now, is I currently don’t use the rotary function on my vise so it is not a necessity on a new vise. I could be wrong here, but it seems that the rotary function has its greatest advantage when tying larger flies such as saltwater, steelhead and a smaller collection of trout flies. Is that correction or am I missing something here?
With that said, Jim, I have seen the Nor Vise and will give it a try, but my thinking is it does not do small flies as well as others. Is that correct?
Dr Bob
I may not be the best person to judge how well the Nor Vise performs on “small” flies since I rarely tie flies on smaller than size 16 hooks. I fish quite a bit for bass and bream as well as trout and some saltwater. There are midge jaws for the Nor Vise which I understand make it very suitable for tying on smaller hooks like 26 through 30. I find the rotary very helpful for dubbing and spinning hackle and for “seeing” both sides of any fly I am tying. Perhaps someone who ties very small flies on a Nor Vise can weigh in on how it performs.
Jim Smith
I have the Barracuda Jr (not the trekker), and I’ve never looked back. It is a great vise, but I normally tie saltwater flies with it. For smaller flies, you would probably want the midge jaws.
I’ve got a Barracuda, and have used the Kingfisher. From what I’m hearing from you, you want the Kingfisher. I tie in a range similar to you, and the Barracuda is such overkill I’ve thought about getting a Kingfisher. I really liked that vice when I tied on it. If you don’t do full rotary tying, which I guess is done if you tie a lot of buggers or salt water, then why spend an extra $200.?
Eric