I will second that…I would have a hard time going back to a standard bobbin after using the Nor-Vise auto bobbin for so long.
Copied from Lawrence Waldron’s LAW vice, I believe. Not sure if Waldron was the first to have the feature, but his vise was in production when Dyna-King added this feature to the Indexer. Just for the record…
Yep. I meant in production. At least I thought the Law is no longer being produced. And I forgot about the Regal Revolution.
Other than the Law, Regal, and D-K I have seen no other inline rotary vice with this feature. However others may exist.
I just looked at the Dyna-King site so that I could read the company’s information about their new vise. In part, here’s what the company writes: " SPECS: Hook range: 8/0-22 Length, Jaw tip to end = 8-1/2? Height, Jaw tip to desk=7? Weight, with Pedestal=7lb Weight, with Clamp=3lb MSRP$ 499.00"
Looks like an excellent vise. However, I’m surprised that the jaws hold a range of hooks that only goes down to size 22 on the small side. Must be that this vise is designed more for the salt or salmon fly tyer. Or, did I miss something?
Just asking.
Allan
I think size 22 is pretty small. I have never needed anything smaller and I tie all my trout flies on this vise as well as my largest bass, striper, and saltwater flies. The D-K standard jaws cover a pretty wide range compared to many other vises.
Although we stock hooked down to size 26 in our shop we sell very few smaller than size 20 and best we can tell it has been about 10 years since the last order for hooks 22 or smaller. At least for our customer base very few even tie anything smaller than 18. We sell maybe a dozen packages of size 20 hooks a year.
The D-K vises can be ordered with with the optional midge jaws that hold hooks down to size 32.
tailingloop,
I fully understand that small flies aren’t for everyone. I was just saying that the limited range of hooks that this vise holds in the standard jaws was surprising. There are many here in the east, and I’m guessing in the west too, who tye flies on small hooks.
Left to right: Mustad 28, Mustad 32, Royal Wulff tyed on Tiemco 32 and a Tiemco 32(below)
DK at one time sold midge jaws for their vises covering hooks smaller than 22. I had one for the Barracuda I had and I tied as small as size 28. Held the hook just fine.
Allan, I don’t see the range as limited as it quite broad covering 20 standard hook sizes (excluding the weird odd sized hooks like the TMC 102Y). There aren’t too many vises that cover the range from 22 to 8/0. Most that cover sizes down to 32 give up the ability hold the larger hooks. Many cover 28 to 4/0 which is 19 standard sizes. The standard yet very popular Regal jaw is rated for 22 to 2/0.
So if you see the range as limited, I think your view may be colored by what you tie most often, not because it is limited in a quantitive range comparison to other products. That is to be expected I think. Aside from a quantitive measurement I see the range as quite broad because it covers the entire range that I tie on. The differing viewpoints reinforce the guidance to the OP that they need to consider the types and sizes of flies they expect to tie most often when selecting a vise.
As for the OP’s original question on which version of the Barracuda, if we discount the Indexer and Ultimate Indexer I think they are all functionally equivalent. As you go up in price each is a bit more robust and/or adds some cosmetic features.
No problem. You gave a reasonable explanation. As far as the original question - I am not experienced with either of those vises so I cannot offer an opinion.
The jvice comes with a very unique midge jaws. If you go to Jay’s site, you will see the midge jaws he offers for his JVICE. Quite unique, I believe.
I have had Regals, DK’s, and LAW.
I think the jvice offers the most clearance for tying very small flies.
Not the best pic, and looks a little odd not being on the Jvice head, but here is my jvice midge jaws with a #310 Dai-Riki size 20 hooks:
I think I know what you guys are talking about…Have you seen the Dyna King Voyager II? I believe it preceded Lawrence’s beautiful work. The Voyager II has a small brass pin which holds the vise head stationary. If you push the vise head forward and the pin moves out of its “holder”, the jaws can be rotated.
Vise loose, but I think this little clip shows what I was trying to explain?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F6m4m_vmfk&feature=youtube_gdata_player
For the past 6 - 7 years I have been tying on a Dyna-King Barracuda vise. Once a week I get to tie on a Regal Medallion Rotary vise (I help teach new fly tyers - young and old). Both vises are well made. Both do a very good job for what they were designed for. Yes there is dfferences. I am very happy with my Barracuda and will not give it up. Like others here have suggested… you really have to try a vise before you buy it. I can say that from experience. I almost bought 2 very popular and very well made vises before I tried each of them. When I tried them they just didn’t feel right for me. When I tried the Barracuda I knew that was the one.
- My budget is not limited for this particular purchase.
- Hook size: 2 or 4 rarely. Usually 6 down to 18 or 20.
- Yes, which of the vises are “true rotary”, as opposed to “rotary”? (Uhhh, what exactly is the difference?)
My thanks to you and everyone else who has been kind enough to supply information to my inquiry,
George
Hi George,
Allow me to reply to the question of difference between ‘true rotary’(tr) and ‘rotary’(r).
A TR. vise keeps the hook shank straight while the vise rotates. Thus, by holding a threaded material, i.e. tinsel, dubbing, floss, etc in your right hand (for right handed tyers) that material will be wrapped and distributed evenly as you rotate(spin) the vise head with your left hand.
A R. vise rotates the hook at the angle of the jaws. It simply allows you to easily view the far side of the fly.
I’m sure there are plenty of You-Tube videos that you can watch that describe the differences better than I’ve explained them. I haven’t tried but I’m guessing if you search the You-Tube site and use the description ‘rotary vise demonstration’ or something similar, you’ll get many videos to see.
As far as a recommendation - best bet is go to a shop and try tying on a few. See which vises are most comfortable and meet your size needs best.
Good luck.
Allan
Allan, Please allow me to tweak your description.
On a true rotary vise the jaws can be adjusted so the hook shaft is properly adjust and placed horizontal to the base would scribe a dot when rotated.
There are rotary vises whose jaws can be adjusted to be parallel to the base and can be rotated and the eye of the hook placed parellel to the base will scribe a circle when rotated. The angle of these jaws can be adjust but cannot be adjusted to make the hook shaft the true center axis when rotated. It is a little thing to me if you were typing a large quantity of flies it might be important.
Jesse. Yes, my description needed that tweek. Indeed, I’ve a Renzetti(TR), a Regal(R), and a Universal(R).
However, a picture, or in this case a YouTube video, is worth … well a heck of a lot of words, LOL.
Allan
George, Since no one else mentioned it I’m gonna throw the Danvise into the mix. I’ve only had mine for about 3 years and don’t really tye that much but when I do I have no problems with it. Made in Denmark of advanced resin material, the Danvise combines true fly tying rotary action with light weight for portability and an unbeatable price. Check it out at J Stockard on the Sponsors page of FAOL. I got mine from BTs but I believe they are retired now.
I have a Dan Vise that I used for years, with only one complaint. It tends to spit out hooks smaller than #24. Since I tie a lot of #24 - #32 midges, I switched to the Regal Stainless and have been quite happy with it. If you’re not into the tiny stuff, the Dan Vise would work fine.
I agree with this whole heartedly, including the spitting of hooks smaller than 24 (and even 24s if one isn’t careful). The other issue with the DanVise is that it’s shaft is 10mm, not 3/8". So there are some accessories that can not be added.
Highly recommend the jvice.
Suggest you look at his site: jvice.com