I am looking to buy a rotary vise. I am considering a Danica Danvise and an Atlas vise. Any feedback would be appreciated.
kyflyguy
The flyfisherman website had an excellent review of all rotary vises a few years ago. I own a Danvise and a Renzetti traveler . Both are excellent vises. Many tiers on this site are fond of Atlas and other vises. Best advice: Go to a fly shop that sells several brands of vises and try them to see which you prefer. Youtube has many videos of rotary fly tying and you can see advantages and disadvantages of various vices.Also do a search on this site of vice reviews. Welcome to the board ! Remember, new guy chops the wood and brings the beer.
Just bought an Atlas in October and I love it, that being said I agree with Paddy. If I had been able to try some out I believe it would have made my buying experience much less stressful and the choice easier. Taking your time deciding may help out too, as I was able to pick up the Atlas on sale for $118.
kyflyguy, Here’s a link to an article written by one of the members here on FAOL. http://www.flyfisherman.com/featured/the-best-fly-tying-vise/ If you are not familiar with Han Weilenmann, he is an extremely talented and knowledgeable fly fisherman and fly tyer from, Denmark. While this article does not include all of the rotary vises available in the marketplace, it does cover many of them in a wide range of prices and discusses the different attributes you want to consider when purchasing a new vise. I personally tie on a NorVise and absolutely love it. I’ve used other rotary vises, but I found that many of them leave the hook offset from the axis which makes it less user friendly for many tyers. Here’s a link to the Norvise website with some videos that show how the Norvise system works. https://norvise.com/product/fly-tying-vises/
Good luck and enjoy whichever vise you end up purchasing.
Jim Smith
Here’s another review of lower-cost vises:
http://www.flyfishohio.com/Vise%20Review%201/Fly_Tying_Vise_Shoot-Out.htm
Not all are rotary, but the Danvise and Anvil are rated. Like Paddy80701 said, checking some out at a flyshop, if nearby, is a great way to see if they have the features you’re looking for. I’ve been tying with a Renzetti Traveler for almost 20 years and it’s everything I’ll ever want in a vise.
Welcome to the forum,
Scott
I have a lightly used Danvise I would sell if you are interested.
Picking a vise is like picking a suit of clothes. All the other guys are right. One important factor seldom included in product reviews is your own personal emphasis on the relative importance of different features to your desires. I agonized over this for quite a while and ended up with a Peak for normal use including larger flies and a Renzetti Traveler for smaller sizes and when I felt like being more delicate. The Peak is my workhorse and the Renzetti is my sportcar. Have a good trip and Happy New Year.
I also agree with what’s been noted above. IMO, I believe in research based on your pocket book. To find a vice that will suit your needs now and into the future yet, fitting in with your pocket book can be quite a choice to make. I’m certain many of us started out using cheap vices, only to upgrade to one better suited and of better quality to suit our tying skills. Of course, nothing like hands on to try and feel it before you buy it.
I have been tying on my Renzetti Presentation Clamp Model since the 80’s. Does what I need with ease and will allow me to do much more over the years.
don’t overthiink it. u may not enjoy it. get a danvise with an extension. high probabillity all the vise u will ever need. I have modified mine a lot. but rotator cuff rebuild, bad wrist with wrist brace, tendon pain in hand…won’t be tying for a long time. i have a danvise i think i will sell as i have two. also have a renzetti presentation 2 or 3 thousand, a norvise, a griffin, spider, uh…probably a couple of others. not at my home where they is. but i have two danvise’s here. i prefer a pedestal mount and c clamp it to table. al beatty said he does the exact same thing. i have a brass shiny gold looking base for one i got from al. i put a 4" turning wheel compliments of Mr. Buddy Sanders…on it, some earth magnets, and some pony tail cloth coated rubber bands on it for tying streamer mat’l. turned the extension upside down so screw head on bottom and not on top n the way. had extra screw tapped and mounted on the extension. found out could not get centerline of hook for true good rotating. had jaw drilled out and tapped so can now adjust up above and below centerline. by the way bugman did this drilling and tapping for me. he so awesome good at anything and outstanding fly tyer, he prefers pea… oh i have one of those also. i love my danvise…big fly or small…all the vise i will ever need. i sold my montana mongoose for $99. i not into making money. sorry to ramble…just get a danvise and just take it from there. u b fine (ps…just like a fly rod, i have too many…duh. if you only fish with one fly rod you will get very good with it…did that as a 12 yr old kid…same wit a vis i think)
What do you think of it and how much are you looking for?
Thanks
kyflyguy
It’s got a very nice rotary setup, if you do a lot of large flies, and very good hook holding. Would take $40 for it and pay shipping, great way to get started.
kyflyfuy u cannot go wrong with her offer of a danvise for $40 shipped! u will normally pay $75 and up. it is more than likely the only vise you will ever need. big flies and small. just get the extension for it. u may not even tie very much once you get nto it. u have a great deal offered to you. sorry for typo’s. rotator rebuild surgery, wrist in a brace, hand tendons painful…no tyijgng fo rme or casting for a long long time. if you only fish with one fly rod you will get very good with it. same with a vise. u do NOT need to handle a bunch of them. just get a good vise and go at it…
Does it have the clamp base? If so I am interested.Call me at 270-436-2160 and we can exchange addresses and phones. Thenkd
Kyflyguy
Kyflyguy,
You might want to remove your phone number and send herefishy a PM (although Pandora’s probably already out of the bottle). Most of the folks on this site are sane (up to a point :D), but that’s not something you want broadcast on the interweb.
Regards,
Scott
I am new to FAOL, how do we exchange info?
Kyflyguy
kyflyguy is a local friend and I tutored him on the PM system so hopefully he will figure it out.
And to those who suggested he check a local fly shop - the closest thing that even resembles a fly shop to us is 2 hours away in Nashville.
I started on a Danvise…@ 40 bucks including shipping…jump on it
I have a friend who ties on a Dan-vise and thoroughly loves it. He has also made several home made adaptations (he likes making gadgets) and made it interestingly close functionally to our Nor-vise. You won’t be sorry with that investment.
…lee s.
Thanks to you all for the advise. I have no fly shops within 100 miles, so I have decided to try the Danvise. I consider it a step on the trail of life. Thanks again to everyone.
Kyflyguy