Finally, after years of tying, I bit the bullet and bought a Renzetti Traveler so that I could experience the benefits of a quality, full-rotary vise. I’ve been using the vise now for about four and a half months. I’ve experimented with the rotary feature to wind tinsel, dubbing, hackle and everything else except the kitchen sink. After my months experimentation, I’ve concluded that I would rather do most of my tying with the fly sitting still than twirling that darn lever. Now don’t get me wrong, I do like to be able to inspect the far side of the fly for eveness and symmetry with relative ease but most of the time I tie with the rotation knob locked down. Anyone else use their rotary vise in a non-rotary fashion most of the time? 8T
I did that for the first year or so I had a rotary vise. Then I decided to learn how to use it.
I bought Al & Gretchen’s book, played around with it a bit. Figured out ‘why’, in my own mind (we’re all different in how we learn and eventually comprehend spacial concepts), it worked the way it does.
Now I wouldn’t even attempt to tie without the rotary feature. Took a while, though. I’ve had my rotary for around eight years now…still figuring out the things it will do. Every few months I find another ‘trick’ or technique that it will do that a regular stationary vise won’t.
I’m with you 8Thumbs. I love my rotary vice (griffin oddessy) but use it most of the time in a stationary position. I do rotate for examining the fly, for tying on hard to get at stuff like rubber legs.
But, for spiral wrapping I’m more comfortable if I leave the vise stationary and use my fingers (I learned on and old Thompson model A) I don’t like needing to half hitch the thread and find the bobbin cradle get’s in my way.
Perhaps I am missing some rotary techniques, how do the rest of you manage the thread when using a rotary for spiral wrapping?
I started tying four plus years ago with a Renzetti Traveler and still use it for all my fly tying.
I very seldom use the rotary function for anything more than inspecting the fly from various angles, photographing them from different angles, and getting a better view for tying in some materials like some wings and rubber legs.
I KNOW what a competent person using a full rotary can do - at least a couple times a year, I get to watch a fellow who is a real master with a Nor-vise do amazing things with it. BUT that isn’t the kind of tying I am into, for either the kinds of flies he does, or the techniques / mechanics of what he likes to do.
I wouldn’t discourage anyone from exploring what the rotary function might add to their fly tying enjoyment or the quality of the flies they tie. Just ain’t my thing.
if i’m going to rib a fly with whatever, i tie 1 half hitch at the head of the fly or wherever the rib is going to end and put the thread in the bobbin rest. then i use the rotary function for winding the rib.
i’ve been tying on a renzetti since it first came out and i dont always use the rotary function for every fly. hell, i forget to use it most of the time!
I’ve had a Traveler for probably 8 or 9 years now. I use the rotary to move the fly into a better position. I use the rotary to rib or wind hackle.
I have B-A-D carpal in both hands due to 30+ years of pounding on keyboards. My hands can only take so much abuse of doing something so using the rotary “as it fits my needs” make tying enjoyable.
This summer, we went camping and I took a fixed vise. I needed to tie some simple panfish flies to give away and just trying to complete 6 flies on a fixed vise was painful.
We all use tools to meet different needs. For me, it’s so I can enjoy tying and not reach for the pain-killer when I’m done.
One other problem that I ran into and in fact was running into it all the time—the bobbin holder. The best thing locking down the rotary knob on my Travler was removing the bobbin holder. That thing was ALWAYS in the way and effectively blocking me from performing some important operation. I’ve set the bobbin holder in the farthest back corner of my foam tool caddy—out of sight and out of mind. 8T
I find that all the ones mounted to the vise stem are always in the way…
AK Best solved this one for me. I have his ‘Production Fly Tying’ book. In it, he explains how to make/use a bobbin rest that doesn’t get in the way.
Mine now swings completely out of the way with just a flick of my finger, and back into position just as easily. Half hitching is something I seldom do (if you tie on TDE hooks, the eye keeps the thread in place for almost any rotary operation).
I’m now solidly addicted to the rotary feature on my vise. However, I never use it to ‘look’ at the other side of the fly (that’s one thing the rotary feature does, keeps things even and centered, so you don’t need to look).
Even though I’m not in a hurry when I tie flies, the rotary feature lets me tie more efficiently, and thus faster. I find it helps me manage materials better.
I picked up a Nor Vise for a song from a buddy that didn’t like it, I tried using it but can only tie streamers & larger flies with it because of my big hands, I have a Renzeti Master for most of my tieing, When I first got the Nor Vise I had ordered 2 of his automatic bobbins. They make rotary tying soooooo much easier on either vise. If you want to really tie rotary check them out. They’re the greatest thing since sliced bread,
I’ve been tying with a Presentation 2000 and love the vise but honestly I really don’t use the rotary feature to much, just don’t care for it. I do use it to rib nymphs, and a few other things and have watch the rotary video mention here, but just don’t care for it all that much. So I’m with you 8T.
I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one who locks down the rotary feature on my vise. Old dogs and new tricks somehow keeps popping into my mind. A new style bobbin to go with my vise?—not likely in the immediate future but thank you for the suggestion. 8T
I think that many of us own a powerful tool, but barely scratch the surface in using it to it’s potential. I have made the big push just recently to continue to push the rotary function. I feel lucky in that I never tied on a fixed station vise like so many. I have owned three vises and they were all true rotary vises: DanVise, Peak and DK Barracuda. So I started with a true roatary unlike many that started with something like a Thompson A or a copy of that. My mentor ties on a HMH, it rotates, but is not true rotary. Own two DVDs, one by Mike Holt and one by Al Beatty and then I am currently reading the Beatty book. There is definately an effort required to focus on true rotary functions but I think that the skills onced learned will pay dividends.
I still lay a better thread base my rotating my bobbin than I do by rotating the vise and it is faster to rotate my bobbin at this point. I’ve tried rotating the vise and the bobbin at the same time, but the thread base isn’t as smooth that way for me. I will continue to work at it for another few doz flies but if it doesn’t change will go back to my standard grove so to say.
Anything new is uncomfortable and takes longer than the way that you are use to, the real effort is forcing yourself to take longer now so that you save time in the future.
