I got a call from a friend on Monday letting me know that the Bargain Cave at the local fly shop had a Peak vise in there. I ran down there the next day to look for myself and it was still there. It WAS missing the allen wrench and the bobbin holder, but everything else was there and in tip-top shape. Since it was priced $50 off, I grabbed it and ran. Man, I can’t wait to get some tying done! I have been eyeing one since I got the Cabela’s cards for Christmas!
Yes, I am a little stoked. 
Don,
Congratulations! You scored a deal. I’ve been using a Peak for the last three years and think it’s an exceptional vise. You shouldn’t have any difficulty in getting an allen wrench nor finding a bobbin holder. Peak Fishing out of Colorado should have the bobbin holder available, I think they are about $10.00?
Did you get the pedistal or the C-clamp?
Anyway, congratulations and happy tying.
Hey Don,
Great score! I have heard nothing but great things about the Peak Vise. I’m sure you’ll enjoy your new toy.
REE
alra195;
I got the pedestal, as my old vise has a clamp that will work if I need it to. I already had the Allen wrench, so that I didn’t care about.
As for the cradle, I took a wire hangar and wrapped it around the 3/8 shank of the old vise a couple of times to get the right shape, then used needle nosed pliers to adjust it to slide easily on the shaft, yet when the weight of the bobbin is resting on it, it holds steady. I then put a right angle where I wanted it and an M shape in the very end. So far it works like a charm!
Thanks REE, I was excited. I was gonna pay full price, but this just made it sweeter. Didn’t need it, but the want factor was really pulling me.
The peak vise is great one.
It’s made in the U.S.A
It’s a true rotary.
It’s the only vise I’ve yet seen that offers an extended handle to ease rotation.
The lever action jaw adjustment is most easy to use.
The price is more reasonable.
HAVE FUN
Your tip on wrapping the coat hanger around the 3/8 rod is a very good one. I have a store bought one that came with my traveler but I needed a second one for my apex vise. I just tried it out and it works like a charm and costs zippo. Thanks you saved me 15 bux.
prolly a dumb question but whats a bobbin holder for? rotary vises? what do they do? I don’t got one on my cheapo vise so I don’t kno.
A bobbin holder in this sense is used with a true rotary vise. You drape your thread across it when using the rotary feature of the vise. It holds the thread straight out in front of the hook so there is no build up of thread when the hook rotates.
Hope that helps.
REE
Plus it gets the bobbin out of your way when you are wrapping materials such as ribbing or hackle. Makes things much easier.
Fishaholic…I recognise you from the Ohio site as well!
If your ready to try a new vise out and don’t want to lay out the bucks, grab an EZ Rotary from Hook and Hackle…I got mine for 36 bucks (it was on sale) and 8 bucks for he bobbin holder.
From the looks of the nice stuff you tie up, you’ll be ready to upgrade your vise soon.
I found the EZ to be a very nice vise for the price…there are nicer out ther but the cost difference would be signifigant.
In fact, I seem to think it is actually a better made Vise then the Griffin Odessy I was saving for orginally and Griffin makes a pretty nice vise in my opinion.
Whoops sorry for the hijack…if I had found the deal you did on the Peak,I would have jumped on it too…really nice vise there!
drolfson,
I just got a Peak a week ago as well and love it! Makes me wonder why I hadn’t upgraded sooner! Looking forward to tying some big hair bass flies.
Started pouting like my 5 yr old when I had to put it away–we had visitors.
For teh cost the Pak vise is an exceptional bargin. They are good folks to work with also. I bought one of their vises with the older style clamp (just one mounting hole), I called them and offered to purchase tthe newer clamp (the one with two moutning holes 1 for a vise the other ofr accessories), the offerd to trade for me. I sent the old style back and they did trade for me the newer style. Awesome people. the vise is great and I love it. A lot better than dropping a few hundred on another vise. I might do that later as I get better at tying, but I hope I really dont get that good, that it requires that much expense.
Yep, I like it! I just gotta work on my bodies and wings!
I acted like a 5yr old when it was time to put it away too. :rolleyes:
I have a new Peak vise on the way myself, thought it was time to put away the old Thompson vise, it has served me well.
Catman,
If you have an old Thompson, hang on to it. Never can tell when you might need a back up vise and that Thompson will last forever.
Congrats to all the new Peak owners out there. Several of the guys on the UK site I belong to have opted for the Peak over many really fine vises made in Europe. The quality is evident.
REE
From a very satisfied PEAK owner - “You done good!” Keep the Thompson. I use the c clamp that came with my Thompson when I need a c clamp vise. (infrequently…I used to travel with it but now have a satchel that carries the pedestal et. al.)
Nice people those people.
Mark