Hello everyone, I am seeking a bit of information regarding the Peak vise. I fish the Yakima, WA area and there are no dealers around here where I can get the information myself. Since the Peak vise has no adjustment for placing hoooks of different sizes precisely on the axis of rotation when tying rotary style, I would like to know what is the optimum size hook that will position the shank of the hook on the axis of rotation without any vertical displacement as it is rotated. Also, what range of hooks will fit best before the vertical displacement during rotation becomes an annoyance. I am using an old Thompson A and looking to upgrade. I like all I have read about the Peak and it fits my budget, but I have this lingering question. Your taking the time to respond will be of great assistance and very much appreciated. Jim
Jim,
Rather than parroting the advertizing blurb which touts in-line adjustment options to exactly center the shank, here is my real-world comment.
Exact in-line is important for spinning vise designs, such as the Nor-vise, where the jaws can be spun at speed. For hand cranked in-line rotary vises, such as the Peak, approximate in-center placement of the hook is ‘as good’. As long as the hook shank rotates close to in-center, this will be perfectly fine in the real world of tying, without any negative effect to rotary tying operations.
Yes, a number of the in-line rotary vise designs add adjustment options, but in my experience with hundreds of tiers on such vises, it is a rare bird who fine-tunes his or her vise when moving between hook sizes 
Cheers,
Hans W
=== You have a friend in Low Places === [url=http://www.danica.com/flytier:73c3f]http://www.danica.com/flytier[/url:73c3f]
[This message has been edited by Hans Weilenmann (edited 28 January 2006).]
Thanks Hans - you are such a reality check. I am a Peak user who use to tie on a Thompson A (still have the original red box it came in -1969- when I bought it new). Moved to the Peak a couple of years ago and never looked back. I am enjoying the features of the Peak. I’m glad I did it.
Cordially,
mcsteff
YMMV
I too use the Peak since last year and it is flawless for me. I was also using a knock off A vise. I feel that this vise for the money is wonderful for someone who is on some kind of budget. It also packs well as I take it to work and streamside frequently. You can also read Hans full report with some searchs. Al has also wrote a review on it.
Good luck,
Seege
This question in general came up on another board as well - and Hans replied the same (with which I agree). If the shank of the hook moves up or down (about a shank dia. or a little more) during rotation it is not a factor. The speed is so slow that you can easily compensate for the minor change in tension with your material (right) hand. Usually putting the bend of the hook deeper/higher/lower in the jaws is the only change you need to make. I agree again, in the tying club I don’t think anyone changes the ‘master setting’ - it’s just not worth it. Just relax and enjoy the new vise.
I to have a Peak and am not happy with it holding big hooks am getting ready to send it back. I just got a new HMH the siloutte the cheap one however you spell it and am absolutely Happy with it. It will actually smash a hook but it is not full roatary. One of the best inexpensive vises out there.
I love my Peak and tie Smallmouth hair jigs on it with size 4/0 hooks with no problem. I dont use the rotary funtion alot but it is a great value in my opinion.
I have just recently picked up a used Peak vise after looking at them for most of the last year. I also use a Renzetti traveller. I wanted something a little bigger because I mainly tie deerhair bass flies and I wanted something that had a larger surface to support my left hand. I love this vise, but like JC said, the plastic screw needed to be adjusted often. This model that I have is the original design, and may be different from what is available now, for I was able to order a replacement screw that was made of brass, and it works fine. GREAT VISE!!
JC,
That was my suggestion. They were offended by it.
chuckle
Maybe it was all in the delivery?
Kurt (at Peak) and I discussed the same topic, the replacement of nylon screw by a brass version, when I test-drove the Peak for my vise review. I did not sense “offended”.
I did sense weighing the pros and cons of replacing the set of screws by a more costly alternative, what the functional difference might be, what the esthetical difference might be, and how a possible increase in price would be perceived by the customers.
Just as you did, I told Kurt how I saw it, made my case to drop nylon screws in favor of metal screws, possibly nylon tipped. His was and is the decision whether to take up suggestions and whether to implement alterations, or stick to his own ideas. I have no problem with that. Surely you agree?
As it turned out, Kurt did take the respective suggestions on board and made brass screws available at either purchase moment, or as a retrofit. You can rightly feel pleased and validated
Cheers,
Hans W
=== You have a friend in Low Places === [url=http://www.danica.com/flytier:218ae]http://www.danica.com/flytier[/url:218ae]
[This message has been edited by Hans Weilenmann (edited 31 January 2006).]
Is there reason for a new full blown review of the vises available?
Have there been any major new entries or changes in current vises in the last several years?
Swing hard, in case they throw the ball where you’re swinging. Duke Snider
McManus,
Bruce Salzburg and I added three new vise reviews to the set on the FFM web site. They are the HMH Silhouette, HMH Silhouette SX and Renzetti Apprentise.
More reviews will be added over the course of 2006 to reflect new entries on the market. Here are some which are on our to-do list at this time: Spearhead, Vossler, Snobee, and Jvice Gooseneck. As others become available, this list may expand.
The aim is to maintain this as a ‘living’ repository of vise reviews.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Hans W
=== You have a friend in Low Places ===
http://www.danica.com/flytier
Hans,
When a change is made by a manufacturer, such as the change made by Peak; do you update the article on that vise?
Swing hard, in case they throw the ball where you’re swinging. Duke Snider
McManus,
There is not a single answer to that question. Changes and updates occur in cycles. For example, the price info in the reviews and in the vise matrix have been updated. In view of changes in price (generally price increases), some of the verdicts and comparative rankings have been amended to refect the situation in the market today.
What is unlikely to happen is that for each modification or addition a manufacturer implements this automagically is carried over into the reviews. While it is a ‘living’ repository of vise reviews, there is no day-to-day update warranty included, as you will understand.
Cheers,
Hans W
=== You have a friend in Low Places ===
http://www.danica.com/flytier