I have a Renzetti saltwater traveller whose jaws flare out at the tips, i.e. if the back 3/4 of the two jaws halves are touching, there is a slight gap between the tips. It’s possible I overtightened a fly or two at some point.
It looks like I can largely ‘fix’ this by lapping the two halves of the jaws on some glass with fine sandpaper glued to it, but before I do, I just though I’d ask whether there is a better way to deal with this, or perhaps whether the vice used to come with the jaw tips slightly apart???
Hopefully, someone’s had this problem before and managed to fix it. Right now, it’s a lot tougher to tighten a hook in the vise than in ought to be.
If the tips are flared outward, at some time in the past, you exceeded the “POINT OF ELASTICITY” for the metal. You could try to bend the tips back to their original shape, but the metal has been permanently weakened.
I would suggest, that you not try to correct the problem, as it will not correct the situation. If the flared tips are not an inconvenence, just leave them as they are. Otherwise you should order new parts to replace them.
~Parnelli
Josko,
I’ll second the ‘don’t try to fix it’.
First, as pointed out by Parnelli, it’s likely that the steel has been degraded somewhat by the flexing that caused the problem in the first place.
Second, since the jaws are (or should have been) made from hardened steel, the lapping process could be a lengthy one. Only you can determine what your time is worth…
Also, removing the metal from the inside surface of the jaws may (I’ve not closely examined a set, so I can’t say for sure) effect how the jaws function.
All in all, I’d say the best course would be to call the manufactureer, tell them of the problem, and see about a new set of jaws. That’s likely to be the least costly and most efficient way to fix this.
I do understand the desire to tinker (until recently I’d be the guy happily tearing the vise apart with a sledge waiting to ‘tweak’ the jaws backing into place). I’ve since learned a couple of costly lessons that have led me to leave delicate adjustments on quality tools to the experts.
Up to you, of course, maybe all you really need to do is give the jaws a good whack with the aforementioned sldege…It IS your vise (vice?), after all…
Good Luck!
Buddy
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The Traveler Jaws are case hardened (thin layer of hard steel with soft core). I would not try to machine, grind or lap the surfaces. Bending would work if done very carefully, too much and they will crack. The case hardened process is very widely used and makes for a tougher material than through hardened steel. The jaws will bend before breaking as you discovered.
The Masters series and others are through hardened tool steel.
Call Renzetti and explain the problem, I have received excellent customer service from Lilly Renzetti.
Regards,
FK
Not being a wise guy here but I would sell it and buy a Dyna-King. You won’t ever have that problem with a Dyna-King vise. I have tied up 8/0 flies for billfish with mine without a problem. And many 3/0 and 4/0 flies for the salt.
I would guess you can buy new jaws for your vise but I would also bet it won’t be real cheap, so why stick good money into something that may happen again? Do yourslef a favor and get a good saltwater vise that will last you for the rest of your life. I get nothing for this information. Ron
Nothing like input when oppurtunity knocks to go and push another brand. Instead of helping or making a useful suggestion to solve this problem, let’s see I got it go buy another brand to replace the Renzetti for political and personal issues. Actually if the vise is in good condition and is the cam jaws, you can buy a new set of cam jaws from Renzetti over the internet or by calling the factory direct. Renzetti has a good rep and good service. Sounds like you over tightened the jaws pretty well. I have been tying on the Renzetti Presentation 4000 with cam jaws and saltwater base and for shows and camping the Renzetti traveler with the cam jaws. Love both vise. Nice piece of work, good quality and have had good satifaction with the products. Been tying on them a long time and thousands of flies have been tied on these vises. Give the factory in FLA a call and tell them your situation. Renzetti’s customer service for the time I used them as well as buying a spare parts kit for both my vises were excellent. hope this helps
Andy B
Andy,
I agree. There are a small number of people on this BB who can’t be helpful so they try to build their reputation by putting down whatever brand someone else has. I guess it makes them feel superior.
Ditto on the quality of Renzetti customer service! I once e-mailed them a question and Lilly answered me on Xmas eve after 6pm, really! I own two Renzetti vises, a Master for the bench and a Traveler for the road and I love them both and have nothing but great reports on their service.
While not meant as a criticism of people?s choices; I think sometimes people expect too much from the Traveler. Its strength is its portability and price point. It’s not designed for big hooks and big flies so to compare it to a Barracuda for example is unfair.
Andy B- There was nothing political or anything else in my statemenet. I just feel that he would do better that another vise in the saltwater area. You tie a lot of saltwater flies??? Well I do and I have owned The top of the line Renzetti and had it go south on me. That is not being political or anything else it is telling it like it is. I have seen sveral other Renzetti’s that could not take hard tying with big hooks. Nothing new there.
The only thing that this person can do is to buy a new set of jaws for his vise. I said that in my post. And then he could have the same thing happen again. I also said that. That is as good advise as a person can get on this subject.
I worked as a gunsmith and machinest for many years and I know just a bit about steel and how it is tempered and what it takes to work with it. Those jaws may as well be tossed out. They have been hardened and he can’t do a thing with them. ( I worked as a Gun Smith for a very good Gun Smith in the winters when not guiding here)
You see sometimes there is more behind an answer than being Political. It is called experience. If a Dyna-King were to do the same thing I would call a spade a spade. Ron
bluehackle- I don’t know were you get off saying that I do not help people on this board. Or that I knock other products to get or build a reputation? What is with you? I guess no one is entitled to an opinion but you Right?
Bamboozle- The fellow said that he had the Saltwater jaws. I think they should hold a saltwater hook without springing out of shape. But I could be wrong to?
[This message has been edited by RonMT (edited 24 March 2005).]
I don’t know what the hell is political about a guy giving his opinion.
Sounds like you guys are a bit jealous cause someone on this board might know more than you.
I have seen what RonMT has posted on other boards. He has helped more than most with fly tying and fishing.
This is a free world and we do have a right to our opinions. But don’t knock a guy because you don’t like what he has to say.
While I don’t claim to be an expert in metallurgy or anything else except for cartoons and whiskey…
…I do know that at least with my Renzetti Master which I use at least 6 days a week I have yet to have any hook slip while applying very minimum pressure on the cam. I adjust the jaws so they are as parallel as possible and the results are excellent. Maybe the cause was overzealous clamping of the hook too close to the tip of the jaws; somthing that can screw up a lot of vises.
The Traveler I have gets used very infrequently and to be perfectly honest it is usually after a long day of fishing back at camp when my expertise in whiskey has clouded my skills of observation.
In any case send back the jaws to Renzetti and get an opinion as to the cause and then decide what course of action to take.
Bamboozle- I in no way am knocking anyone here. Including you. But everyone has to understand the key Word here is “Saltwater Hooks” Not size #4 nypmh or streamer hooks or size #14 dry fly hooks. No one said a word about how that vise would hold those styles of hooks. It is a Saltwater tying vise.
Saltwater hooks will beat the heck out of a vise real quick. There is a lot of pressure being applied to that hook to get those jaws to hold a round object. If the jaws of a vise are not made to hold those big round hooks then they will fail. There are special areas cut in the jaw faces of the Dyna-King vises just for the purpose of holding these large hooks.
I use to own a Renzetti the one that sells for about $600.00 now. This was some years ago. I wore it out the first year I owned it and tried to get it fixed. But I was told because I used it for commercial use I would have to pay $50.00 to have it fixed. Now I have to say they may have changed there policy now I do not know but I will tell you I sold the vise and have not had another one to date. All I know is the for that kind of money I should have gotten a vise that lasted a might longer and a little better service out of it.
I have had my Dyna-King for going on 17 years and I tie for a living and have never had to send it back for one single thing. I have tied many size 1/0 through 5/0 flies with it and a number of 8/0 also and flies down to a size #28 and many thousands of flies with all of the sizes in between. I like this vise. It has proven it’s self to me.
I have seen at least 4 posts on having the
Renzetti vices fixed on this board in the last little while. I have not seen one post about having a Dyna-King fixed on here that I can remember?
I know that vises are like wives we will protect what we like all we can. I do the same with the Dyna-King but I do so because I have used most of the others and have found that I can trust the Dyna-King vise to not go south on me when I need it most. That to me is very important as mine helps me eat now and then.
Like I said we are talking Saltwater hooks here not smaller hooks. If my Dyna-King had failed I would be the first to say it and also the first to say how the service was on it. I do not think I will have to worry to much about that end of it. But if I should you folks will be the first to know… 
Ron
I have owned both DynaKing and Renzetti for many years. They are both well made tools.
The most problems I have had is with the DynaKing. The Professional model has too much play in the chassis and the main tube with jaws wobbles under light pressure. Two friends had the adjusting collet break, one exploded and pieces flew all over the room, the second just cracked. Ron Abby stated that was a heat treatment defect and replaced the parts. My Professional DynaKing is presently for sale. For the larger SW hooks I like the groved slot in the jaws and my new Barracuda will replace the old (1988) Professional.
Renzetti vises I have used since 1993 and are excellent in quality. One model 4000 had the jaws rust after use on a saltwater trip, Lilly replaced the jaws and I had the new jaws hard chrome plated. This was my fault with lack of care, not the manufacturer. My Masters series (1993)is very heavy duty and the brass cam lever occasionally requires cleaning, this is the wear part against the hardened jaws and will eventually require replacement. I also have two very early Model 3000 style with the very small midge jaws for tiny flies.
I also really like the Norlander design and presently own two with all the jaw options. I wore out one early Norlander with aluminum parts and gave it away to a friend. The newer vises are brass and steel and smaller than the very early model.
Any vise can be overloaded and develope problems, my two early Regal vises chipped the jaws when small hooks were launched across the room. My HMH Hunter vises made by Bill Hunter in the late 1970’s would not hold large hooks very well, I had 4 or 5 originals and sold them off in favor of the true rotary Renzetti designs. Several others were purchased and discarded years ago.
Regards,
FK
I have a background in Mechanical Engineering, and in the field of Material Design, which is the science of designing the material to fit the need of the item being made.
All vises have the problem of metal fatigue, due to the type of alloy metal used, and the process of shaping-molding, machining, and heat treatment used.
Material Design is not exclusively for metal only, but for all materials. Glass, Porcelain, Wood, Plastics; anything that is used to make other things. The properties of that material can be altered to allow the final item to fulfill the need it was designed for.
What happened to the Jaws of the Renzetti Vise, could happen to any Fly-Tying Vise…
~Parnelli 
PS: I am a Renaissance Man, knowledgeable in many different fields of knowledge. Just like Forest Gump, I am consider to be a Genius. But my wife thinks different; I am unable to remember, about lowering the toilet seat after use.
Parnelli- I have a PHD in time on a lathe LOL.
What you are saying is true. But if a vice is made to hold larger hooks IE. (The cut in the Dyna-King jaws) It will hold them without having any damge done to it. Maybe the Renzetti should do the same thing with there jaws? I see they finally went to a cam type of vice now. Much easier to work the jaws with a cam. And also easier on the fingers to. Ron
I always thought that a…
BS (Bachelor of Science) or BA (Bachelor of Art), meant that you knew very little, about a whole lot.
MS (Master of Science) or MA (Master of Art Degree), meant that you knew a lot more, about a lot less.
and a…
PHD (Doctorate), meant that you everything, about nothing.
Later I was informed that a PHD is abbreviation for a Post Hole Digger.
~Parnelli
Steve
I was told that PHD stood for piled higher and deeper!
Brad
Josko,
The problem maybe in where you have your jaws set. If you look at the cam jaws there are three holes (one already has a screw in it probaly in the middle). If you read the instruction book sent with the jaws it will tell you which way to adjust it…I think that the lowest setting is for the smaller hooks and the upper most setting is for larger types of hooks. You may want to try and adjust this setting to see if it helps your jaws. Also there is the small “round or star shaped” adjustment screw towards the tip of the jaws. This is the fine tuning adjustment for different hook sizes. I bet that if you adjust either of these items it will fix the problem with your jaws.
Hope this helps…
John G.
Albuquerque, NM