Rotary vise

[Daryle Holmstrom]

Since tying with a Thompson Model A vise from 1964 I've decided to try a rotary vise. Pro's, Con's, Recommendations.

Daryle

[Randy Diefert]

i learned on a stationary Vise .
I then went to a Griffin Oddesy Can that I fell in love with. I could get tighter, cleaner wraps with hackles and materials than I could with the Stationary. Then I got my Renzetti and a Ausable Speed crank . Which I love because it can spin fast enough to spin dubbing which was doable with the Griffin but, wore me out because of the one to one ratio (The renzetti is 2.5:1)
I don't think that I'll ever go back to a stationary. But, you can lock down a rotary and it becomes a stationary. You can easily turn your flies and reposition them to aid in your positioning of materials.
Remember that there is a difference between a Rotational vise and a rotary vise though.
The fly in the rotarys jaws rotates on a straight axis when properly placed in the jaws. The rotational vise does not.

I've tried many vises before settling on what I now have and almost all of them out there have their attibutes. It comes down to buying the best that you can afford and if you'd rather drive a Ford, Dodge or Chevy.

[kodiaksalmon]

Rotary is the only way to go. That said, you've been tying on a stationary vise for the last 41 years. I don't have a con for the roatary, but pros are being able to work the fly from any angle, winding spun dubbing, palmering hackle and tinsel. Recommendations depend alot on what you're wanting to spend. I use a Dyna King Barracuda, which is in my opinion a superb vise. It'll last me at least 41 years!

Jeff

[Daryle Holmstrom]

Thanks Randy and Jeff,

So many out there, so much new stuff for the old dog. Pretty much have mastered the puter but not for the masterie of tying the perfect fly. If I can teach my nephew, brother in law, grandson to tie one fly I'll be happy. Converted all of them to flyfishing this year.

Daryle

[Hywel]

Daryle,

Another (true) rotary vise you might consider is the Nor-Vise. It's extremely well-made (right here in Kelso, WA) and moderately priced, especially when compared to some of the Renzetti products, IMO. Customer service is world class, and it's marketed as a tying sysyem (tube fly adaptor, tapered jawset, lighting, etc.) so you have the ability to have the vise 'custom configured' to your needs - right out of the box.

Randy,

Was the AuSable Speed Crank at one time 'proprietary' to Ron Abbey or Dyna King? Can they be retrofitted to any vise, like a Renzetti, Griffin, et al?

Hywel

[Don Johnson]

See if there's a shop local to you that has a few different models you can test drive. The original post of this thread only mentioned moving to a rotary vise (any vise that turns) but don't discount moving to a true rotary vise. You get all the benefits of being able to turn the fly over as well as many other neat tricks that are more difficult, if not impossible, if the hook-shank isn't rotating or spinning in the axis of rotation.

Don

[Don Johnson]

The AuSable crank is a Renzetti product. I've only seen it on Renzetti vises but you may be able to retrofit it to something else.

For you, I think it'd be better for you to contemplate chucking up the spindle of your Nor-Vise into a brand new Porter Cable variable speed drill which is then plugged into a foot actuated rheostat (read: gas pedal). Forget the manual crank; get power to that thing man!

[Hywel]

Actually, I was thinking about a blue and balanced Rolls-Merlin Inline 12 with Turbochargers and a Nitrous Oxide booster.

I suppose I'd have to slightly modify my NorBobbin, too.

But, I digress...

Sorry. *g*

[Flyn'dutchman]

Retired, Once you try a rotary you will never look back. Buy the best you can. Renzetti makes one of the best in my opinion. I have a traveler for traveling and a Presentation 4000 for home. You can get by with the traveler at a very decent price. Either the cam jaw or the screw jaw work great. Screw jaw is less expensive but not less quality. Enjoy!:thumb: :thumb:

[Old Man]

If I was in the market for a rotary vise,I would get a Nor-vise. Had one for a while and could really put on the hackle or collars with it. It saves a lot of time when one is laying down bodies for woven flies.

Jim

[Steve Rohrbach]

Retired, check the product reviews on the home page. There is a good review of the Peak Rotary Vise. I used the Peak for a year and a half before I decided that I was hooked on fly tying and invested in a Nor Vise. I now have the tube attachment and the small jaws as well as the large jaws. This vise is a pleasure to use and speeds up the tying process. Either way will work, it just depends how much you want to spend. Good tying. Steve

[Daryle Holmstrom]

How about this one

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-TRUE-ROTARY-DANVISE-FLY-TYING-FISHING-FLIES-VISE_W0QQitemZ7197392874QQcategoryZ44913QQssPageNa meZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I like the nor vise but the missus shot me down like a scud missle.

Daryle

[Hywel]

I feel your pain, retiredfish!

Getting approval from the 'High Command' can be tough when you want an expensive item like a vise.

And, it's not the kind of thing you can sneak in the house either. *g*

Hywel

[jimmysworking]

I use a Renzetti Traveler and I love it. I learned on a Thompson and moved up to a Regal. Really liked both, but after trying the Traveler I don't think I'll switch back. That said, I have heard great reviews of the Danvise and if I were in the market for a new vice would give it serious thought.

[halcyon]

For an objective set of reviews of most of the available fly tying vises through 2004 read this article http://flyfisherman.com/ftb/hwvise/

Pick your price point and find the options available with indepth, objective reviews by two fellows that really understand fly tying vises.

Regards,

[Finni]

I second the article from the flyfisherman website. It is how I narrowed down the options to my Peak Vise. All in all, great vise, strong hold, well built, and excellent low price. But it could be a little bit higher. If I ever purchase a different jaw size for the vise, I will buy the heightener piece at the same time.

I also second the recommendation to "test drive" some at a local shop, it is the best way to get a good feel for the vise and if it will be what you want.

Finni

[Hywel]

I really believe that the most honest reviews and testimonies come from peers and *your* hands-on experience.

Try as they might, and as good as their intentions may be, a professional writer can't remain completely objective when 'evaluating' a product for a publication.

Something else to consider; IMHO, a magazines content and editorial slant is sometimes determined (or at least swayed) by their advertisers.

Hywel

[Randy Diefert]

Hywell I don't /can't see how to make my Ausable crank for my Salt Water Master fit the Griffin Oddessy Cam. I don't know the answer to your other question either.
I also tried the Norvise and probably would have bought one however at the time I had a problem getting my big fingers in to tye at the hook bend when the fly was in the vise. I understand that this problem is now fixed with the introduction of "midge Jaws". I like Norm Norlander and his products though. And He's always been a stand-up guy when it comes to customer support. So has Renzetti except they are more on the corpoate end of customer relations if you know what I mean. Renzetti makes a good product but, sometimes I think that they're Tooo proud of it ($$$$).

[Pat M]

I use a Renzetti Traveler and I love it. I learned on a Thompson and moved up to a Regal. Really liked both, but after trying the Traveler I don't think I'll switch back. That said, I have heard great reviews of the Danvise and if I were in the market for a new vice would give it serious thought. I use the Traveler as well and I really like alot.

[halcyon]

Hywel,

In this case you might have read the article first and checked out the "writers" who are both very experienced fly tiers with at least one of them being involved with the design of several fly tying vises. They are both "peers peers" so to speak.

Regards,


I really believe that the most honest reviews and testimonies come from peers and *your* hands-on experience.

Try as they might, and as good as their intentions may be, a professional writer can't remain completely objective when 'evaluating' a product for a publication.

Something else to consider; IMHO, a magazines content and editorial slant is sometimes determined (or at least swayed) by their advertisers.

Hywel

[Daryle Holmstrom]

Hey, don't want flame wars here, just looking at different rotary vises.

Daryle

[Hywel]

Randy,

Thanks for checking out the AuSable 'retrofit' for me. It's a nifty accessory and I wish it were available for more vises.

I couldn't agree with you more about Norm Norlander - he's a prince!

Renzetti does market a good product, no doubt about it. It's just that their 'style' of doing business doesn't appeal to me personally.

If you ever have the itch to give the NorVise (with the tapered-offset jawset) another test drive, drop me an e-mail or PM.

halcyon,

I wouldn't have expressed my opinion had I not read the article first and known who the authors were - and that's what my post is, just an opinion. Irregardless of who penned the article/review I still maintain my stance on the matter.

Daryle,

No matter what your choice of vise is, I'm certain you're gonna love the ease and freedom of tying with a rotary.


Hywel

[halcyon]

Hey, don't want flame wars here, just looking at different rotary vises.

Daryle


No flame wars intended Daryle.

Regards,

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Retired,

A couple of the guys made some really valid points. If there is a fly shop near you, ask them to let you test drive a couple of vises in your price range. That's how I selected the Renzetti Traveler as my primary vise. It fit my budget and tying style (hand placement, etc.) better than the others I tried in the shop. That being said, my wife VEE ties on a Nor-Vise and loves it because it suits her tying style. I have difficulty tying on that vise, but she can crank out some beautiful flies on it with ease.

Halcyon also offers some good advice. Check out the article he suggested, pick your price point and take a serious look at those vises.

I have never tied on a Dan-Vise but have several friends who have them and swear by them.

REE

[jbrodie]

Renzetti, expensive but worth it. Jim.

[Daryle Holmstrom]

Ok, one more question. Narrowed the list down. Do they all have a rotary action with a 1:1 ratio? It seems when I view the video of the nor-vise in action you can multiply it a bit.

Daryle

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Retired,

My wife's Nor-Vise is 1:1, but you can spin that puppy really fast, unlike my Renzetti. I do like using VEE's Nor-Vise to make dubbing brushes, takes about a second to spin one up.

REE