Starting tying - vise recommendations?

[MarkM]

Hi all,

I'm very interested in tying - bought a DVD and read a lot online including watching videos on youtube. I've decided that buying a kit is probably a bad idea because I'll just get a bunch of stuff I won't use. So I'm going to take the approach of getting a vise, some tools and then some specific material to make just a few flies really well.

Can anyone recommend a good vise for me? I'm considering a Renzetti Traveler rotary vise. I think they're about $160 online. Any thoughts on this particular vise and any other recommendations would be very helpful.

Also if anyone has a used but good quality vise they want to sell to a good home, please let me know. :)

Thanks!!

Mark.

[lx-88]

I have the Traveler and love it but the Dynaking Kingfisher is a great vise too. http://www.dyna-king.com/flyvise_dtl.asp?itemval=7&pv=0&pid=082

[ctyazfan]

Regal C- Clamp.
http://www.regalvise.com/
Made in Springfield Mass. Great vise and very easy to use.

Great product and american made. :thumb:

[nb_ken]

I have the Traveler and love it but the Dynaking Kingfisher is a great vise too. http://www.dyna-king.com/flyvise_dtl.asp?itemval=7&pv=0&pid=082

Mark,

These are both good vises but completely different animals.

The Renzetti is a rotary vise. The Kingfisher is a standard-head vise.

I had a Traveler for a while but I sold it. I liked the rotary quite a bit, but it seemed to me that I spent half my time tightening something that came loose. Eventually that became so annoying to me that I gave up on the thing.

But, I seem to be in the minority in my opinion of the Traveler. Other than me, it gets almost unanimously good reviews, so lots of people really like it.

After the Traveler, I went to a standard-head HMH Spartan and have been tying on that for probably 5+ years. It's probably a little over-engineered, but the thing is a rock. If you're looking for a standard-head vise in the $150 range, I'd put that one on your list.

Recently I got the itch for another rotary vise so I put in an order for a fancy Dyna-King. Supposed to be here in a week or so. Spent way too much, but I figured I've been doing this for more than 10 years now, so it's more than just a passing fancy.

If you're on the Plateau, we're almost neighbors. I'm in North Bend. If you want to get together and try out a couple of vises, let me know. I can set you up on the HMH if you'd like. I also have a Regal you could play with too. As ctyazfan mentioned, that's a very nice vise as well. At some point one or both of these might be for sale, but right now I haven't thought about that much.

[Salmon fisher]

Another vise to consider is the peak vise, it's a little bit less expensive than the traveler (might appeal to you, I don't know).

One thing to consider is that the true rotary function is not really necessary or great, unless you happen to be doing epoxy heads on baitfish patterns. If you don't plan on tying saltwater stuff, you might want to look into a regal.

[qrider13]

I have a Peak, and I really like it. I also considered the Dan Vise, which is much cheaper, but opted for metal instead of plastic.

I find the rotary feature very useful, and would not buy a vise without it. The peak is the first vise I owned that was rotary, and the more I use that feature, the more that I like it. Here is a good link that I found useful:

http://flyfisherman.com/ftb/hwvise/index29.html It dates to 2006 and does reviews of most of the main vises. Good luck-

[Randy Diefert]

I wouldn't be without a rotary vise. It makes tying so much easier and you'll be tying better looking fly's in less time once you master the rotary function. If you ever want to tye with a stationary vise , all you have to do is lock the rotation nut and wha-la. but, you can't tye rotary with a stationary vise. There are some definite advantages to tying with a rotary vise but, as you can see here, not everyone's cup of tea.I suggest that You take up your neighbors offer to let you "test drive" different models. Perhaps visit a few shops that sell different vises and maybe a few Shows that have vendors and find a good deal. When you do , a Good next step would be to look for a tying club or Lessons at a shop in your area. I saw some advetised for the Orvis shop in Bellevue. Those will help you to get over the "Curve" and from becoming frustrated and selling your vise on EBay in 6 months. One thing to look at when purchasing a vise is the warranty, the other is Customer appreaciation, and the materials that it was built with. Will It last?
Hope I helped you or at least got you thinking.
Randy

[Scott Behn]

I started tying back in the late '80's and I tied on a Thompson A vise. I loved it and still to this day have it. I didn't get into the "rotary" style of vise until a few years later with a regal, now I have a HMH standard and I wouldn't trade it for the world...

But I still have my very first Thompson A!!!!!!

:thumb:

[Charlie S]

[QUOTE=nb_ken;310343]Mark, Recently I got the itch for another rotary vise so I put in an order for a fancy Dyna-King. Supposed to be here in a week or so. Spent way too much, but I figured I've been doing this for more than 10 years now, so it's more than just a passing fancy. {/QUOTE]


You will be really pleased with your Dyna King. It's made about 30 miles from me and Ron Abby is a terrific machinist. The Renzetti vises are also top of the line. I had a Regal for years and probably tied over 100,000 flies on it, but will never go back to a non-rotary vise.

[Loopy]

If you are just starting any vice made in India will suffice. Cost about $30 - 40. Trade up after six months if you are still using one.

:beer2:

[FT]

Mark,

You are approaching learning fly tying the best way. I've written several times here on this site (and others) that a good vise, scissors, whip finish tool (Matarelli is best), and good bobbin (2 bobbins are actually best, but one suffices) are the foundation tools needed to tie good flies (a bodkin is another need to have tool, but since it is nothing more than a needle with a handle, cheap ones are just as good as expensive ones-you can even make your own by sticking a needle in a piece of small diameter doweling). Having a good vise is essential to tying good flies and learning to tie as well. Unfortunately, the vises being imported from India are not good vises and a really false economy in the long run because they don't hold up and don't hold hooks unless you put too much pressure on the hook. yes, I know there are many who think getting a cheapo vise imported from India is the way to go because they are cheaper, but they really are very poor quality. This is why most of the time those who recommend starting with a vise from India also say it will work for a couple of years when you can then get a better vise. There are many good vises on the market not made in India that range on the bottom end from $50.00 (Griffin and Thompson sell vises in the $50.00 price range that are excellent) on up to the top range of $600.00.

Does a beginner need a rotary vise? The answer is no and the Griffin 1A, Griffing 2A, or Thompson Model A would serve you well for many a year and save you some money as well. However, a rotary vise does allow some things to be done easier (you will discover this with experience at the vise, but it usually takes a few years of tying to do so) and the Renzetti Traveler you are considering is a good vise. The truth is any vise selling for $100.00 or more is a good one regardless of brand. Me, I have a Dyna King Baracuda that I got back in 1995 or 1996, which was the first year they came on the market. I've tied in excess of 1 million flies on it and have not had to replace a single part, something I can't say about any of the other vises I've owned in the 46 years I've been tying flies.

You have also taken the proper approach with materials: get the materials you need to tie 1-3 simple flies you will fish with, and then add materials for a fly at-a-time as you wish to add patterns. This way you don't get materials you don't need and won't use.

[Dean Edwards]

You can't go wrong with the Traveler. I have had mine now for over 15 years, and it is still holding well. I upgraded the jaws to the new cam, and love it. One thing I was told when I got into tying, was buy a good vise, and good as you can afford. I am now starting to think of the idea of a presentation vice.

I would spend the extra dollar or two and buy a vice from a local fly shop, and NOT on the net. My local shop (the Morning Hatch) is now gone thanks to the internet. When you really get into tying, it is nice to hand select your material, and not get some crap sent in the mail that has been on a shelf somewhere. I just went an visited the Puget Sound Fly company, and enjoyed being back in a shop and talking with the guys. It is a little drive for me, but it is well worth getting exactally what I want.

Good luck, and enjoy the vice you decide on.

[mozart]

I would spend the extra dollar or two and buy a vice from a local fly shop, and NOT on the net. My local shop (the Morning Hatch) is now gone thanks to the internet. When you really get into tying, it is nice to hand select your material, and not get some crap sent in the mail that has been on a shelf somewhere. I just went an visited the Puget Sound Fly company, and enjoyed being back in a shop and talking with the guys.

Not to start an argument, however, it's funny that you mention PSFC, they have an online store with inventory sitting on shelves waiting to ship. Do you suggest people drive to the store instead of buying online for convenience? Your local shop most likely did not go out of business due to just internet sales, they probably went out of business because they could not compete with bigger retailers and most likely internet as well. That's life, that's the reality of doing business.

OP, I've never used one of the more expensive vises yet simply because I'm happy with my Danvise which cost me half of the expensive ones. However, in the next year or two I'll definitely be upgrading.

[Fred Krow]

I also started on a Thompson about 40 years ago. I discovered rotary vises about 25 years ago and would never turn back.

The Renzetti Traveler is excellent and you will never have to upgrade to a better vise unless you are a tool junkie.

Regards,
FK

[Dean Edwards]

Not to start an argument, however, it's funny that you mention PSFC, they have an online store with inventory sitting on shelves waiting to ship. Do you suggest people drive to the store instead of buying online for convenience? Your local shop most likely did not go out of business due to just internet sales, they probably went out of business because they could not compete with bigger retailers and most likely internet as well. That's life, that's the reality of doing business.


I think that was part of their problem, they had no web presence, and compitition with the big boys is getting tougher and tougher. I know PSFC has a website, that is how I found them in the first place. I made a trip to their store, and met the guys in the shop. Come to find out they live in the same area as i do. I just don't like it when guys will get all the questions answered by flyshops, test rods, try-on waders, etc then go buy them on the net. IMO it is not right. just my own opinion though.

It is hard to try out items on the internet, that is why I like visiting the shops.

[fishfinder]

I am a new tier and my local shop recommended a Dann Vice. It turns out to be a pretty nice rotary vice for about $75.00.

Fishfinder

[blsseattle]

I bought my Regal about 7 years ago. It's a great easy to use rotary and by far my favorite vise that I've used.

[seanengman]

You are being smart in purchasing a quality vise from a quality manufacturer. I learned the hard way that after about a week or two the cheap "India Vise" is gonna hit the trash. I have heard a few folks talk about the Dan-Vise and some like it while others don't. I didn't like the idea of it being made out of plastic. I tie on a Regal and love it, however I am going to get another vise to tie on. I have been looking at a Dyna-King, I like jaws on that particular brand.

[David Prutsman]

Renzetti Traveler! You will never need another vise!

David

[hendersonbaylocal]

Thompson Model A is still working for me... $12 on ebay.

[Brian P]

I have both the Dan Vise and the Renzetti Traveler. The only problem that I have had with the traveler is that the jaws broke. Sent them back and no questions asked I received a new set of jaws. I asked around and the jaws breaking is not very common. In fact I asked a shop where they tie a lot of their own fly's on the Traveler and they said that this was the first they had actually ever seen (not the same shop that I bought the vise from). Very happy with the traveler and Renzetti's customer service.

As for the Dan Vise, I do like it and the jaws are really nice. The only problem that I have had is getting used to the new vise since I have only ever used the Traveler.

My only suggestions is, if this is something you want to get into then spend the money and get a decent vise. If you want a rotary then buy a TRUE rotary (a lot say they are a rotary vise which is true they rotate, but the shaft of the hook should stay level as it rotates not the head of the vise staying in the same place as you rotate it). I would not recommend buying a cheap one to start and move up later. You just end up spending more in the long run. (I bought the Dan Vise for travelling purposes since it is a great vise for the money, very light weight, and if something happens to it, I am not out $200. Plus the main reason is I got it was that I got it for a really good deal.). Just my opinion.

PS - I do own a cheap vise that I purchased fairly recently and they have their purpose too. I only use this vise hold the stinger hook when tying articulated leach patterns.

[Daryle Holmstrom]

I have a danvise and a norvise, they both do they same thing, rotate and such, if you were expecting miracles, use panhandlw spell check.

Daryle

[slippery_whippet]

I think the theme of this thread is pretty much spot on. I used a Thompson A vise for ~20 years and well maybe not a million flies on it, but at least 1/2 million. This year I got a new Peak rotary vise for just over a hundred and I am in hog heaven. Tried many of the fancier models, but can't see the need after trying the Peak. Made in US and great customer service. Just my humble opinion :thumb:

[jimmysworking]

I have a Traveler that I've been using for almost ten years and can't justify replacing it with anything else. It may not have all of the bells and whistles of more expensive vices out there, but it does just about everything you could expect of a vice. You really couldn't go wrong with one.