For the last five years, I've been tying on an old beat up $30 Thompson A Vise. My reasoning was, why spent a c-note on a vise when my old beater was still working? Finally, after watching a friend at a local fly
shop tying on one, I couldn't resist, I had to try it out.
I've stayed away from the Renzetti vises, even though they are exceptional quality, because I don't like any vise that I have to turn a knob to use. I'm not saying this is a poor design, mind you, I'm just saying that my personal preference is for "cam" style vises. This is mainly because, frankly, I like to get the hook into and out of the vise as easily as possible, don't mind me, I'm an efficiency freak.
So naturally, give this background, you can easily see why I was attracted to the Regal vise. It has a spring loaded handle which you "squeeze" to open the vise. For many years I blew this design off as not being sturdy enough, did I mention that I like my hook to be very secure when I'm tying? Any sort of hook movement drives me crazy!
As it turned out, the Regal was just the vise for me. I prefer the C-clamp model for the solidness of the base. I purchased the midge jaws, because frankly I tie more trout flies than anything else. Looking back, I would almost prefer to have both a set of midge jaws, and the larger jaws for tying steelhead and trout streamers as well.
One night before a trip to DePuy's Spring Creek in Montana, I was tying a batch of size 24 Black Beauties, when the hook shot out of the vise. This is the main downfall of this vise, as I've come to find out. Very occasionally, if hook placement is wrong, the hook will fly out of the vise. Even more rare, this action will cause the jaws to close down very quickly, and will break the jaws. This happened to me, taking a large chip out of the jaw. I was told by my friend at the fly shop that Regal warranties the jaws for life, if you ever crack one send it back and they'll fix it for free, just pay shipping. Not a bad deal...
Aside from this minor inconvenience, the vise isn't a fully rotary vise. For most people, this isn't a big deal. Indeed, it is a partially rotary vise, as you can at least spin your fly around to take a look at the bottom of it as you're tying.
Regardless of these two minor issues, I love my Regal, and will certainly continue tying on it. The price is not too out of control, the hook clamp is very secure, it comes with a long stem on the c-clamp (big bonus), and the ease of putting in and taking out hooks is exceptional.
4/5 Stars
Ryan Davey
Fly Fishing Instructor, Guide, and Videographer
Angling Exploration Group
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www.worldanglr.com
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¨Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life...¨
- Jack Kerouac
| Article |
069 |
| Created |
7-10-2004
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| Modified |
7-13-2004
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| Author |
Worldanglr
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| Rating |
  
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