The Fly-Tying Vise?

I thought it over last night and decided to start tying my own flies.
What convinced me is, one of the person's in this group mentioned that
after I get started, I'll probably enjoy doing it. And what better way to
get
advice from the experts in ROFF.

I'm going to start with the vise. I understand this is what holds the hook
in place,
as I tie the fly. There are many good fly vise on the market, some
adjustable in the
up/down and rotatable, some are base stands, some are clamp stands. And
priced range anywhere from $20.oo to $600.oo.
Recommendations on a fly-tying vise? Companies to look at?
I'll be tying flies in the #20 through #14 range with some of the patterns
I'm interested
in are the Adams, Parachute Adams, Pale Morning Duns, Royal Wulff, Copper
Johns,
Elk Hair Caddis, and the Light Cahill.
thanks,
-tom

On Fri, 5 May 2006 07:12:02 -0700, "Tom Nakashima"
wrote:

Recommendations on a fly-tying vise? Companies to look at?

The Renzetti Traveler (cam model) is my favorite.
--
Charlie...
http://www.chocphoto.com

"Tom Nakashima" wrote in news:e3fmfj$cjb$1
@news.Stanford.EDU:

Recommendations on a fly-tying vise? Companies to look at?


I've been tremendously happy with my Renzetti Traveller over the years.
Mine predates the cam tightening system, but I don't like the cheap look of
the cam anyhow.

--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

"Tom Nakashima" wrote ...

Recommendations on a fly-tying vise?

Renzetti Traveler.

The 30 dollar cheapie will work, but you'll (probably) enjoy yourself more
and experience better results (which is of course a self-perpetuating
circle) with a better vise. I tied for a year or so on the cheapie that came
with my starter kit, but really started enjoying myself when I bought the
Traveler.

Dan

Tom Nakashima wrote:
I thought it over last night and decided to start tying my own flies.
What convinced me is, one of the person's in this group mentioned that
after I get started, I'll probably enjoy doing it. And what better way to
get
advice from the experts in ROFF.

I'm going to start with the vise. ...

I started with a cheap Indian knockoff of the Thompson A.
It works fine and I still have it, you don't have to spend
a lot of money to get something to hold hooks. Having said
that, I use a Regal these days. I like the flat surface on
the Regal for resting my left hand. I don't miss that the
Regal isn't a true rotary but some roffians tell me if I
ever got used to a rotary vise I wouldn't ever use anything
else.

--
Ken Fortenberry

On Fri, 5 May 2006 07:12:02 -0700, "Tom Nakashima"
wrote:

I'm going to start with the vise.

If plan to buy right away, and there's a budget to be considered, a
Thompson A, which can be had for well under $50.00USD (used, in good
condition would be fine, IMO - check eBay - there was pile o' stuff
someone had on eBay and posted to ROFF some time back that had a
Herter's/Thompson in it - anyone know the hammer price?). If you buy an
offshore copy, I'd be careful as far as return privileges or get "hands
on" with it before purchase. As far as commercially-assembled kits, I'd
stay away unless you _know_ you can use a good bit of the contents, as
many are full of stuff _no one_ really uses much, if at all, and you pay
for it all.

Then, I'd get some "hands-on" experience with the myriad others out
there. Vises are like fly rods - ask 100 people and you'll get 112
answers and 203 "well, it depends." Well, maybe not QUITE that bad, but
there are enough options and opinions on those options out there to make
it pretty much a "whatever YOU like" type of thing. I'd not recommend
starting out with one of the more expensive models unless money really
is no object, for two reasons: one, there's no way to know if you'll
even like tying, and two, there is enough differences in the choices so
that you may well end up wanting a different style/model/brand. As to
the pure "quality" aspect, most, if not all, of the 100.00USD-plus ones
that I know of are of good quality.

TC,
R

Ken Fortenberry typed:
Tom Nakashima wrote:
I thought it over last night and decided to start tying my own flies.
What convinced me is, one of the person's in this group mentioned
that after I get started, I'll probably enjoy doing it. And what
better way to get
advice from the experts in ROFF.

I'm going to start with the vise. ...

I started with a cheap Indian knockoff of the Thompson A.
It works fine and I still have it, you don't have to spend
a lot of money to get something to hold hooks. Having said
that, I use a Regal these days. I like the flat surface on
the Regal for resting my left hand. I don't miss that the
Regal isn't a true rotary but some roffians tell me if I
ever got used to a rotary vise I wouldn't ever use anything
else.

When I first bought my rotary, I used the rotary function for a lot of
stuff. Now that it's "old hat", I only use it once in a while. Still, it's
very useful for particular tasks.

I've never asked and I don't recall seeing it posted here, but I'm wondering
what vise a prolific tyer like Dave Mohnsen uses on a regular basis. Dave?
--
TL,
Tim
-------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

Ken Fortenberry wrote in
news
Tom Nakashima wrote:
I thought it over last night and decided to start tying my own flies.
What convinced me is, one of the person's in this group mentioned
that after I get started, I'll probably enjoy doing it. And what
better way to get
advice from the experts in ROFF.

I'm going to start with the vise. ...

I started with a cheap Indian knockoff of the Thompson A.
It works fine and I still have it, you don't have to spend
a lot of money to get something to hold hooks. Having said
that, I use a Regal these days. I like the flat surface on
the Regal for resting my left hand. I don't miss that the
Regal isn't a true rotary but some roffians tell me if I
ever got used to a rotary vise I wouldn't ever use anything
else.



You either like the spring mechanism of the Regal, or you don't. Many are
very happy with them. Some are happy with them until they shoot their
first hook across the room and chip the jaws in the process.

I don't know if jaw chipping is still a problem with the Regals, but it was
a while back.

FWIW, I rarely use my full rotary function, except for things like floss
bodies, where it really is killer.


--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

"Ken Fortenberry" wrote

Regal isn't a true rotary but some roffians tell me if I
ever got used to a rotary vise I wouldn't ever use anything
else.



I use a Regal and love it. ..... I have tried a couple different rotary
vises and "overall" still like the Regal better ... like all things
gearwhorey, to each his own and each approach has it's own advantages and
disadvantages. With gear, I tend towards the KISS principal, but I make up
for that simplicity elsewhere in the hobby, like carrying a metric ruler to
measure real bugs and then using size 17 hooks G



*** Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com ***

On Fri, 5 May 2006 11:16:17 -0400, "Tim J."
wrote:



I've never asked and I don't recall seeing it posted here, but I'm wondering
what vise a prolific tyer like Dave Mohnsen uses on a regular basis. Dave?

I can't answer for Dave, but I've tied a few and know a few who tie a
few, and the answer is "insert the name of your favorite vise here."
Most have several vises but have a favorite, and that favorite is
"insert the name of your favorite vise here" That said, all have
their absolute, can't-won't-don't-ask-me-to-do without it,
never-give-it-up, pry-it-from-my-cold-dead-hands favorite, and of
course, it could only be the "insert the name of your favorite vise
here"...

HTH,
R