Travelling Vises

No, I'm not talking about hitting up on stewardesses or drinking too much.
My tying vise is rather heavy (its one of those with the large, brass chunk
on top. It probably weighs a kilo), so I usually leave it (and my tying
materials) behind. Now I'm wondering about getting a lighter one for when I
fly to claves. Can folks recommend a good quality travelling vise? I would
want one that is lightweight, sturdy, had good tips for small flies, and is
durable. Do they tend to be durable enough for everyday use? Is it better to
have a pedestal or a table clamp? Any other recommendations on properties of
a good travelling vice?

--riverman

"riverman" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
...
SNIP
Can folks recommend a good quality travelling vise? I would
want one that is lightweight, sturdy, had good tips for small flies, and
is
durable. Do they tend to be durable enough for everyday use? Is it better
to
have a pedestal or a table clamp? Any other recommendations on properties
of
a good travelling vice?

--riverman



Go for the Danica. Table clamp is better than pedestal. This one has a
really good table clamp. See pictures etc here;

http://www.eflytyer.com/tools/danica_vises.html

http://www.flyfisherman.com/ftb/hwvise/index3.html

I have a number of vices, but I was so impressed with this one, that I
bought one to try, and it is really good. Light, but very stable, and
extremely functional. I can recommend it. It is also relatively cheap.

TL
MC

Go for the Danica. Table clamp is better than pedestal. This one has a
really good table clamp. See pictures etc here;

I'll second that, I've been using mine for 8 years with no problems.
Dropped out of cars, thrown into my truck, used it for so many shows, I
can't count (never could get that counting thing anyway).
--
Frank Reid
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"Frank Reid" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
...
Go for the Danica. Table clamp is better than pedestal. This one has a
really good table clamp. See pictures etc here;

I'll second that, I've been using mine for 8 years with no problems.
Dropped out of cars, thrown into my truck, used it for so many shows, I
can't count (never could get that counting thing anyway).
--
Frank Reid
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Thanks for that Frank! I thought I would get a load of argument!

My standard advice for years, to beginners and others, was to "buy a
Thompson A". Unfortunately, Thompson is now defunct. But their vices were
the best value of all for a very long time. Indeed, I think their vices were
at least partly responsible for the boom in fly-dressing.

I have now changed this opinion, and consider the Danica not only the best
value, but the most functional vice on the market.

Incidentally, I have a number of vices, and I have used quite a few more. Of
the six or so rotary vices I have tried, this was the best, bar none! Not
even the "high end" vices, which cost very considerably more.

It is also easily used as "stationary" vice.

The fact that it is relatively cheap makes it even more attractive ( to me
at least! ). Indeed, the only argument I have heard against it, ( mostly
from people who have never tried it!), is that it is "made of plastic"! I
don´t much care what it is made of, it is a very good vice indeed. In this
case (travelling), the low weight is a considerable advantage anyway.

I tried the vice several times at shows, and when friends and acquaintances
brought theirs around for tying sessions. I liked it immediately, and you
would be surprised to learn how fussy I am about vices ( or perhaps you
wouldn´t! ) Eventually I bought one myself, and am now using it regularly
for some rotary techniques, among other things.

The best value on the market at the present time, and probably for some time
to come.

TL
MC

On Wed, 21 Apr 2004 11:50:30 +0100, "riverman"
wrote:

Can folks recommend a good quality travelling vise? I would
want one that is lightweight, sturdy, had good tips for small flies, and is
durable. Do they tend to be durable enough for everyday use? Is it better to
have a pedestal or a table clamp?

I use a Renzetti Traveller as my everyday as well as traveling vise. I
have both the pedestal and clamp bases - I only use the pedestal when
I can't use the clamp.
--
Charlie...

"Mike Connor" wrote in
:

The best value on the market at the present time, and probably for
some time
to come.

TL
MC


It might be the best value, but I'd still kick out the extra few bucks for
the Renzetti Traveller. I haven't tried the Danica, in fainess, but it
looks like there's no room behind the jaws, which might make dealing with
materials coming off the back of the hook more difficult. There looks like
there is less room under the jaws, as well. I wouldn't think stuff like
weaving flies, which I'm doing more and more of (maybe for the next swap),
would be easy on this vise. The big chunk of plastic behing the jaws would
just cramp my style.

These problems might be avoided by the streamer jaws, but now you're very
near the Traveller price range.

I do like the bobbin cradle, though, because it can move in more directions
than the one on the traveller, and be used for other purposes.

Scott

"Frank Reid" wrote in message
...
Go for the Danica. Table clamp is better than pedestal. This one has a
really good table clamp. See pictures etc here;

I'll second that, I've been using mine for 8 years with no problems.
Dropped out of cars, thrown into my truck, used it for so many shows, I
can't count (never could get that counting thing anyway).
--


Hmm, at first glance it looks like it has a lot of bells and whistles. How
handy is a rotary vise, in reality? I find that I only invert my flies when
I'm tying things like beards on Clousers (or is it Muddlers?), and I don't
usually find myself needing to spin my flies. I guess I was imaging a really
simple vice... I'm prepared to be dissuaded, though. I might grow into it.

And do you also recommend the table clamp?

--riverman

"riverman" wrote...
"Frank Reid" wrote...
Go for the Danica. Table clamp is better than pedestal. This one has a
really good table clamp. See pictures etc here;

I'll second that, I've been using mine for 8 years with no problems.
Dropped out of cars, thrown into my truck, used it for so many shows, I
can't count (never could get that counting thing anyway).

Hmm, at first glance it looks like it has a lot of bells and whistles. How
handy is a rotary vise, in reality? I find that I only invert my flies when
I'm tying things like beards on Clousers (or is it Muddlers?), and I don't
usually find myself needing to spin my flies.

I have the same vise, as recommended to me by Frank and several others, so I'll
give you my take, FWIW. It's really not a matter of "needing" to spin the flies,
but the convenience and speed of doing so. The best example I can give is a PT
nymph, where the materials with which you're working are relatively short.
Having the ability to just hold the PT fibers in place as you spin the fly makes
it *so* much easier than doing it hand-to-hand on a fixed vise.

I guess I was imaging a really
simple vice... I'm prepared to be dissuaded, though. I might grow into it.

Be dissuaded - it's worth it. 90% of the time, I use it in a fixed
position, but for that remaining 10% it's worth having the rotary feature.

And do you also recommend the table clamp?

I use the pedestal almost exclusively, but that's because I no longer have a
designated tying space and have to set up where space allows. The vise comes
standard with the clamp and the pedestal is a separate purchase, so you'll end
up with the clamp in any case. If you're *really* cheap (like me), you can
easily convert a standard pedestal for the Danica.
--
TL,
Tim
------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

"Scott Seidman" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
. 1.4...
SNIP
These problems might be avoided by the streamer jaws, but now you're very
near the Traveller price range.

I do like the bobbin cradle, though, because it can move in more
directions
than the one on the traveller, and be used for other purposes.

Scott

Well, I had several Renzettis, the 4000 Presentation, the Master and the
Tube fly vice. I sold or retired them all, because they did not suit me. I
have a habit of using my left hand to manipulate stuff behind the vice, and
I found this very difficult with the Renzettis. I have no problems with the
Danica.

I still have eight or nine vices, mostly relatively "high end" equipment.
Dynaking, HMH, and a couple of others. I tie a lot of very varied flies, in
a whole range of sizes and configurations, and so I want good gear for doing
it. Mostly I tie on a "Thompson clone" which I bought over thirty years
ago in England. It is of higher quality than the Thompsons themselves, (
Manganese Steel jaws etc, and has a couple of additional options), and it is
still as good as new.

Vices are very personal matters really, and one man´s meat may well be
another man´s poison. I know a fairly large number of top dressers swear by
the LAW vice, but I did not like it much. It is also very expensive of
course.

I have not actually used a Traveller, ( At least I can´t remember doing so,
but I probably have), but I assume it is more or less the same ( at least
from the optics) as the other Renzettis I have used. I would rather have
the Danica.

TL
MC

I use the pedestal almost exclusively, but that's because I no longer have
a
designated tying space and have to set up where space allows. The vise
comes
standard with the clamp and the pedestal is a separate purchase, so you'll
end
up with the clamp in any case. If you're *really* cheap (like me), you can
easily convert a standard pedestal for the Danica.

Wiff gets ****ed off when I try to clamp a vise to the dining room table. I
use a pedestal.

--
Frank Reid
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