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3. Vise Suggestions

for what it's worth...
And no judgement please. Remember, I didn't get married until I was forty, and I've been tying longer than most of you, but not nearly as long as some of you.
I own a Renzetti Traveller and I love it.
I own a Dyna-King Barracuda Jr (with the standard jaw and a midge jaw) and I love it.
I own 2 Regals (a long story) - one with a standard head, and one with the stainless steel head. And I love them both.
I own a Danvise and never use it anymore (it was my first rotary vise).
And I own 2 Thompson that I learned to tie with, and they now gather dust.

Just so you think I may be embellishing:


So, I know a thing or two about the pros and cons of various vises.



Kyle - my suggestion - you want a Dyna-King. And, buy the midge jaw, too.

None of the other vises will hold saltwater hooks larger than 2/0 as well. And although the Regal and Renzetti are better vises for trout flies, the Dyna-King (with the midge jaw) does a more than adequate job. I have not experienced the same steel fracturing that Kurt describes and depicted, but then again, I don't use it for small trout flies anymore.
The Thompson, although still a great vise, is not as good as the other three for either saltwater or trout flies.
The Danvise is nothing compared to any of the rest.
I tie all of my trout flies on the Regal with the stainless jaw.
I tie tarpon and muskie flies on the Dyna-King.
I tie smaller streamers and crab flies on the Regal standard jaw.

I'm keeping the Thompsons so I can to teach my boys to tie the way I learned.

I have watched a lot of guys tie with the Renzetti. Rusty created a winder that looks like a pencil sharping crank that attached to his and in some applications they could really "crank" them out...I guess that pun was intended. I also like the ability to view the fly easily from any angle and the Rensetti sure does that...It may be a matter of just getting used to some tool and sticking with it...I was quite the pool player in my youth and joked that there wasn't anything quite as fun as bringing down some poser with a fancy cue...Using nothing more than a warped house stick! ;)

Moral of the story...If you can tie it probably doesn't matter much what you use.

Spence

Yes, you're absolutely correct. I can field dress a whitetail with a kitchen knife, but I'd rather use my Schrade.

Hey Eric...You and I and Bruce know about some of Tony's "vices", but we didn't know he was hoarding the damn things!!! Wow! :)

I got married once too young and then again in my late 30's...We all have our vices, but finding someone that will put up with them, even when you have 5 or 6 lying around, now that's priceless. ;)

Now Eric you be good to that woman of yours...She not only puts up with you, but Tony and I as well when we come roaring down out of the mountains in the middle of the night looking for beers and fish rising to Grannoms! :)

Spence

Tony...You are right sir...Good tools and the right materials makes for ease in tying. Sorry about your Pirates.

Tony -

You're a man after my own heart... My next one is a LAW Bench Vise.

Kyle - The big problem with most true rotary vices is comfort (the straight line configuration is awkward for most tying) and lack of working room behind the hook - especially those with short jaw assemblies. IMO, if the bulk of the flies you tie are trout flies, forget about 'em - unless you tie Woolly Buggers or Saltwater flies by the gross...

I think you're right , Spence... it may just boil down to the best fit per person.... by the way, I used to do the pool thing with a mop handle.. never lost...


Tim

Yeah I know Spence, that's why I deleted my posts. Sometimes I forget that not everyone knows that I'm one sarcastic a-hole. And that I would lay down my life for my family. She tolerates a lot of my nonsense, especially of the fishing kind! Not to mention the constant source of aggravation two bird dogs who aren't happy unless they've run 15 miles cause her... :)

Kurt - The only trout flies I can/do tie are streamers. I palmer lots of marabou and schlappen, so the rotary function would be nice.

Tony - Holy hell man, that's a lot of vises. Maybe I shouldn't be as concerned with getting one single vise to have the rest of my life. Maybe I'll end up with a whole slew of them. I'm not married and don't foresee that happening soon, so at least there is a chance.

What about the Renzetti and the Regal make them better for trout flies in your opinion?

Depends on what you definition of "can" is. I can produce a hook with material wrapped around it that will catch the occasional fish. By no means am I good, or fast, or confident in my tying, but I also don't see myself stopping ever. I don't get the same enjoyment out of fishing flies I didn't tie.