Any fly tyers here?
My head is spinning from the choices out there, these are rotating ones.
I found:
1. Peak
2. Renzetti
3. Griffin Mongoose
I tie mostly some egg sucking leeches and streamers for big lake or salt water. The griffin comes with a carrying case which looks like a handgun case.
I don't see myself size 22 floaters.
Renzetti have a good reputation - but $$$ - Orvis had a good price on the Traveller models.
Having tried a few cheaper options (many years ago) I ended up making my own bench top one - but I also purchased a cheap, lightweight, travel vise - Danica Innovation Cam vise (don't know if they still available) my one regularly goes on trips with me.
I've probably had 20/30 different vises over the years and I eventually sold them all but my Griffins.
I have 3 Patroits set up all the time. Discontinued but near the same as the 3ARP. If you were tying tiny stuff this wouldn't be my choice but for the average fly tier, say using a size 1 to 10/0 it will handle them all.
Affordable, quick adjustment, rock solid, and the ability to hold large hook with no problems at all. Of course its just an opinion and not to say I didn't like some of the others, but this one gets the nod.
Last year I tied over 700 bucktails and never had a hitch and have never replaced any parts on the G's. Almost forget to mention, with the Patriot or the 3ARP, I like the fact that is easily put on a parallel plane.
The angular setup on the Mongoose or similar styles from other brands only lend itself to better visibility and easier access when tying tiny flies. It does nothing to add rigidity which is important to me.
I prefer the heavy base over the clamp and have a quick ratchet clamp the allows me to pretty much use it anywhere.
Let us know how you make out and good luck with your decision.
Regard's, .. Lou
Thanks guys,
Tiddlerbasher,
Amazon has it
https://www.amazon.com/Danica-Danvise/dp/B001NZNRBK
Looks fancy,
Lou,
700 bucktails, that is 693 more than I tied last year! Sounds like Griffin is good stuff.
how about:
For grandma - griffin mongoose
For moi - danica
We use plastic folding tables at our fly tying meetings, the edges on those tables are not the best for clamping on a vise, I will get an aluminum plate and fab a stand for the danica.
Thanks guys!
I've seen a few of the Dan vices at the club. A lot of guys like them. Some parts are made out of synthetics.
Tied a dozen this morning as I have several orders from local tackle shops. Got a monster vise here that was home brewed several years ago to tie 12/0's plus. It has a likening to a Sherman Tank with an 8" C clamp. The locking arm is close to a foot long. Its quite a conversation piece at the shop.
Good luck and happy tying, .. Lou
I have one of these.
http://www.albertabowriver.com/norlander_nor_vise.htm
My vises from years ago were small jaws non rotating for small 18-22 when I was doing a lot of lake trout dry fly fishing. Now I need one for tying large streamer flies for salt water use. Neither of my visas were adequate for the task and I don't see myself tying enough to warrant spending $200-$500 for a vise. I found one on eBay true rotating pedestal mount comes with it as well as clamp vice and the jaws can take up to 8/0 hooks.
Think it was something like 139.00. Should last as long as I need it to. I'll probably tie a couple dozen flies a year on it. I'll walk out and see what brand and model it is. Okay it's aN FFS Raptor, all stainless steel construction.
Purported to be made by a dental equipment manufacturer.
That's a beautiful vice Dave
I hope to start tying in about two weeks, just realized today that my reels need servicing? What the heck!
David - that's a lovely vice and a bargain price - very similar to a Dyna-KIng without the $$ :)
I have, and love, the Renzetti traveler. I am not as good at tying flies as I should be. Most of my streamers end up looking like bucktails and lets not talk about me tying a muddler minnow. Definitely something on the retirement list.
Ron
Gobi - if you wan't to make your own vise - here's what I made about 25yrs ago - all stainless and brass with a marble and mahogany base - all parts offcuts/scrap - the marble was scrounged from a maison's yard - weighs about 5lb - cost 0£ just time invested.
Very nice Chris! Much nicer than mine! I have several which are a bit crude and handle the biggest hooks.
Are you tying mostly freshwater? Everything here is big stuff. Some of the bunker flies are 8/9 inches.
Years ago I purchased about a dozen vises and miscellaneous materials from and estate sale. Several of the vises were real antiques. Lots of brass and fairly ornate. I made the mistake of selling them all and wish I hadn't.
I tried to research a few of them but came up with nothing. If any were homemade, somebody really new what they were doing.
..................Lou
Lou I mainly tie trout flies - but I do occasionally tie sea bass, mullet and pike flies. For some of the very large pike flies I used a 4" bench vise ::)
These are the Griffin Patriots and a crude monster vise set up on my fly tying/plug building bench.
I pretty much tie every day in and among many other things. The 3 vise setup allows me to have several flies going at once so if I'm waiting for something to dry as in the case of tube style flies, I just go to the next vise and continue on another. I tried 4 vises once but my feeble mind couldn't handle it!
This system does save time for me. On a good day, when the phone stops ringing, and I'm dedicated to this, I can tie around 30 bucktails and actually get a few other things accomplished. After that, my eyeballs start to cross.
I try my best to keep the area organized but it just doesn't seem to happen the way I like it. If anyone should be looking for hard to get materials, you can check with me. I have a HUGE inventory, boxes and boxes of materials and if I don't have it, more than likely I can get you steered in the right direction.
OK, back to knobs and all have a great day, .. Lou
Quote from: Tiddlerbasher on February 20, 2018, 12:53:28 PM
Gobi - if you wan't to make your own vise - here's what I made about 25yrs ago - all stainless and brass with a marble and mahogany base - all parts offcuts/scrap - the marble was scrounged from a maison's yard - weighs about 5lb - cost 0£ just time invested.
That is the nicest tying setup I've seen in a loooong time.
Frank
Why thank you Frank :)
Quote from: Bryan Young on February 19, 2018, 07:02:19 PM
I have one of these.
http://www.albertabowriver.com/norlander_nor_vise.htm
Bryan,
That is a very nice vise, I love the simple look of it, little $$.
Quote from: David Hall on February 19, 2018, 11:32:56 PM
Okay it's aN FFS Raptor, all stainless steel construction.
Purported to be made by a dental equipment manufacturer.
David,
That is a good looking vise, hmm, the choices are piling up. I looked it up and amazon sells it, yaahhh
Quote from: Tiddlerbasher on February 20, 2018, 12:53:28 PM
Gobi - if you wan't to make your own vise - here's what I made about 25yrs ago - all stainless and brass with a marble and mahogany base - all parts offcuts/scrap - the marble was scrounged from a maison's yard - weighs about 5lb - cost 0£ just time invested.
wow, that is a simple base, I am saving the pic. zero cost sounds even better, how did ya drill out the marble?
Quote from: Tiddlerbasher on February 21, 2018, 12:24:07 PM
Why thank you Frank :)
Lol,
Lou, that is an assembly line!
I love how you have hung the material.
On the topic of material, having only a few roll of red chenille and bag of black fur, I need to load up on material to tie streamers for salt surf and MI waters (spring lakers off the surf at ice out).
What are some good online sources of fly tying material in bulk?
Griffin - Does the 3ARP vise rotate like the mongoose?
GK, thanks for the comments. I've been tying for over 50 yrs and I still enjoy it! I'm tying a 350 pc order right now.
I like "fly tiers dungeon"! I especially like his Congo Hair. Its a thin and a very lifelike synthetic, plus its durable. Doesn't absorb water and has a very natural look when wet.
I can easily mix 6, 7 , 8, colors without getting overly bulky and the price is quite reasonable as are his other products. I do sell it in the shop and usually purchase several hundred packs at a clip. His website is a bit cheaper and has more of a selection than I do, so he's your best bet for pricing and delivery.
Another option for synthetics is Bijoux super jumbo hair braid. This is the stuff the ladies use. Its 100% synthetic fiber but I'd stick with this particular brand as I know this one does not absorb water and some of the other brands do. It very reasonable and is available in a crinkle finish.
Of course I still use good old fashion bucktail but the majority is synthetics. Hope this helps and any other questions, ask away.
OK, back to work and have a great day, .. Lou
Gobi I drilled the marble with ordinary tct masonry drills - slow and easy no hammer. Started at 5mm and worked up to 8mm for the stainless shaft - easy to do. The hardest part was profiling the jaws for the vise - that took a while.
Quote from: Gobi King on February 21, 2018, 01:52:25 PM
What are some good online sources of fly tying material in bulk?
Don't ignore a lot of ordinary stuff around the house & in plain 'ole regular stores. There is a book--the exact name escapes me but I believe it is "Common Materials for Fly Tying", by Jay Fullum-- that covers some of that material, from superglues to Christmas tinsel to chenille to plastic lacing to plastic grocery bags to...the list goes on. Living out in farm country, I can get all the road kill squirrel tails I want. Tying traditional is fine, but you can be creative too.
Frank
The main things I buy from fly tying shops are capes (like Metz 1 and 2) - one cape lasts forever (it seems) - it makes an awful lot of flies.
For modern type materials I go to haberdashery shops and hobby/craft shops - it's amazing what these shops have - all you need is imagination ;)
GK, the 3ARP is fully rotational. I like it to a point but am partial to the Patriot. 3ARP is based on the 2A jaw configuration and not quite as stout but very similar. Patriots are available on ebay from time to time.
Its possible the Mongoose might be a better fit for you as long as your not tying monster flies. I find the griffins have superior clamping over most others. In addition I cant tolerate any vise that marks hooks either.
Here, I have to go with a vise that handles the largest hooks and offers the most rigidity.
You never mentioned what size hooks you were tying on. Obviously I'm geared for the big stuff.
The other option is rolling your own. If you have the time and skills you can come up with exactly what you want, and cheaply too!
.....................Lou
Quote from: Tiddlerbasher on February 21, 2018, 03:41:47 PM
The main things I buy from fly tying shops are capes (like Metz 1 and 2) - one cape lasts forever (it seems) - it makes an awful lot of flies.
For modern type materials I go to haberdashery shops and hobby/craft shops - it's amazing what these shops have - all you need is imagination ;)
In the US, a haberdashery is a general mens' clothing vendor, whereas in England, I suspect it is a store that sells needles, threads, buttons and maybe all sorts of sewing supplies. We'd call the latter a "fabric store", and if that is the same/similar to an English haberdashery, there is no doubt, Tiddlerbasher, that such a place can be a potential gold mine to a fly tier. Ditto hobby/craft stores.
I'm still salivating over that vise you built--WOW.
Frank
"In the US, a haberdashery is a general mens' clothing vendor, whereas in England, I suspect it is a store that sells needles, threads, buttons and maybe all sorts of sewing supplies. We'd call the latter a "fabric store""
Frank, a case of two countries divided by a common language ;D ;D
Frank/Tiddler,
Good idea, I guess the fish won't care if I used my kids plush toys to tie the flies ;-)
Lou,
I main and only fly I tie for MI salmon/steelhead is an egg sucking leech in size 6 hook (I use a 3x forged).
I want to try surf fishing with flies this year, starting in MI at ice out, so for these I think I am going with 1/0 or 2/0 hooks for streamer.
Same for salt surf, not sure what I need to tie here, maybe you guys can suggest,
Thanks,
I only got in trouble tying one time, I needed some white fiber when the wife's malamute happened to walk by me grabbing my scissors and I fixated on the poor hounds tail! I got the fly tied amd as it turns out it was the most productive fly I ever tied. The dog however never came near me again.
I like that one David!!! Pretty obvious you were no longer best friends! ;D
Gobi, looked at the catalog and the Montana Mongoose looked the best of the bunch. Unfortunately the most expensive. Says it handles 28 to 4/0 size. At one time they made a large set of blunt faced jaws that made for a quick changeover and would handle up to a 10/0. I bought several and use them all the time.
This is some of the style's I tie in my shop. I've added the tube body flies as these are very popular here. Great for Sea Bass, Fluke, Stripers, Weakfish, and the guys have already started to order them. Next few months, I wont be able to make enough of them.
Best, .. Lou
Quote from: David Hall on February 22, 2018, 10:45:57 PM
I only got in trouble tying one time, I needed some white fiber when the wife's malamute happened to walk by me grabbing my scissors and I fixated on the poor hounds tail! I got the fly tied amd as it turns out it was the most productive fly I ever tied. The dog however never came near me again.
At least it wasn't a dog of a fly.
Frank
It's been 35yrs and I still get reminded!
Owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
Lou's flies are amazing. Pictures do not do them justice.
Quote from: David Hall on February 22, 2018, 10:45:57 PM
I only got in trouble tying one time, I needed some white fiber when the wife's malamute happened to walk by me grabbing my scissors and I fixated on the poor hounds tail! I got the fly tied amd as it turns out it was the most productive fly I ever tied. The dog however never came near me again.
:o, no pets here but lots of yote fur at home I am saving for mink coat. But girls have some super hairy plush toys they don't play with anymore, time for some snip snip.
One of the guys at the club saves all the far/feather from his hunts, he salts them down and freezes them and then dries them out in the barn.
Lou, those are work of art, what size hooks are those and what is the length of the longest fly?
The Mongoose came in today, I have to run some errands and will try it out tonight.
I am keeping my eye open for the Patriot on ebay.
I lubed up the mongoose with some tsi 321 (cut down at 20%)
GK, the top flies are the size of a dollar bill. I tie a lot of 7/0 thru 10/0 siwash and that's what most of those are. 5/0 and up too 12/0+ are the most popular with the largest size getting the nod for the offshore guys. Bunker flies are 8 to 10 inches.
I think you'll be pleased with the Griffin. I've pretty much tried them all. Renzetti, Regal, HMH, Dyna King etc. The Dyna King I had for one day and sent it back. It was suppose handle up to 10/0. Nope!
Not saying that any of these are not good, but just didn't work for me. The DK had a groove ground into the jaws. That tells you 2 things, one, the placement of the hook is critical and two, the groove needs to help hold the hook securely, which it didn't. It also marked the hooks. The simple cam action of the Griffin is bulletproof and so quick and easy to adjust.
If you end up trying material from fly tyers dungeon, check out his gift packs. They probably average a buck a pack. It ends up being as cheap or cheaper than going to the craft stores. Plus the colors are nearly unlimited and your buying quality material that you know will work.
OK, ya got the stuff so lets see some flies!
Best, .. Lou
Lou,
Shut the front door, 10/0, that is huge.
What is brand/model of hooks are the 6/0 and bigger ones?
You asked to see flies, here you go,
Full disclosure, I was volunteering at our club sponsored tying event, I got see some talent.
Material:
I ordered a couple of the gift boxes from the dungeon.
Picked up some small hooks from the meet yesterday, gentleman was retiring and I bought a few Daiichi size 1 to 10 hooks.
Talk about using road kill, check this out
Hey Tiddlerbasher, check out this granite base, my joints are aching just from looking at it.
The guys tell me some in town makes those bases.
Some Ohana, Grandma with a pro fly guy from the Pere Marquette.
GK, absolutely gorgeous work! I love them all but especially the poppers. I don't get a lot of call for freshwater flies here, but on occasion people are looking for wet's, nymphs, muddlers, and wooly buggers.
How's the Mongoose working for you? I have some spare parts and have machined up a few additional to make one more Patriot for shop use.
The hooks are VMC 9171PS. The permasteel is reasonably rust resistant and seems to be about the best alternative. I haven't had much luck with the SS siwash hooks as I've found them to be on the brittle side and have gotten some breakage on bigger fish.
Keep tying and keep up the great work. Post them up as I really enjoy seeing them!
Thanks and all the best, .. Lou
PS the gift boxes from the Dungeon are great deals. The material is very easy to shape and tie with, nearly unlimited colors, and is very lifelike in the water.
Please let me know how you like it.
I'll have a dozen or so of Lou's flies on the Morro Bay trip, just to do my part to make sure the golden Carp stays where it is!
Lou, thanks for the compliments, the pros who came in are truly talented, someday I will be able to tie like that.
More pics, check out the fly stations these guys made themselves too.
I made sure I looked at the vise they were using and only 1 guy had a Griffin. The regal dealer was there and so was the Renzetti guy.
It was wonderful to see kids there (mine were visiting their cheesehead cousins). Check out these kids tying flies at our volunteer station from the brotherhood. I treated them to some sandwiches and cookies.
A lot of the pro's here at the shows tie on Renzetti's. They're more suitable for the smaller flies.
I love going to all the seminars and seeing the old timers tie. Some of them are truly artist and one can learn a lot from them. I'm always amazed when the tie the tiniest of flies with no effort at all!
.........................Lou
I am a little late on the reply but I love my Peak. You can pick them up very reasonably also.
Those are a good value. I was at the HFFA this morning and there were a bunch of gent's tying. Some using Peaks, some Griffins, some Renzetti's, and a bunch of Regals.
One of the old timers was tying on a #32 hook. Way out of my league! There were tons of tying supplies, most priced reasonably, but I only walked out with a few Ocean City conventional reels for
5 bucks each! Same guy every year usually has about a dozen or so misc reels. This time I at least gave him my card.
One of the guys made absolutely sure I understood what an articulating fly was. Some pretty amazing talent and lots to be learned.
................Lou
Quote from: STRIPER LOU on March 10, 2018, 11:33:21 PM
Those are a good value. I was at the HFFA this morning and there were a bunch of gent's tying. Some using Peaks, some Griffins, some Renzetti's, and a bunch of Regals.
One of the old timers was tying on a #32 hook. Way out of my league! There were tons of tying supplies, most priced reasonably, but I only walked out with a few Ocean City conventional reels for
5 bucks each! Same guy every year usually has about a dozen or so misc reels. This time I at least gave him my card.
One of the guys made absolutely sure I understood what an articulating fly was. Some pretty amazing talent and lots to be learned.
................Lou
Lou,
articulating fly? wow, I had to look it up. that would be like a jointed rapala!
So basically it is a tandem fly?
Yup, spot on. There was some serious talent there and I try to make it every year!
................Lou
There is no keeper of fly tying terminology, but my understanding is...
Tandem fly:
One of several arrangements where two hooks are involved. Sometimes with entirely separate flies (sort of like a dropper loop setup). Sometimes the connecting leader is integrated into the flies. For saltwater, it usually means a single fly pattern that uses two hooks.
Articulated fly:
A fly pattern tied to multiple articulating shanks, almost always with a single hook. A typical articulated fly has a standard hook at the front with one or more trailing hookless shanks looped together in a chain. The material is tied to the hook and the trailing shanks. A classic is the articulated bunny leech. But there are also multi-jointed flies that look a lot like the freshwater bass plugs.
-J
Hey J, your probably more than right. He went round in circles until even I was cornfused!
It was a jointed fly so to speak, one hook, hackle on both sides. First part tied on spring wire. Actually other than his workmanship which was great, ... I had little interest as for my type of fishing it would be destroyed immediately.
Thanks for the clarity and have a great evening, .. Lou
I have used my old trusty HMH vice for many years...no complaints ever...
Try'n get a unit that has jaws that can be sold separately as a replaceable part.
Well I just read through this, Great Post, thanks to all that have contributed, learning all the time, cheers Don
I have a Renzetti traveler with the standard and saltwater vise. I have tied a few dozen flies but not anywhere near as many as I'd thought I would by now.
The Man
I've been using a Dyna-King for many years --a very good, solid vice. No complaints, but I've been looking around at some different nice rotary vices with greater functional options.
I have used this for many years with no issues.
http://tyingvise.com/product/hmh-st-vise/
Andy
Quote from: wfjord on April 13, 2020, 08:44:54 PM
I've been using a Dyna-King for many years --a very good, solid vice. No complaints, but I've been looking around at some different nice rotary vices with greater functional options.
Dyna-king makes a rotary. I like mine. But not sure they are worth the current asking price. There has to be a better deal out there.
Once you go rotary, you will never go back :)
-J
Quote from: jurelometer on April 14, 2020, 07:25:57 AM
Quote from: wfjord on April 13, 2020, 08:44:54 PM
I've been using a Dyna-King for many years --a very good, solid vice. No complaints, but I've been looking around at some different nice rotary vices with greater functional options.
Dyna-king makes a rotary. I like mine. But not sure they are worth the current asking price. There has to be a better deal out there.
Once you go rotary, you will never go back :)
-J
I agree, j. There are good rotary vices out there for way less. I could make most any of them work as long as the jaws stayed strong and hard, but I usually research stuff to the extreme before I purchase. My Dyna-King is indestructible and it's more of a travel vise that fits well in a tying box I built to carry in the trunk of my car. But I'm getting old and don't like to lug tying stuff around any more. I'd rather just do all my tying at home --and when I feel lazy, which happens increasingly often, I'll just pick up a few at a local fly shop (OTOH I'm very picky about tying my own streamers for stripers and it's taken me a lot of years to evolve a pattern that's landed me the most good fish).
I lost two boxes of flies on one of the local rivers here during one summer about 10 years ago. One of them, a floating foam box, was packed with probably 250 to 300 nymphs I tied. Not long after that I lost my dry fly box containing less than that, but still a lot. After that I quit trying to maintain such heavily stocked boxes and now only tie a few at a time of what I really need. I do like to be creative with flies and a new vice might renew my incentive.