Rolls Royce Vices

[Wildfisher]

Do any of you  use super expensive vices, like Waldorn or Snowbee Waldorn?

[Traditionalist]

I have quite a few vices and have used a lot over the years.  Mostly I use this now;

http://anvilusa.com/apex_fly_tying_vise.htm

TL
MC

[Wildfisher]

that's the one I use Mike around £100 or so.

[Inchlaggan]

Another vote for the Apex here.
2012 workshop project to make a bobbin cradle for it, (it was a 2011 project as well........)

[garryh]

Col and i were discussing that vise just the other night ,what features do you guys particularly like on it ,or is it just a case of paying a bit extra for overall quality.i am on the lookout for another vise .
Garry

[Wildfisher]

The Apex is limited, the rotary function is not much use as the neck is straight and cannot keep the hook in the same plane when it is rotated. It also has no grooving in the jaws and will not hold the hook as firmly as one of the more expensive vices. Not having the angled neck means the barrel / jaws get in the way when tying small flies (a real pain) unless you set the head  at a high angle. That makes the rotary function next to useless.

It is pretty good for all that, but I was thinking it might be worth paying for a Rolls Royce model, like the Snowbee Waldorn,  if you are a really serious fly tier.

[scotfly]

I have a LAW and love it, cost a packet but it was my money and I could justify the cost and the beating from the wife wasn't too bad!
My backup is an Odames "over and under"
Neither of these are available now so if the worst happened and I needed a replacement I would go back to the Weaver "scottie." Simple and  robust and less than £100.

[Traditionalist]

Mine has grooved jaws.

It is not suitable for rotary tying, but only a few are.  Also, many people simply can not get away with rotary tying. Most especially if they have already learned the basics on a more or less standard setup.

I have an original Waldron, ( LAW; http://www.danica.com/flytier/law/law_bv.htm  ), a couple of Renzettis, a couple of Dyna-kings, and a few others.  I also still have and occasionally use a K.F.Odames.

The question of what suits any particular person is very very difficult to answer. It depends on a lot of things.  The Apex is very well made. extremely robust and solid,  and I personally think it is the best vice in that price range.  Paying a lot more for a vice wont necessarily do you any good.

If you want to try rotary tying "on the cheap" as it were, then this is OK for starters;

http://www.meadowfishery.com/prods/danica-danvice-fly-tying-vice.html


For the vast majority of people something like the original Thompson A is usually adequate.  Steve Parton has a few originals at very reasonable prices;

http://www.spartonfly.co.uk/Flies_and_Tying/Hardware/hardware.html


TL
MC

[Wildfisher]

Mine has grooved jaws.

Of course it does,I'm talking nonsense. Mine is grooved too. What I should have  said is it lacks fine grooves near the tip of the jaws, it has good grooves further back for holding larger hooks.

[Traditionalist]

Another vote for the Apex here.
2012 workshop project to make a bobbin cradle for it, (it was a 2011 project as well........)

Hardly worth it.  It's not actually much use at all, and you can buy one pretty cheaply;

http://www.fishermanstacklecompany.co.uk/index.cgi?product=Fly%20Tying%20Vices&product_id=Guide%20Anvil%20Bobbin%20Cradle&xm=1&details=on&d=1&mid=SM15695&tp=1&cart_id=8801617_16562

TL
MC