Hi all,

I've decided it's time to take the plunge and start tying my own flies. I'd be very grateful if people could recommend a good vice to start with? Or what sort of thing I should look for in a vice?

Thanks,

Matt

My advice is to invest in a good vice at a meduim price with all the features of a vice two to three times more expensive.

The APEX American made vice sets new standards of usability and quality for the price featuring a full in line rotary vice with user friendly rotation handle.Machined stainless steel construction,hardened steel jaws, fully adjustable head with both pedestal and g clamp.

Features;

- 360 degree jaw rotation for inspection and trimming.
- Computer machined stainless steel construction.
- Hardened steel jaws.
- One step hook placement with grooves in jaws.
- Jaws hold hooks from size 6/0 to 32.
- Material spring on head.
- Fully adjustable tilting head.
- Pedestal base measures 5 by 3.25; allows rotaion and height adjustment..
- Adjustable clamp on pedestal allows for vertical or angled operation.
- G-Clamp allows rotation and height adjustment.
- G-Clamp fits surfaces from up to 1.75 thick.

Anvil Lifetime Warranty


Price: £99.99 at Stockport Angling.( I know it seems a lot but it's worth it)

You can buy vices for as little as £10 but you only get what you pay for.

BK

i would start with a rotatable regency vice, budget wise around £15 - £20. since turning my hobbie into a business I tie anywhere from 200 - 300 flies a day, and this vice has served me well. Had it for about 2 years now. easy to open jaws and angle.

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Thanks for that.

The variation seems rather daunting to start out.

What would you say are the *key* features a useful and pleasing vice should have? It strikes me that something to hold the bobbin out of the way is pretty critical?

rock solid hook hold is the most important feature of a vice. rotary head is useful but not essential, and comfort of use is high on the list too (no feature is any good if you can't spend time enjoying your hobby) I know a lot of people that tie exceptional flies on a spring lever type, as basic a vice as you can get, and the price allows you to upgrade as you advance without wasting huge amounts of money.

I'd go with the Regent as well. Had one for my first year, bought from the booty for 6 quid. Passed it on and now someone else has a start. Indestructable and all for 20.

BKs advice is sound, it makes sense, but maybe a bit pricy for a first. Ok providing you like tying and stick with it.

Key features...it MUST hold the hook firmly in place. I had one that 'let loose' at the most inconvienent times, really really irritating .

Any other 'features' are not terribly important when begining. Bobbin holders are generally only part of the package with posh vices. For the rest of us it's a simple add on for 3-4.00 from ebay. Same with a gallows tool, something you don't need to know about for a while but another cheap add on.

If you choose a pedestal style as opposed to a clamp be sure the base is weighty, or more unwanted movement.

If you want a bit of middle ground have a look at the Snowbee Fly-Mate range. Very popular, several styles/options available from 35-55.00. I've only heard good things about them.

Chris.

Expecting someone to start out paying £100 for a vice is unrealistic.
The vice I use was more like £10 & does the job perfectly well.
How about this?

Veniard No12 Standard Lever Vice



Free p&p too, from a trusted seller.

Spend twenty quid on a vise to start with and keep the rest of the money for quality materials, its the materials/hook/threads etc that make the fly not the vise.
Buy something rock solid, the most important bit of the vise IMO is how strongly/solidly holds the hook, all the rotation and manipulation, bells and whistles are really useless most of the time even for most experienced tiers, a Regent copy will do just fine.

Don't skimp on materials!

I also use a regent rotatable. It's basically spring loaded jaws, opened with a lever. Cheap as chips. I've tied down to size 30 on mine - so it can be done, if not particularly easily. It's all I need.

Regent rotary for me too great vice for price
'Acclaim' Fly Tying Vice by Caimore | eBay UK


or this very interesting design should hold hooks firm


Fly Tying Vice | eBay UK


Pete

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Thanks to all who donated to 999 comp 2011
New rainbow PB 22 lbs Bangour 23/10/2011