Hi all, ive already posted on the fly tying section but seeing this forum has more traffic ill post on here aswell.
OK, Im taking the plunge and going to invest in a snowbee waldron vice as its on sale in essential fly for £195, and apparantley its rather good.
im a total beginner. could somebody let me know the essential tools, and other add ons ill need as a starter. id like to also make my own epoxy buzzers. now ive watched videos with guys that use torches to set them???
a few pointers would be great. im hopefully going to be tying buzzers, nymphs and lures.
thanks in advance
Dave

Have a look here

BugBond v Windscreen Resin


TT

You got a link for the sale vice cause I just went on essential fly and it's listed at £260.

With regards to your question. I wouldn't spend so much on a vice if your just starting out, you might find after a while that it's not for you

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The best way to a fisherman's heart is through his fly.

http://www.gardeningleave.org

Checkout gives you an extra 25% off.

As one of the other posts suggests you would be mad to buy such an expensive vice , a regency or such can do every thing that Waldron does and you will have change out of thirty quid , if you get a taste for it there will be plenty of pricey materials you will fancy. PJ

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When you can see without being seen,strike without knowing why,and guess correctly where the best fish lie,they have taught you all they can.
(T.C. KINGSMILL MOORE)

I can only echo what others have said, you don't need to spend a fortune to get a good vice. Yes it's nice to own good pieces of engineering, but what does it do at the end of the day- it holds the hook firmly whilst you tie materials onto it, and hopefully allows you to rotate the fly to look at it from all sides.
Have a look at a vice such as the Veniards Regent Rotatable- great piece of kit, easy to use and holds the hook as firmly as you'll ever need- all for a fraction of the price you are considering spending.
Other than your vice, other important bits of kit are:
Scissors- get decent ones- Dr Slick are as good as any, get a general purpose pair, plus a fine point pair for detailed work. A ceramic bobbin holder and a bobbin threader, a rotatable whip finish tool and a pair of hackle pliers. Add a dubbing needle and you've got most of what you need.
See if there is a branch of the Fly Dressers Guild in your area- you will learn quicker by watching others and then going away and practicing what you have seen.
If you are going to tie lots of epoxy buzzers etc, one useful piece of kit is a Rotary Fly drier. I use Devcon 5 min epoxy- I've yet to be convinced that UV treatment resins hold any advantage.
Feel free to pm me with any particular questions.
Paul

I agree with the other posters.do not spend this amount of money on a vice until you know how to tie flies.£30 will get you a very good basic vice.I tied on a Regent for 12 years never, felt the need to upgrade.when I did I gave the regent to another beginner.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Good advice about buying a cheaper reliable vice because there are plenty of other items that you will feel the need to buy and will eat into your budget. If you've blown your cash on a vice and cannot buy these 'essential' materials it will lead to frustration or worse.
On the other hand I wonder what the resale value of a Snowbee Waldron vice would be? I own several vices which all hold the hook firmly but there is a certain pleasure I get sitting down at my expensive piece of engineering that I believe improves my tying.

I agree with the others cumbrianfishfinger nearly 200 smackers is a lot for a vice when cheaper will do. Garry Evans does a good Snowbee for 35 quid Click here, there are even cheaper vices too, it's really just to hold your hook in place. With the savings on the vice you could get a heck of a lot of materials you'll need for tying the flies.

Ditto what the others have said. I have the rotatable regent vice and it does the job perfectly, your money is better spent on materials.

Tony