Painter1 Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 I am setting up a new work station to tie hair jigs that will range from "float-n-fly" to "Preacher" styles and would welcome your thoughts for a vice that holds a jig tightly in place. I hate it when the jig moves while I'm torqueing down to get a good flair. I sometimes use some stout thread, but the thread needs to be the weakest link, not the vice. I look forward to, and thank you, for your thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EironBreaker Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 Depends on how much you want to spend. I've made due with an old Thompson cam-lock vise for years. I got a rotating vise recently and love it for hair jigs but wish it have a locking arm instead of a screw knob to lock the jaws. It will hold but sometimes its hard to unscrew the knob to get the jig out. Fishingskirts.com has a rotating vise with a arm to lock the vise jaws for $40. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 I use a Griffin Odyssey Spider Vise, it is under $100 and has a lifetime warranty. It is a full rotary vise which makes tying easy but it does use a thumbscrew to tighten the jaws. The thing about the jaws is that you can buy cam locking jaws for it which will run you $50 but, if you spend an extra $30 you can get the same vise only it has the cam locking jaws on it. Cam locking jaws use a lever to tighten the jaws, I find the thumb screw to be fine and you can always get the cam lock jaws if you don't like the thumb screw. One of the main reasons I purchased it is because it can hold anything from a size #28 hook up to a 4/0 but I've tied preacher jigs with 5/0 hooks and flipping jigs with heavy wire 6/0 hooks and it held. I was going to get an expensive vise but most required that you buy extra jaws for saltwater sized flies and just the jaws were almost $100 not to mention the $300+ for the vise and they didn't sell any models with the saltwater jaws already on. You can also get the Wolff Indiana Apex which holds hooks to 6/0 and is just a bit over $100 or the Wolff Indiana Atlas which is a little nicer at $155 but holds up to 7/0. I've been using my Griffin for awhile now and I can vouch for how good it is but if I was tying large flipping style jigs more than smaller hair jigs then I'd probably go with the Atlas just because I'd worry about wearing the jaws out on the Griffin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21xdc Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 I use a 1 inch bench/jewelers vice as well as a 3-4 inch bench vice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLT Posted July 26, 2017 Report Share Posted July 26, 2017 What is the max size hook you will be using? This makes a difference. There is a difference between a rotating vise, and a rotary vise. Rotary keeps the hook level as you spin it around, where a rotating vise will not keep it level. (Do not mean to treat you dumb, just don't know what you know). I am a fan of the anvil Apex rotating vise. Found really good prices on them on Amazon. The jaws have 2 different grooves in them for small and large hooks. They have the plain rotating, and a true rotary. I have tied 1000's of hooks and jigs with it. I also have another vise that is a true rotary, and for me it was money I didn't need to spend. I just don't need a true rotary. If you have a Bass Pro shop near you, sit down at one of their desk and size them up. google to see if there is a fly tying group in your area. Maybe they will let you in to look/test different vises. Good luck 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walleye warrior Posted July 26, 2017 Report Share Posted July 26, 2017 I have been using a Renzetti Traveler for a couple years now. Has a nice lever pull locking jaw and it rotates. I can tie anything from small flies to 8/0 jigs. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted July 26, 2017 Report Share Posted July 26, 2017 I also have a Griffin Odyssey Spider vice and it holds 4/0 and 5/0 hooks really well. It is also very price friendly. Naturally you can buy a vice that will hold bigger hooks. It all depends on how much you want to spend. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psilvers Posted July 26, 2017 Report Share Posted July 26, 2017 I have a Peak Rotary Vise that I picked up at Bass Pro years ago. It is a great vise for almost all size hooks. If you need to tie large hooks, there are a large set of jaws (those were extra, but I forgot how much). The price of the vise is around $150. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walleyeking Posted July 31, 2017 Report Share Posted July 31, 2017 I have a griffin Montana mongoose and it's Fantastic. It holds tight for everything from #18 fly hooks up to 7/0 1.5 oz jigs tied with bucktail. Might even work for bigger stuff but I haven't tied bigger yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saugerman Posted August 1, 2017 Report Share Posted August 1, 2017 I also have a Griffon Odysseey, and I love it. Thanks to Smalljaws advise. It is perfect for the jigs I tie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
