Re: [VFB] Vise Suggestions?

[mel hocken]

Peter I have used a regal vise for around 20 years and have no complaints. I used this vise when I tied commercially and it served me well. The feature of not having to adjust the jaws for different sized hooks is what I liked best about this vise. There are many quality vises on the market , the best thing is to try the different vises and see which one serves your needs the best. Although the price for some vises may seem high, the price is quit reasonable for a tool that will last a life time if properly cared for. Regards Mel ----- Original Message ----- From: Peter Gramp To: vfb@troutnet.com Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2006 12:44 PM Subject: [VFB] Vise Suggestions? Hi, everyone-   I just tied another dozen epeorus nymphs on my Griffin Odyssey and have had it with the cramped hand syndrome... This isn't to say that griffin makes a shoddy product, just that I'm an ogre-boy who needs more room than most in the barb-end of a fly.  For those who know what I mean by these, I wear a size 11.5 latex glove for the lab, and when my fingers are naturally stretched out, I can play an octave and a raised-fifth on a traditional 88-key piano... ok, odd ways of presenting it, but suffice it to say that I'm bigfoot's counterpart - bigHAND!  What that tangent means is I need suggestions for vises with extra room around them.   I've been looking around at vises, and the most important factors (as of now) are: Price has to be below 250 dollars, but prefer <200. (I'm saving up more and more, but the LAW and similar vises are out... for now... unless someone has suggestions of how to sweet-talk my wife...) Hand Room around the jaws Preferably a midge jaw available, or a "standard" jaw that holds down to size 24. Rotation   I've been looking at the HMH Standard and Spartan, and have been wondering what the difference is to warrant an $80 USD price difference.  Anyone?  Are these decent for the price?  Also, they claim to be rotary - how do they achieve this with a rear-cinch cam?  Just curious, is all, but I'd love experiences and suggestions.  I have a while before I can build my tying fund up to that range, but have been getting frustrated with this Griffin - and what's the fun of that?  The "cheapy" regal-wanna-be vise I have came with magnum-sized jaws, perfect for size 8 and up... but I can't use it for 24's or the like without risking the hook shooting across the room from what seems like an over-tightened cam (I'm serious, it really did fly across the room!)  In any event, does anyone have suggestions in the realm of vises, in particular HMH?  I can tie speys in my hand, but when it comes to anything smaller than 16, forget it. Thanks a ton, and tight lines, Pete