Inexpensive vise

[Kdog]

Budget is tight but I really wanted a heavier duty vise than my old stamped vise and looked at a lot of different models and bought a Supreme off of ebay from http://www.ebay.com/usr/upstreamessentials

I knew going in that there are far superior products but the budget just cannot handle much at this time.

Supreme Rotating Fly Tying Vise - Heavy Duty - FV2102 around 28 bucks including shipping.

So a quick review follows:
- Does a great job holding once you get it set right. Not a real sensitive adjustment could use finer threads and locking lever is kinda crude but works.
- Claims to be rotary and it will rotate but is not very smooth.
- Adjustability both height and head angle are simple and effective.
- Clamp for attaching to table top is functional and easily works on a 3/4" or 1 1/2" thick top
note: most of the levers have threaded knobs on each end that will loosen and fall off rather quickly. I solved this with a quick dab of locktite on each.

Overall, I am happy with the vise for the price. You get what you pay for. I have tied ~ 150 jigs with Hooks from #8 thru #1/0 and after adjusting jaws no problems with slippage and I am a firm believer in heavy thread tension.

Also bought a supply of bobbins (4 for 8.09 including shipping from the same place) Fly Tying Thread Bobbins - Set of 4 for Thread & Material - FF175

The Bobbins are very smooth but a bit heavy on tension for my Danville 210 thread need to be careful or I will break thread. I guess I could bend them a bit to reduce tension but as I said before I like heavy tension. Would not recommend them for fine threads but with coarser threads they should work just fine.

Hope this helps.

 

[Pup]

I knew going in that there are far superior products but the budget just cannot handle much at this time.

No need to explain this. Bet that quite a few of us have been there. I have and I do appreciate your review. A good budget vise may also fill a need for someone wanting to tie in the field or to start a jig tying class (hmmmm... ).

The Bobbins are very smooth but a bit heavy on tension for my Danville 210 thread need to be careful or I will break thread. I guess I could bend them a bit to reduce tension but as I said before I like heavy tension. Would not recommend them for fine threads but with coarser threads they should work just fine.

That's way too tight in my opinion. Two-ten denier thread is strong. So strong, in fact, that I'd pull my vise pedestals over if I tried to break the thread.

Was shipping quick for all items?

I'm always looking for deals on tools, so thank you for your review and the web site link.

 

[LedHed]

Kdog - what is important - if it works for you - not the cost. Tyed on an import for a couple of years before I was able/wanted to upgrade. The vise's job is to hold a hook - not to look pretty. Congrats on the new equipment.

WOW you guys are doing some pulling!!! Had to go the other way when I started tying rubber.

 

[Jig Man]

Yea, I used to try to get mine tight but my foot kept getting the way... Led is wright, if it holds the hook you have a winner.

 

[Kdog]

Was shipping quick for all items?

I'm always looking for deals on tools, so thank you for your review and the web site link.

I ordered Sunday Night, had everything by Thursday but I think it was actually Wednesday Postman delivered waaaay late on Wednesday and I did not think to check after dark!

 

[smalljaw]

I use 210 and if you are breaking the thread then you are tying tight for sure...lol. I tied on a vise like that for a long time, 10+ years, a standard AA vise because I could not find a rotary that would handle the bigger 3/0 and 4/0 hooks that was a reasonable price, a rotary would be nice but I didn't need one, my way was just as good. Then I ended up with a few extra dollars and I got an entry level rotary, the Griffin Odyssey Spider Vise for like $85 and I'm in heaven. I kept telling myself I didn't need a rotary but having a true rotary vise has made my tying a lot better and a lot more enjoyable, no more messing with jaws to flip the jig over or having to adjust the tension every time I go from a small jig to a larger one, that in itself was worth it. I know your vise rotates but it isn't a true rotary, I never understood what the description, "true rotary" meant until I got my Griffin, my AA was able to rotate but it was a pain and it meant you had to loosen a nut and turn it and tighten the lock down, that is why I never worried about it but tie on a true rotary vise and that will be it, you'll never be able to use the standard, well it will be very hard to go back and I bet you'd only do so if there was no way around it. Save up some coin and get a good vise, trust me, you'll wonder how you did without it for so long!

 

[QPassage]

smalljaw you are 100% dead on. I tied on my new full rotary last night for the first time and I'm not sure how I've put up with that hunk of junk in the trash can.