The vise is the main tool when tying artificial flies
This is absolutely without a doubt. The choice is large enough both in terms of functionality and price. Fly tying vises are divided into many types - here are the main ones:
Type of flies
For ordinary artificial flies tied on standard hooks and for flies tied on a tube. In most cases, the device for tying tube flies is offered as an accessory to most vises, and fully specialized vises for this type of flies are rare.
Place of use
Standard and “travel” - the first type is used on the fly tying desk, they are usually larger, heavier and equipped with all the accessories that provide great convenience. “Travel” vises are small, light and are used during your outings, when you need to tie your currently working flies on the spot.
Jaw quality
Here, the dependence on price is naturally directly proportional. In cheap models, the quality of the jaws is not at the required level – sometimes they are not hardened well enough and are deformed by the tightening of the hooks, sometimes overhardened, which leads to part of them breaking off. The fit is not always accurate and they do not hold the hook perfectly when tying, which often slips out. In medium and higher-class vises, the jaws are already at the required level and you can rely on them to tie thousands of artificial flies.
Clamping to the fly tying desk
They are divided into two types – “C-Clamp” or clamping to the end of the table with a clamp and vises with a pedestal. The clamp provides a very firm grip and no possibility of displacement during tying, while the pedestal allows you to easily change your position, as well as use it outside of you during fishing trips. Perhaps a very good option is to have both stands, as usually the axes of the vises are standard.
Rotation
According to this characteristic, they are divided into three types - stationary, rotating and rotary (fully rotating along the correct axis). The stationary one holds the fly in an absolutely stationary state - this is typical for the lowest class vises and you are quite limited when working with them. Those that have the ability to rotate are the second type and when tying with them you have the opportunity to examine the fly from each side. With the already rotary vises, you have a complete and correct rotation of the fly around its own shoulder, which coincides with the axis of the vise. In addition to being able to inspect your fly during many operations, you can not rotate your hand with the relevant tool or material, but rotate the axis of the vise.
Type of jaws
They are divided into two types - "collet" type, which are tightened by means of a lever, screw or eccentric in their rear part and "lever" type jaws, which open by means of a cam lever.
Jaw design
Most jaws are uniformly flat and this is naturally the best way to hold small hooks in the vise. The more serious issue is with large hook sizes - some manufacturers solve this problem by increasing the pressure, machine serrations on the inside or by making several different grooves in the jaws to accommodate larger hooks. Many serious manufacturers offer different jaws for different hook sizes.
Price
Of course, they can also be divided into price classes - in the lower class there are vises that you can use as a start in your artificial fly tying, and for a little more than 100 lv you can even get a rotor vise. In the middle class are the Snowbee vises, several Stonfo models, as well as Danica - they are characterized by full functionality and good quality. In the highest price range, we offer vices from the Elite series by Stonfo, the Italian Cottarelli, the Swiss Petitjean, and the German Maier&Fazis.