Fredmo Posted January 18, 2014 Report Share Posted January 18, 2014 I know this has been discussed before, but I can't find where. I'm finally going to upgrade to a rotary vice and have been thinking about the Peak vise that sells everywhere for $149, but also looked at (only online, not in person) the Griffin Odyssey Spider vice. Reviews seemed pretty good for both, and price for the Griffin is $60 less. Anyone have any experience with these to make a recommendation of one over the other? Got a birthday coming up the end of the month and am thinking about treating myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 Fredmo, I don't have one but I've tied on a Peak Vise twice and felt you would be hard pressed to do better. The Renzetti Traveler vise is the most popular rotary out there but you're looking at more buckaroos and I'm not sure it's any nicer than the US made Peak. If you want to save even more clams and don't mind synthetic resins vs machined steel and brass, then the Danvise is probably the best bang for the buck out there and Mike G can fill you in. I have never tied on a Griffin so can't comment on those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rich mc Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 there is a vise article on flyfishohio.com. I have a renzeti traveler and cant wait to get a peak vise rich mc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Kral Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 I have the traveler, love it, but I would save a little extra coin and go for that peak. Never tied with it, but lots of great reviews, and really expensive vises don't produce better flies! No history with the Griffin either, again, save the coin and go for either, just make you have the proper jaw size to accommodate what you will be tying. That being said, one nice thing about the Traveler is that the same standard jaws can tie size 20 dries, and size 5/0 musky flies. Ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Dodge Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 I like to go through Brad Miller at http://www.flybass.biz for my fly fishing needs. He has tested a lot of equipment and will give you good honest answers are anything. He's not afraid to say that he doesn't like something. Be sure to mention you're with the ISA if you talk with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikea Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 Peak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike G Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 This topic comes back so often that we should make it a sticky. This time around, I am going to recommend a book you should buy before you even buy a vise. Listen to what Joe Cornwall said about it,"Anyone who owns, or plans to own, a rotary fly tying vise of any kind owes it to themselves to get this book. In fact, I believe this book is one which should be included in even a modest fly tying library." The full review is here: http://www.flyfishohio.com/Rotary_Tying_Techniques.htm Amazon and many other dealers carry the book. The FFO shootout article is good as far as it goes toping out at $150. Just beyond that horizon there are rotary numbers like the Traveler and a wicked looking Thompson Barracuda which come in under $200. And so on up... The book will give you a better idea of what is out there. For instance, If you already have the 150, you might consider saving up a little more to get the Norvise System. The Beattys' wisdom will also confirm or challenge your reason for wanting to buy a true rotary vise in the first place. I would say I lucked out picking the Danvise. For me the thing that puts it ahead of others is the way it is easily reconfigured for specialty applications like midges and clousers. So here is a link to my post on that: http://illinoissmallmouthalliance.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=8185 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim A Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 I have both of the vises you are considering, and I hate the peak and love the griffin. For me it's all about hook-holding ability, and the peak slips everytime. Keep in mind I mostly tie size 2 and above, but the griffin has zero problems holding hooks of all sizes. Not worth he jump to the peak unless you just need a heavy pedestal for portability. But that can be arranged for any vise. Screw peak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike G Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 I have both of the vises you are considering, and I hate the peak and love the griffin. For me it's all about hook-holding ability, and the peak slips everytime. Keep in mind I mostly tie size 2 and above, but the griffin has zero problems holding hooks of all sizes. Not worth he jump to the peak unless you just need a heavy pedestal for portability. But that can be arranged for any vise. Screw peak. Interesting. Tim confirmswhat Joe Cornwall memtions in his review on FFO. "The manufacturer says the standard jaws are designed for size 2 to 20 and they are correct. Forcing the standard jaws to hold a 1/0 hook resulted in some vertical slippage under tension - no big bass bugs! Okay, so the guy who designed it told the truth and I tried to make it do more... can I be critical of that?" No, just have to respect the limits of the design. On the other side, In the book, Al Beatty gives high marks to the Griffin jaws in gensral. This might push a Griffin product to the front of the list. I think the Griffin Blackfoot Mongoose looks to be better put together than the Spider. It came in second in the FFO ratings. And it is made in the USA. It would get one around the slippage problem with hooks bigger than #2 that Peak admits it has. PS no problems like that with the Danvise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 PS no problems like that with the Danvise. I know it's not a rotary but a little heads up as I also had problems with my HMH Spartan holding those larger hooks that Tim speaks of. Other owners claimed no problem but mine wouldn't hold a larger bass hook to save its life. My Regal easily holds 3/0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asherman Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 I have had a Peak vise for quite a while. I like it but with the standard jaws it does slip with hooks larger than size 2 and it is not the best vise for tying deer hair bass bugs. I have used it to tie trout flies as small as size 16 I have not not bothered to replace the Peak Vise or get the jaws made for larger hooks because I don't tie that many flies larger than size 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike G Posted January 29, 2014 Report Share Posted January 29, 2014 I have had a Peak vise for quite a while. I like it but with the standard jaws it does slip with hooks larger than size 2 and it is not the best vise for tying deer hair bass bugs. I have used it to tie trout flies as small as size 16 I have not not bothered to replace the Peak Vise or get the jaws made for larger hooks because I don't tie that many flies larger than size 2. Just a note. Peak sells larger saltwater jaws for $38. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikea Posted January 29, 2014 Report Share Posted January 29, 2014 Just a note. Peak sells larger saltwater jaws for $38. I believe that is what I have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonn Graham Posted January 29, 2014 Report Share Posted January 29, 2014 Peak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted January 29, 2014 Report Share Posted January 29, 2014 Peak. John, you've been tying Muskie flies and such, do you have the larger jaws or the standard and have you experienced any slipping? Just curious because the two times I did use a Peak, I never tied on anything larger than a size 4 but I had no problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonn Graham Posted January 29, 2014 Report Share Posted January 29, 2014 I use my Peak for my muskie flies. I cannot remember if I have the standard jaws or the larger, saltwater jaws. I will have to find out. But I will say that when I do tie my big muskie flies (5/0 hooks) with my peak there is not a problem. When the hook does slip it is because I don't have the jaws adjusted correctly. When I adjust the jaws correctly, it does a great job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonn Graham Posted January 29, 2014 Report Share Posted January 29, 2014 I have the standard jaws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonn Graham Posted January 29, 2014 Report Share Posted January 29, 2014 By the way, I bought my vise from Brad Miller at Flybass.com...............he is a good guy and easy to deal with.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Kral Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 Just FYI, I believe they just came out with a lower prices Traveler. Still not as cheap as some, but just an option. Like I said earlier, I can tie size 20 up to 5/0 with no problems, and that includes really cranking on the hooks with GSP thread for spinning deerhair/bucktail heads. Ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forrest Miller Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 ChiFly just sent out a thing that the Traveler is now $165. I have tied on one since I first started tying about 3 years ago. I have not looked back nor have I said to myself that I need to "upgrade"..... -Forrest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fredmo Posted February 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 I was starting so suffer from what John Barth referred to a "cosmopsis," too many choices to choose from and too many ideas. We braved the weather Friday night for dinner in E. Peoria at Johah's, the stopped by Bass Pro and I bought the Peak. Sure is sturdier than my basic vise. I also ordered the Beatty's book on the rotary vise, it is about 1/2 the list price when I went through Abebooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike G Posted February 5, 2014 Report Share Posted February 5, 2014 You have chosen wisely twice over. I think you are really going to like the book. Since I originally bought a rotary vise to get the cam jaws an be able to turn the fly to see the other side, I was completely unaware of all the other benefits of the rotary feature. You'll see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikea Posted February 5, 2014 Report Share Posted February 5, 2014 Winner winner chicken dinner!! I was starting so suffer from what John Barth referred to a "cosmopsis," too many choices to choose from and too many ideas. We braved the weather Friday night for dinner in E. Peoria at Johah's, the stopped by Bass Pro and I bought the Peak. Sure is sturdier than my basic vise. I also ordered the Beatty's book on the rotary vise, it is about 1/2 the list price when I went through Abebooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fredmo Posted February 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 It would have been blasphemy to have a chicken dinner at Jonah's. Not sure any was on the menu. I think my copy of the book is coming from U.K., still waiting on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 Fred, you do know that I expect you to participate in the next fly swap now that you own that sweet vise. Oh and make sure you bring it on February 16th so we can all play with it. Ha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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