[Hardyreels]

Hi Pork,

I use a Traveler but I don't tie like you, based on the quality of your tying I believe you should have the best you can get.

Ard

 

[pork]

Wow, old thread!

I've been using the Renzetti Master I found on Craigslist for about a year and a half now. I love it. It was worth every penny.

I'm glad I test drove the JVice. In the end, it wasn't for me, but the bespoke nature of the vise and its accessories is really cool. I didn't think I'd like the oak base but it wound up being my favorite part of the JVice experience.

 

[Cutthroat1954]

I've had a Renzetti Master for at least 10 years. Great vise. Love it and don't really want another. Expensive - yes; but so smooth and nice to work with. But I have also owned and tied with an old style Thompson AA (actually made in USA!), a Price Vise, two Regals (not sure why I sold them), and still travel with a Renzetti Traveller. To be honest, I was pretty happy with all of them. Best think about the Renzetti Master is the range of hook sizes that are held by the same pair of jaws. I've tied everything from 20's up to and including 8/0 Owners. Handled them all. Great vice.

 

[Smolt]

Renzetti

It is hard to beat a Renzetti Master for beauty and ease of handling. It will do everything you are interested in with ease. That being said, I had one and sold it.

I just did not tie anything but a few flies on it. Instead, I had a Renzetti Presentation 4000 on which I did all my tying. I had purchased the 4000 used for a song and have never had a problem with it. In fact, I liked it so much, I bought another. There is not reason to have a Master when you can buy two or three used 4000's for the price.

The rotation is the same on large or small flies and the vise holds them TIGHT. Unless you want to cuddle wit your vise, no need to go for more than a 4000.

 

[failtospey]

For the types of flies I usually see come from you arsenal I would suggest forking out the 650$ and get the double jaw Cottarelli, tons have been sold to classic tyers in the last couple years. There is currently no reseller in the US so email the guy at the website.

http://www.artisticflies.com/COTTARELLI_VISE/COTTARELLI_VISE.html

Also, dont discount the saltwater traveler vise, I just picked one up and it holds 8/0 heavy wire hooks like nothing, a great vise. Cheers.

 

[pork]

For the types of flies I usually see come from you arsenal I would suggest forking out the 650$ and get the double jaw Cottarelli, tons have been sold to classic tyers in the last couple years. There is currently no reseller in the US so email the guy at the website.

http://www.artisticflies.com/COTTARELLI_VISE/COTTARELLI_VISE.html

Also, dont discount the saltwater traveler vise, I just picked one up and it holds 8/0 heavy wire hooks like nothing, a great vise. Cheers.

The Cotarelli vise looks cool, but I don't really tie big, blind eye, "show flies" anymore. I still tie classics now and then, but mainly on up or down eye singles and doubles, nothing really bigger than 2/0 (and very rarely that big). I plan on fishing them all, so I don't really care if the hook finished gets marred. Plus, I still tie plenty of tubes flies, trout flies, and the occasional saltwater or warmwater fly. I was looking for one vise that could do as much as possible without a jaw change. If I still tied big blind eyed flies with any regularity, I might have looked into buying the Cotarelli.

I still have my Renzetti Traveler (which can still do the lions share of my tying, just less comfortably than the Master) and an HMH Standard with all the jaws. I don't really like the HMH for day to day tying, though it is my go-to vise for two specific tasks; Tying a lot of midges at one time...I really like the HMH midge jaws. They stay out of the way and hold small hooks well. If I just need to tie a few really quickly, the Master can do it, though I prefer the HMH. Also, I use the HMH tube jaw for flies that require a lot of torque to form the body (i.e. Frances and Snaelda). Other than those two tube patterns, I'd rather tie everything on a needle or a hook shank.

The Presentation 4000 looks like a nice vise. I almost bought a Presentation 2000 a few years ago. In the end, I liked having the wide range of the Master's jaws, plus the ability to tilt the jaws up and down. I would have never paid full price for the Master vise. I got really lucky finding one on a whim on Craigslist. It was in great shape and included the speed knob (which I definitely prefer over the lever).

 

[failtospey]

Sounds like you know what you need for sure, I don't think ill ever pull the trigger on an expensive vise like the master, ill probably go for the double jaw monstrosity. I mostly tie for display purposes unless I am tying surf flies. since I'm in SoCal its pretty hard to find time to chase SH or salmon. For my surf flies I have a Renzetti clouser vise, works well up to 3/0, medium wire, after that they just slip. If I ever buy a double jaw ill give it the full review, mostly it would be to not damage my finish so much, that being one of my pet peeves lol. Cheers buddy.