MAINE - Life in the Slow Lane
I think Koda will be able to help you with this one. Calling for Koda to help the lad out.
I picked up a Griffin Patriot vise on E-Bay for cheap and I have the standard and midge jaws. The standard jaws hold the big hooks...well...like a vise. The midge jaws work really well down to a #22.
The mongoose is another one that I have heard really good things about.
I am really considering a nor vise myself in the next year or so. It willbe pricey to ge all of the adapters and auto bobbins and such, but I think once I learn how to use it appropriately I will love it.
I remember Koda having mentioned before that the nor vise was slick, but had its draw backs. What might those be exactly Koda? I'm trying to make a good educated decision about this, and this time I'm not going to cop out and buy the el cheapo to get me by. The jaws wore out and so holding a size 16 hook is nearly impossible now. THere is a groove in the jaws that now best accomodates a fly 14 or larger. And of course I have been trying to get proficient at flies between 16 and 20.
I tied an adams like fly the other day in size 18. It was an experience. Especially when the vise kept spitting it out as I tried to tie off.
Well after totaling up the cost of the norvise and all of the accesories I would want/need I have decided against it. But Keith mentioned Griffin and I have been looking at all sorts of vises and am taking a more open minded approach to it.
I am leaning towards the griffin mongoose at the moment but I have much reseach to do, and a couple of months before my birthday. So I'll keep you all in mind as I learn interesting stuff.
T~
These days I tie on a Renzetti Traveler and have nothing to complain of. In fact, I have a knock off of the vise that is just about as good if someone wants it for $50 it's theirs. Full rotary.
If I were to stumble on some major frogskins I might be tempted to go for a bigger Renzetti, but really, I don't need it.
To the Nor Vise. It is hands down the dangdest thing you will ever tie on. For the man or woman who does a lot of dubbed bodies it is without peers. It's literaly a spinning machine! The bobbin system Norm invented must be used to appreciate it. Trust me, it's some slick. I deal in the vises and I can't keep one to use because every dude that gets on one won't leave without it. If it has a single draw back it has to be tieing cz nymphs. Short of that, for the chap that ties a lot it's money you'll never regret spending.
One of my dealers ties around 250k flies a year between himself and his help. He does em all on those plastic Danvises and swears by them. I think they retail for around $80 clams.
IMO, for what it's worth, no vise will ever hold better than a cam jaw vise. It's simply leverage and is fool proof. Vises that use the forcing cone system lose gripping power along the way.
I'm heavy handed when tieing and even at that I can run 2/0 hooks in the standard cam jaws and not move the hook. The sliding base howsomever is another story. 
Like anything else, it comes down to what one likes and how it works for them. In the end, a trout don't give a hoot what vise it was tied on. If it looks like a bug it's gonna get inhaled. Perfect flies are nice to look at, but in reality, the ones that look like a rat sucked on em catch more fish. Dunno why, but it is so.
My mentor, Charlie Poole used to bust my nads about proportions. Yah yah yah. Maybe his trout were more particular than mine
Ah, but the wonderful world of bug fishin.
Thanks Koda! I was looking at the Griffin Montana Mongoose and the possibly the Renzetti traveler, or maybe even an HMH.
The danvise is wicked cool, but realistcally I am in love withthe pedestal, and the danvise doesn't do it.
I discovered yesterday that my vise is what is known as a Zephyr or something like that. It might just be the knock off you were mentioning as it seems to resemble a renzetti.
I would prefer to keep my business local and since my friend, you have done very well by me in the past I must ask, what can you get me that I might be interested in? You could pm me models and estimates, and that would be great! I am thinking I really want as many of the whistles and bells as possible a material clip, pedestal and bobbin cradle are a must.
I didn't know you were a vise dealer.
oh BTW did I ever brign you that project vise I had kicking around. I haven't seen it lately so I'm thinking I gave it to you.
T~
T Bone
Nope, the knockoff I have is a clone of the Traveler. I pulled in 50 of them and they were gone in less than a week. Yah, Hello, less than half the price!
HMH. I have very fond memories of that vise. I got the one way back that had the solid brass polised base. Tied on it for years and would still be using it if Charlie hadn't got me into the Renzetti.
You gotta decide which way you want to go. The way you tie flies you just may want a Nor setup. I can get you a better price than you'd get from Norm because once I own it I can sell it for whatever I see fit 
He gets real tense when dealers sell below his prices so ssssssh.
Believe I do have that defunct vise and have not had time to operate on it as yet. Still trying to stick sharp instruments in the chest cavities of deer and I have 2 tags left! If I drill that 10 pointer I think I'll mail the ball bag up to Lee. Just because I can
Thanks for the responses. Just looking on line at the vises mentioned. Looks like they might all be an upgrade over the old Thompson. Liked the looks and reviews of the HMH. The shape looks like the Thompson and would position the fly in a way that I'm used to. What are the advantages of the v-shaped vises like the Griffins and Renzetti traveler?
Beaton,
Those design use a rotation platform for the hook to be cranked or spun in the vise. This is a great feature for dubbing, and applying just about anything since we generally apply it by twisting it onto the hook shank. Also these designs the way they utilize the traditional jaws need to be adjustable so that hooks of various sizes can be used and still spin on center. This creates the V you mentioned.
If I were you I would seriousy consider the Danvise. It is very cool and has tons of features for the money. It is reasonable and brings a lot to the table for a beginner or somebody looking to expand their tying skills. For instance the cradle/over head clip for holding posts. Material clips are VERY helpful, and once you have done the hand over hand thing with floss until it frays away to nothing you will learn to appreciate the rotational possibilities.
I am considering the sort of vise at the moment that will be a lifetime tool. If you haven't gathered I really enjoy the tying thing.
T~
I've been thinking about upgrading my vise. I'm using the Thompson Model A. It generally does the job although I have some difficulty getting it to hold the bass and saltwater hooks really securely. Any recommendations for vises to check out would be appreciated.