MAINE - Life in the Slow Lane
Quote by: KtboneIf I were to go out shopping for a new resonably priced vise it would be between the Griffen Montana Mongoose and the Renzetti Traveler 2300, and I wouldhose are two contenders at this point Keith.
I have been really thinking about that Mongoos as it doesn't break the bank. As for the parachute holder attachment, I have not yet had the chance to use one, but after attempting to tie several parachutes. I concluded it would be handy. It is yet to be seen wheher or not it is better in theory.
What can I say I like toys and features....
T~
I find paraposts pretty easy to tie. Just tie them in long so you have something to grip and then trim it off to the lengh you need.
We can add this to our list of things to work on.
Thanks again. Think my wife may have picked out the hmh spartan model for x-mas. I was wondering a bit how the v-shaped vises where the arm hangs down from the post and then the jaws point back up work out. Was thinking that that arm might get in the way a bit when tying the larger bass flies, saltwater , tandems etc. I tend to brace my hand on the vise quite a bit so I think the spartan should be a good fit from the Thompson in terms of habit, muscle memory etc. hopefully the new vise will hold those larger hooks better so I can get all that deer hair and other new fangled materials socked down better.
Well i hope i is evrything you are looking for. HTe HMH company looks to produce some great equipment. They look solid as a rock. Now don't go peaking around Santa's sack or you'll find yourself with out on Christmas Day! LOL!
T~
Quote by: Ktbone..................If I were to go out shopping for a new resonably priced vise it would be between the Griffen Montana Mongoose and the Renzetti Traveler 2300, ...............
Keith
When the Hiti Kitis knocked off the Renzetti the idgits mounted the cam levers backwards when they assembled the vises. At first I figgered no big deal. Bullshit! It turned out to be a nightmare. The thread keeps getting caught on the lever. It was just all bad Not a big yank since I swaped them around to the "right" way. Camed hooks, lever to the rear out of the way.
That Mongoose looks like a lot of busy hardware below the vise head to catch stuff like thread, tinsel, chenile. Like anything else I'm sure one can "adjust" and work around it, but me, I'm to danged old to be adaptin. I want it straight up just like my Scotch 
Mmmm....scotch and fly tying, yup that there is a good way to spend a snowy afternoon.
So how was the metal quality on those knock-offs? I find some of the sub asian metal to be top notch and others not much better than Shanghi plastic.
Oddly, and I do mean VERY unusual, the Hiti Kitis hit a home run on the vise head. The base is boiler plate but gets the job done.
Renzetti had a bad run on jaws there for a spell. Seems their supplier hardened the piss out of them and they were snappin like pretzels. My Renzetti was pre pork jaw period, but I believe they got it fixed. Some of the guys said Renzetti bent over backwards sending them as many as 5 sets of jaws while they were working on the problem.
I have a Peak Rotary Pedestal & Love it. For $150, don't think you can beat it 
Quote by: RoofishI have a Peak Rotary Pedestal & Love it. For $150, don't think you can beat it
The new Renzetti traveler is $150 also. It was made specifically to compate withthe market at $150. In otherwords the Peak vise. From what I gather it is a phenomenal piece of equipment too.
Beaton,
If I read your question correctly you are refering to a draw collet vs a cam vise.
The draw collet works by pulling or drawing a tapered metal tube into a fixed arbor. This compresses the slot to hold the fly. This is the same design used in milling machines and lathes. The big advantage here is it is quick and easy to insert a hook and tighten it down, it is also easy to over tighten the hook and weaken the bend or even snap the collet jaw.
The cam vise works by using a semi round disk or cam to lever two pieces of steel to hold the hook, like a pair of pliers. These vises have adjustment screws to control the angle of the jaws (contact surface area) and to control pressure.
No matter which way you go you want to buy a vise that is made of quality hardened and tempered steel. Straight steel will groove and wear just like T-bone described. Another important thing is replacement parts, stuff breaks.
I chose the Griffen vise because it was a rotating cam style vise, made from high quality steel, and parts are plentiful and cheap.
Not only that I got a great deal on a brand new vise since the Patriot model was DC'd (parts are still readily avaialble) and has a lifetime warrenty
My taste in accessories is a bit less extensive than T-bone's: material clip is nice but I rarely use it, what I do use is the bobbin holder. Make sure it is easily adjustable and swings out of the way. The parachute holder is about useless if you ask me, takes longer to set up than it's worth and gets in the way (I sold mine). I love the attached trash catcher and so does my wife. In my opinion the single most important item is a good light. I picked up one of the lights that attaches to the vise with a flexable neck, worth every penny.
If I were to go out shopping for a new resonably priced vise it would be between the Griffen Montana Mongoose and the Renzetti Traveler 2300, and I would stick with my McKenzie light.
-Keith
All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing