Fly Tying Vise Comparison

A video comparing the fly tying vises I currently own.
In this video I discuss the 6 fly tying vises I currently own, and give a brief run down on each vise. Features, costs, how it operates, and what I like/dislike about each vise.
The vises I cover in this video are: Griffin Superior 2A, Regal Inex, HMH Spartan, Renzetti Traveler, Dyna King Barracuda, and Stonfo Transformer.

[@leonardwells9613]

FINALLY a great independent upper end vise review, THANK YOU, this was MUCH needed and greatly appreciated. L 👍🎣👍

[@tonythomas5978]

I know this is 6yrs old now but still found this vice comparison really useful. Recently got the Stonfo Transformer and have to say the tiny head movement really bugged me too, thought I'd maybe got a dud. You've confirmed that this is normal so really appreciate that. I've also notice this movement on tying videos using this vice (having watched out for it). Like you said it just takes some getting used to, especially having used a vice that is rock solid with no movement (Jan Tvrdek). Thanks again

[@cclub1]

I really like the Dyna King Barracuda.

[@69adrummer]

Thanks for the video man! I've always been a "buy once, cry once" kind of person. I try to do as much research up front as I can so I don't get "buyers remorse". I'd rather buy ONE good piece of gear (camping, fishing, etc...) and pay more *now* than buy a cheap one, have it break in 2 years, buy another, and another.

[@dennis2146]

One of the best reviews I have heard so far. No um, er, ahhh, moments; just well spoken information on each vise. Thank you very much.

[@SouthWestFloridaLife]

I took the bottom off my Stonfo and added lead shot inside the base and screwed the bottom back on. Added 5 pounds to the base.

[@flgator311]

Thanks for the info.

[@BusterHWJones]

Really great and forthright review. I have been shopping around and comparing reviews and, of course, vises. Based on the strength of your review I'm going to go with the Dyna-King Barracuda Jr for my first vise. Thank you for a great comparison.

[@ryantherock7664]

Great video thank you

[@adamg9518]

Good vid. Currently I have an older traveler and a barracuda. I love the Renzetti as a jack of all trades and the barracuda for muskie/pike flies. As you do I love that barracuda base.

[@stevemd8947]

Nice job reviewing the vises. I own the Dyna King Trekker - rock solid base - fabulous vise.

[@Thewolf981]

Steve D yeah the Trekker is a fantastic vise! I owned one for a couple of years myself. In fact in an early take on this video I talked about the Trekker a bit as a less expensive option but had to redo the vid cause even after editing it was over 40 minutes long lol so I had to keep things much more simple

[@cmoszee]

Nice video! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@redshaftedflicker]

Awesome!! I have the Superior 2a, like you said it holds a hook quite well and is a great clouser vise. Also, I have the Renzetti Traveller and I like it a lot. Just as you stated however, the rotary knob sucks. I took a thin strip of saran-wrap and wrapped it over the set screw and then screwed the s.o.b. back into place which has helped a lot. Your explanations on how to operate each vise are impressive to say the least!!

[@j.taylor7361]

I wonder if a thin strip of plumber’s tape/thread seal tape on the threads would help?

[@mikekuczynski1552]

I also like to try different vices , I currently own the Renzetti traveler and Dyna King Excalibur and like both for different reasons daily driver Renzetti . Big flies Dyna King . I have been looking at the Stonsfo transformer and was glad to hear your review. I was a little concerned over the coupling that holds the heads and thought there would be play since any device I have used with such a coupling does have play . But after hearing you say its not much that's good to hear . Think I will give one a try :)

[@sevance1]

I know this video is old, but on the HMH demonstration, you've got the vise's lock lever upside down and, therefore, reduced the amount of travel in the cam. The engraved letters should be on the OUTSIDE. The way you have it, there's literally only a couple degrees of travel and the cam is nearly flat. Flip it over, and you'll have a LOT more travel and linear progression to tighten the jaws. Nice reviews though.

[@bobking9921]

Hi Nick, absolute great video, very concise, you covered all of my questions. I think I’m going with the Dyna King. I like the idea of Stainless Steel vs Aluminum as well. Thanks.

[@stephenlahman4513]

I've had different vices over the years and found the 'Peak Vice' the best for me. Simple / Solid/ Reliable.

[@manifestgtr]

My first vise was a c clamp, stamped, certified piece of crap I got from the local tackle shop as part of a kit back when I was a little kid. Honestly, I learned all the basics on it so I really can’t say much bad about it. It wasn’t a rotary…I’m sure it comfortably held sizes 10-16 but hey. I learned how to tie buggers and parachutes on that thing when I was 12 years old 🤷‍♂️

[@duposflies2621]

I like your opening info, it depend on individuals what kind of vise they wants. I don´t own any of those you have presented because simple I don´t have the money to buy one. I am using cheap copied of regal from India. As long as it can hold the hooks its fine for me.

[@theedgeofbreakup5192]

Leon 8259 i

[@thedetective8150]

Excellent review video. I have three vises that I was considering but that Stonfo Transformer is the cat's meow. I am thinking it might be worth the extra $$$ for the Stonfo Transformer. Second place would be the Dyna King

[@thomasbrooks8112]

I've been tying on the Renzetti Traveler for many years. I bought it strictly as a travel vise but found i loved it so much that it's now my everyday vise that i use 100% of the time. To keep your pedestal from sliding around, go to a Dollar Store and pick up a roll of drawer liner and cut it to the shape of your base and then use spray adhesive to hold it in place. Sometimes I'll also use a small 3" C clamp to anchor the base solidly to my bench when tying large flies where I'm using a lot of thread tension. I'd love to have a top of the line Renzetti but I know it won't make me a better tyer and the Traveler does everything I need and want in a vise.

[@davidaguiar1387]

Try a little purple loctite on the threads of the tension knob of your Renzetti Traveler. Once I applied it to my traveler, the tension stays where you set it (yet can be changed if you need to.) Purple loctite works great anywhere you don't want a threaded screw to walk but you still needto be able to adjust it.

[@Thewolf981]

Great tip David! Thank you!

[@gangunitsergeantmartinez7656]

Excellent review! I own all the vises you presented in this video except the Griffin. Like you, I didn't care much for the pedestal base of the Stonfo. The shaft on the Stonfo is thicker in diameter than the standard 3/8's shaft of American made vises. I ordered a Peak pedestal with the brass riser. I contacted Peak industries before I made the purchase and asked them if they could bore the circumference of the slot on the riser. They accommodated my request and the vise stem fits perfect. Peak bases are heavy and well made like Dyna-King's pedestal bases. If you are interested in going this route, they have the dimensions I provided them on file.

[@bjornbeech9886]

Bad mouth regal vises one more time and I will slap the dumb outa you.

[@richardc6932]

Didn’t see anything that would make me sell my NorVise system. Norm’s design gives you everything you need in a rotary vise and has an excellent bobbin as well. I use the fine point jaws most of the time and rarely have to adjust the angle of the jaws to get a smooth rotation of the hook. Slack in the Stonfo head could have been eliminated with a set screw, eliminating machining and reducing the price.

[@jgirard5930]

It would have been nice to compare the jaws can handle i.e. 8/0 - #22. I use the 'Peak Vice" (great vise ) and I know I can replace the jaw that came with the vise to one for small hooks # 20 - 32 but I would prefer a vise where I can tie a 2/0 down to size #24 without having to change the jaw as I like going from small size to larger all on the same day.

[@rickbischke2589]

Have you tried a norvise , it is really great,

[@Morenofly]

For the upper end, Petitjean, J-Vise and Regal in that order.

[@sputnick66]

Hi Nick, now that you've been tying on the Stonfo Transformer for a while do you still like the vice and recommend it? Thanks

[@Thewolf981]

In full disclosure I am in the process of selling my Transformer. Not for any performance related reason, mostly because I have other vises I am using more these days and frankly I have a bit of ADD when it comes to vises. I recently bought an aftermarket base that will not fit the larger than standard stem on the Stonfo. I absolutely love the base and it's such a sweet setup with my Renzetti Master that it made the Stonfo the off man out. I still have a DK Ultimate Indexer for tying huge stuff, as well as a saltwater Traveler and a Norvise, so I finally opted to unload the Stonfo. It's been a fantastic vise and I wouldn't hesitate recommending it. The only small gripe I ever had was the base is pretty light. The new base I bought would have solved that but the stem won't fit

[@sputnick66]

@@Thewolf981 Thanks Nick, appreciate your reply. I fly trout flies and some streamers and stealhead flies. I've got an knock-off of a Regal but it clearly is not a Regal quality and I'm getting pretty tired of it. Have you got your Stonfo sold or are you looking for a buyers?

[@stephenwelham]

Regarding the Stonfo master vice base slipping put a non slip matt under the vice

[@Thewolf981]

I did just that not long after making this vid. I put a piece of sticky back felt on my tying desk and it really helped this issue

[@mickvs]

Hello, first thanks for sharing. Second a question, if I dare: did you try the Swiss vise from Marc Petitjean? He is a great fly tyer, especially with cdc, and he designed a vise, maybe the best in the world and surely the most expensive. A vise, I think, a collector like you must own. Next Christmas?

[@zionkid420]

Its nowhere near the most expensive.

[@bok9201]

DynaKing ultimate Indexer spoils me with its multiple features and adjustable positions. I'll never outgrow it. I don't tie for mass production; for that I'd use the flagship Regal.

[@valentinaroca6763]

What is your favorite ?

[@Ludwigvonweinershnitzle]

I have a renzetti master and Its hard to justify getting another vise :/

[@oldrudedog]

I think the vice jaws on the Renzetti looks cheap for the price the want now which is $250

[@66bigbuds]

Fly shops? I only have online.

[@user-uh2jj1hz3b]

Я хочу купить тискиDina king barracuda ,но я живу в России из Америки их не присылают помогите

[@willhoward9865]

Update your video to include Regal Medallion and Revolution. Your old Regal does not represent the current models.

[@Thewolf981]

Nope it doesn't. But that was never the intent of this video. This video was simply a review of the vises I owned at the time. I do currently own a Revolution, the third I've owned. I may make a vid on it at some point but it wouldn't differ too much from my comments in this video. Great vise but I just don't enjoy tying on it for the same reasons I listed in this vid. Regal vise head design is simply not comfortable for me and my tying style.

[@michaelrafa100]

It is very difficult to take someone who wears a hat indoors seriously