I’m assuming you mean rotary vises, which would be a lot easier than holding them in pliers or visegrips.
But you’ve given me an idea. How about a manual drying wheel, for those who don’t use epoxy (or anything of that nature) a whole lot? It would be simple enough to rig the wheel with a crank handle; even gear it down, if necessary—people new to epoxy often don’t realize how slowly you can turn the fly and still prevent slumping. My powered wheel operates at something like 5 turns per minute is all.
Another tip, that anyone can use but which is especially usefull for novice tyers. If you lay out all the materials for, say, a dozen flies, then start tying, you’ll be amazed at 1. how quickly they go, and 2. how much the 12th fly looks just like the 1st one.
Not that I think I’ve got anything to teach *anybody *who’s turning out quantities of #30s. Nowadays I’m lucky to even see a size 30 fly (or even a 22, for that matter), let alone tie one.
BTW, with the holidays coming on, don’t neglect all the seasonal stuff you can use for your tying kit: all sorts of glitter and sparkle things.
F’rinstance, last year in the dollar store I picked up a couple of packages of shat they called icecles. About the size of flash-a-bou. Each pack contains 600 strands, each 18 inches long. For a buck!
Can y’all imagine what that would have cost if it said “fly tying tinsel” on the label?
I got them in silver and red. But it wouldn’t surprise me to find there are other colors available.
AND THE PEARL ESSENT BOWES. I swear I got a present with a bow that is awesome MYLAR in all sorts of colors.
I do have two rotary vises, but I don’t use them for the dab of glue on thread. Just a thin bead of glue like the wax some use. It sticks to the thread. About an inch long and it gives a nice well sealed head. Don’t even need to whip or knot it as the glue will hold it.
I rented a DVD by Kelly Galloup and he is now doing the glue on the thread thing, so is Davy Whitlock. Great minds think alike LOL
I didn’t mean I don’t, I mean YOU/everyone, don’t have to. I do the whip, but on the 32’s it can be too much, so a little Zap-A Gap (waterproof superglue) on the thread and I don’t need to whip.
If you were tying 32’s, I am sure I would have shared this with you LOL
okay.. I know .32 cal.. I know 32 oz.. but I dont know 32’s.. LOL>. .. but.. on a serious note..
this could be used on any fly and be just as strong?? or on larger flies would you still at least put a couple of half hitches into it as you tied it down??
You’re probably right, FlyGoddess. The whip finish isn’t needed if the head is cemented down. And particularly if it’s coated with lacquer or epoxy as well.
But it’s a habit that’s hard to break. And, what the heck, it don’t cost nothing to take that extra second or two.
There are many styles of fly-tying vises on the market. The simplest is just a slot cut in a 3/8" piece of square steel with a hacksaw, and a thumb screw to tighten the slot. This type of vise will work all right, although rather clumsy and hard to tighten enough to hold the hook truly.
