The Best Vises
Best $400 and Up Vise
LAW Bench Vise
Lawrence A. Waldron, of Seisdon, England, is a precision machinist who produces a limited line of fly-tying products, including three models of vises, two of which are reviewed here. The vises are only available by individual order.
The LAW Bench vise is an on-axis rotary model with lever-type jaws. One jaw is held stationary on the rotating arm, while the other moves on a fulcrum. There is no adjustment between hook wire diameters; the jaws are simply closed on any hook by a star-shaped thumb screw. Lock-up is straightforward and secure for the entire range of hooks and is achieved by less than half a revolution of the star wheel. The jaws incorporate two hook pockets behind the lightly scored jaw tips. On large saltwater irons, placement of the hook into the appropriate pocket may take the hook shank slightly off axis but perfect alignment of hook shank is rarely required.
For added clearance behind the jaws for very small hooks, the vise body can be tilted upward, though moving the
angle from horizontal renders the vise non-true rotary.
The barrel of the vise is machined Delrin, which also serves as the bearing for the vise's rotation. Disassembly is accomplished by removing a single brass fitting at the rear of the vise, which also serves as the adjustment for rotary tension.
The vise comes with either pedestal or C-clamp, or both, at additional charge. The pedestal is sufficiently heavy, with a footprint of approximately 6" x 8", and the bottom is lined with closed-cell foam. The pedestal has a depression for hooks or other small materials. The C-clamp is a machined aluminum, hard-anodized piece with a gap of 23/4", leather lined to protect furniture.
The vise also comes with a two-piece standrod. Standard length is used with the pedestal base, and a 4" screw-in extension is added for C-clamp use.
Verdict. This is the finest all-round vise available today. Perhaps the only drawback is that it is not readily available. It performs its function with an elegance and simplicity no other vise matches. At £350 (about $525), the vise is within the highest price range of those currently available, but you get what you pay for. BS
Renzetti Master
The Renzetti Master is the top of Renzetti's line of true-rotary vises. The Master's jaws are lever-type with a cam lock-up. Adjustment between hook-wire diameters is accomplished with a thumbscrew located toward the tip of the jaws, such that during lock-up jaw closure is parallel. Some tiers find that the thumbscrew location interferes with some tying techniques, but I never found it intrusive.
The vise is constructed of machined aluminum and brass, with tool steel jaws, and the design concept is versatility. The angle of the arm that holds the jaws assembly is adjustable to obtain perfect alignment of the hook shank on the axis of rotation, although this can be accomplished between a range of hook sizes by simply locating the hook at the appropriate spot in the jaws. A range of Renzetti accessories is available.
The arm with which you rotate the vise (the "rotary actuator" in Renzetti-speak) is mounted on a one-way roller bearing so that the vise may be turned by pumping the arm through an acute angle, rather than turning the arm through 360 degrees. The utility of this feature is a mystery to me, but the arm can also be locked into position by tightening a knurled knob at the rear of the vise. Tension adjustment on the rotary function is accomplished with a separate thumb screw at the vise barrel.
A clever material clip, consisting of a spring mounted on a brass arm, can be swung into position for use, or tucked out of the way when not in use. It works well. The vise is available with C-clamp or pedestal, both of which are well made, though the optional saltwater pieces should be considered to provide additional stability.
Verdict. The Renzetti Master is among the best in the world, and at a $600 suggested retail price, it should be. My only criticism of the vise is that much of the cost must be related to features that complicate the design for negligible gains in function, but if maximum versatility is your goal, and cost is no obstacle, this vise is in a class by itself. BS
Hans Weilenmann lives in Amstelveen, the Netherlands. He has been a demo tier at many U.S. and International shows since 1985.
Bruce Salzburg lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and is an avid fly tier.
Copyright © 2012 Intermedia Outdoors
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