Danica DanVise

[riffleriversteelheadslayer 0]

I have a danvise and like Pk stated just harden the steel by heating it with a torch then dropping it in a bucket of water and as far as the plastic screws they were replaced by steel ones before they broke seems smart to me doh its plastic don't yah think it might break as for is it good enough to tie on I do all my deerhair work on it and all my trout flies and I tie an average of 100 dozen flies a year but as stated before without the arm extensions its to short to tie the deer hair poppers with tails

[whatfly 0]

I can get a brand new Apex for $85 and a Griffin Odessy (I am not talking about the cam version) for $70-85 at my local retailer. Not exactly pennies below $100. I think both vices are certainly "Quality Choices."

All I was meant was that there are good choices below the $100 dollar mark, especially for a beginner.

Not wanting to belabor the point, but I'm still waiting for a real example. Take a look at http://www.anvilusa.com/ for the price of the Apex. Note: I specifically said "retail" not the lowest price available, nor used, and by the way have you actually tied on one? I have, hence why I discounted it as a possibility regardless of price. Furthermore I'm sure the Odessy is a good vise but it is still has the knob adjustment instead of a cam. The difference in performance between the two is enough to disqualify it from consideration. Again, it will serve and last but it is little better than the venerable Griffin 2A.

 

You raise a 2nd point that I must also take exception with, seeing how you decided to change the topic. Why should a beginner settle for a suboptimal vise? If you are going to buy a vise you are still better off getting the best vise you can, beginner or not. The resale value of vises is high enough that the cost if not all that different if you are worried about not liking tying, and if you do continue to tie, then you have bought a vise that will last lifetime, not a couple of years at best.

 

Any one reading this thread should be able to glean from this exchange that there really aren't any good candidates under $100, right now. Pay the extra few dollars now, or pay more later. That simple.

[oldtrout58 0]

I was given a Danvise two years ago by a friend who did not like it at all. I've used it as a travel vise without a single issue. I've probably only tied 100 or so flies on it and none larger than size 16. I think it's a great vise for the price I paid. Actually, I think it's a very nice tool, but I have not pushed it to its limits.

 

That being said, for home I've used a Dyna King for many years and recently purchase an HMH Spartan as an "upgrade" to the Danvise for travel.

Unfortunately, the Spartan is such an awesome vise (in my opinion), it will likely replace the Dyna King (which is great too) for most of trout fly tying.

I would recommend you pay a little more than $100 and pick up an HMH Spartan or a Dyna King. I think in the long run you'll be happy you did.

[flykid 0]

but I'm still waiting for a real example

 

Here's a couple examples...

 

http://www.griffinenterprisesinc.com/vises.html Odyssey Spyder for $85 :: The knob adjustment instead of cam IS NOT enough to take it out of the running. That is a preference thing, not quality. I've seen this vice and heard good things about it, I am absolutely sure that would be a really nice starter vice for any beginner. It may even last them throughout their tying career. A beginner can either get a nice solid vice such as this one for a decent price to get them started in their hobby or they can go all out and get an expensive vice that they may end up having to sell anyway cause they don't enjoy tying as much as they thought they would. To start you don't need premium equipment. You need something serviceable and quality. If you can't find a vice that meets those two criteria to start on then you seem to set some rediculous standards for a starter vice.

 

http://www.dhthompson.com/vises/modela.htm Check this out too. A vice that so many people have started on and still have going today. If you can't reccomend a rotary vice to beginners than this will certainly work. You can't argue the quality of this vice cause I guarantee lots of people will back them up. They are bullet proof. An ideal vice for beginners, well under $100.

 

Off my soapbox

[WiscoRon 0]

I'm also the proud owner of a brand new broken Danvise.

 

The basic problem for me is that the lever that tightens the jaws works from front to back, so that when you work the lever to secure the hook, the whole head assembly rotates to the back. I think that would be ok, if you had three hands: one to hold the hook in place, another to work the lever and the third to hold the head so it doesn't rotate away. The solution, I see from the enclosed DVD, is to hand tighten the rings on the rotating assembly until it's stationary. (Not much of a rotating vise at that point, but I'm willing to compromise.) But, before reaching the point where the jaw assembly was stationary, I heard a "pop" and the thing fell apart. Seems that the screw that runs through the head broke.

 

Before buying this thing, I read a bunch of rave reviews. Now that it broke, I did a Web search and found out that breaking this screw is a fairly common problem. And, that's how I came across this thread.

 

So, if anyone still wants a Danvise, let me know. I have a nearly new one for sale. It comes in two pieces and might make a good paper weight.

 

This is a follow-up. I'm the guy who broke the Danvise, right out of the box.

 

The eBay seller replaced the broken part, quickly and with no questions asked. He didn't have to do that. I, after all, broke the damn thing.

 

With that said, what I broke was a PLASTIC screw that adjusts the rotating tension and holds the whole thing together. And, it didn't take much to break it. I was hand-tightening the mechanism to stop the rotation. This, in my view, is a serious weakness. I don't yet know if, like others have said, the jaws are soft. I'll have to tie a bunch of flies to find out. On the other hand, one of the things that attracted me to the Danvise is the claim that it firmly holds very small and very large hooks, without extra jaws. It seems to do that.

 

So, what do you say aboout excellent service on a not-so-good product? One thing. I'm pretty sure this won't be one of the pieces of fly fishing equipment that I'll pass on to my grandchildren.

[kyflytyer 0]

I don't have a DanVise but a friend of mine bought one last summer. I have tied on it on several occaisions and find it to be a capable vise, especially for the money. The only problem he has had with it is that he left it out in the sun too long and it melted. Seriously, though, I would prefer to have a metal vise. You might want to look into an Anvil Apex (about $100). They are built like a tank and are made in the US. Before you buy any vise, I suggest that you try it out if you can. Everyone has their own tying style and just because a vise is the cat's meow for me, doesn't mean that it will be for you also.

[glm38 0]

I can get a brand new Apex for $85 and a Griffin Odessy (I am not talking about the cam version) for $70-85 at my local retailer. Not exactly pennies below $100. I think both vices are certainly "Quality Choices."

All I was meant was that there are good choices below the $100 dollar mark, especially for a beginner. Nuff said

 

 

 

Jan

 

I agree with you about the Apex. And I think another good quality vice well under $100 would be the Peak non rotary vice. I've heard it is exactly the same quality as the Peak rotary. I've got the Peak rotary and it is the best vice I've used even over a couple that cost 2-3 times as much. And if a person doesn't mind trolling ebay perfectly good used Thompson A and B vices can be had for $20 or less. I've got one of each and while they don't do rotary they both work great (rock solid at holding hooks).

 

VERY possible to get a good quality metal vice for less then $100.

 

Greg

 

[smallieFanatic 0]

Oh yeah forgot about the Peak. That is a sweet looking tool! And for around $85 too...

I still have the first vise I ever got...its a Colorado Anglers Supreme Vise and it still holds a hook rock solid. :dunno: