I have always wanted to try a Norvise Rotary Vise for some time now, and almost bought one several times, so when I was contacted by a Friend to see if I would like to Demo the vise for 30 days I jumped on the opportunity.
This review is the initial review and thoughts as I open the box for the first time, assemble the Vise and tie a fly on it. I will give a summary of the pros and cons I found after using the vise for 20 minutes so in no way is this my solid opinion, but rather my initial thoughts. As I mention in the video, sometimes we become so fixed in our tying techniques and habits that trying something new is different and difficult. The example I gave is at first I hated the Slide Stacker for deer and elk hair, now it is my favorite stacker and I use it all the time.
Pros:
1. Assembly Time: From the box to tying was really short, I think I said "Wicked Short". I think it might have taken me 3 minutes having never assembled one before. I used the photo of Cares and Tips that it was sent with as a reference.
2. Waste Basket: This is the coolest waste basket. It fits perfectly and hangs right off my desk and I think that this alone might sell me into purchasing one of these. The discarded materials can simply be slid or dropped into the basket with ease and even the elk hair fluff vacuumed out with ease.
3. The Locking Hub: This I think will be a learning love hate relationship. I love that I can pop the hub out, rotate it 90-180 degrees and lock it back in. With my other vises I have used, once loosened, it will continue to rotate freely and need to be tightened to lock it back into a position to tie in a material or trim out some hair. The hate relationship is my big hands kept bumping it out so it would spin freely when I didn't intend to, so this will take some adjusting on my end or maybe I didn't have something tightened correctly.
4. The Bobbin Holder: This is what I have always wanted to do with the vise. I love that it is a fast set bobbin holder at a distance I can still work with the fly. I do believe I will have to try it with the Norvise Bobbin to maximize the efficiency of this part of the vise.
5. The Vise head: There were several things I liked about this, the first being that it was easy to adjust, easy to set the hook, and it held a size 10 with "pinging/plucking" power right off the bat. Secondly, swapping out the head, that is later seen in the video was pretty easy. Even putting the head in upside down was easy LOL.
6. Workbench: I like the workbench and the space it gives you. I've tried several work bench's but never had a dedicated tying desk so this is nice that it covers the working area I will be using.
Cons:
1. Bobbin Holder: I am not used to having a fast set pole right where my right hand is used to setting scissors and tools. This will take some getting used to the placement, but I understand this is a con simply because it is something I am not used to (personal problem not the vise).
2. Work Bench: its is pretty light so it kept moving around. I don't see an option on their website for a different/ heavier workbench but I am sure I know a few woodworkers that could easily make one for me. The pro is that it is light and can be moved or packed for travel easily.
3. No Tool Storage: This also goes along with the workbench, but there is no where to place all my tools I commonly use. It would be easy to drill some holes in the top of the bench to make places for bobbins, bodkins, resin, wire spools, etc., etc. A solution right now would be to get out one of my old tool caddies to have right next to the vise but it would be cool to see tool storage or maybe it might get in the way as I use the vise more.
As a reminder, these are just my initial thoughts and I have only used the vise for maybe 20 minutes and tied only 1 fly. I plan to use the vise for the next 30 days and have a better opinion and also try to utilize some of the main features that I see many of the tyers out there doing such as dubbing the thread using the rotary function etc. I am sure that some of my cons and pros might shift or go away or maybe there will be new ones.
For those who are interested in my experience, I have tied primarily on Renzetti and Regal Vises for 3-4 years, having tried several different models. I have also tried other vises, such as combo kits from the Sporting goods stores. I love tools and consider myself a tool junkie.
If you have any questions or comments please do it below.
#flytying #flyfishing #flytyer #tyingoneflyaday #svendflies #norvise
