HMH STANDARD VICE
- Thread starter hectortmc
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Heritage-Angler
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Yep, I have one. It's a very well made vise, guaranteed for life (including the jaws). It has a longer chassis design than the Spartan, and this makes for more room to position your hand when tying materials in.
The quick change jaws are a plus, and their midge jaws are the best on the market.
My only beef with it is that the hook adjustment setting needs to be readjusted after several of the same size hooks are tied on. No big deal, and takes a fraction of a second.
The jaws grip well - the omni jaw it comes with will work fine for all but the extremes of hook ranges. They're very durable, and don't deform at all, as long as you insert the hook one hook thickness inside the edge of the jaw, or more.
I have a Renzetti, HMH, Regal, and Dyna King, and the HMH would be my favorite, but I like the true rotary capability of my Renzetti better...
The quick change jaws are a plus, and their midge jaws are the best on the market.
My only beef with it is that the hook adjustment setting needs to be readjusted after several of the same size hooks are tied on. No big deal, and takes a fraction of a second.
The jaws grip well - the omni jaw it comes with will work fine for all but the extremes of hook ranges. They're very durable, and don't deform at all, as long as you insert the hook one hook thickness inside the edge of the jaw, or more.
I have a Renzetti, HMH, Regal, and Dyna King, and the HMH would be my favorite, but I like the true rotary capability of my Renzetti better...
Heritage-Angler
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These guys are awesome:
http://www.bearsden.com/page503.html
That's cheaper than I got mine for. :roll:
HMH's bobbin cradle is kind of cheesy - it's a plastic "square" with screws and a stainless wire. This one is much nicer (all brass), and cheaper, too.
If you get a small o-ring that fits snugly on the shaft of your vise, you can rest the bobbin cradle base on it, and flip it out of the way easily, without it sliding up or down...
http://www.bearsden.com/page503.html
That's cheaper than I got mine for. :roll:
HMH's bobbin cradle is kind of cheesy - it's a plastic "square" with screws and a stainless wire. This one is much nicer (all brass), and cheaper, too.
If you get a small o-ring that fits snugly on the shaft of your vise, you can rest the bobbin cradle base on it, and flip it out of the way easily, without it sliding up or down...
Heritage-Angler
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Heritage-Angler
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Agreed, Franklin.
The ebay jaws, and the Feathercraft bobbin cradle are the way to fly (no pun intended).
I used to have that nice Feathercraft bobbin cradle, but I gave it to LRSABecker with his starter vise. I don't use a bobbin cradle with my HMH, since I don't use it for rotary tying.
I also have the background plate, and use it for photographing flies.
The ebay jaws, and the Feathercraft bobbin cradle are the way to fly (no pun intended).
I used to have that nice Feathercraft bobbin cradle, but I gave it to LRSABecker with his starter vise. I don't use a bobbin cradle with my HMH, since I don't use it for rotary tying.
I also have the background plate, and use it for photographing flies.
Heritage-Angler
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I don't use the background plate while I tie.
A good trick to use if you DO need one, is to buy a pack of assorted color construction paper at a craft store, and cut it to fit the background plate. A paper clamp (those black clamps with the chrome folding arms) holds it on the plate nicely. Depending on the color of the fly, you should be able to find a color that gives good contrast...
franklin
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I have the backing plates as well. I find them a pain to use while tying. Restricts access to the vice for various tying operations. My eyes are degrading as well. I find that using reading glasses with lots of light at various positions works best. In the winter I tie in the family room using a cheap Wallymart pole lamp with three bulbs. In the basement I have several large florescent fixtures to flood the area.
