Beginner's fly-tying question

Martin · Beginner's fly-tying question

ok, those who know, please feel free to fall about laughing - I have the simplest ever beginner's question (Google seems unwilling to answer me, and a Youtube video halts after 3 seconds.....)
You've got your vice, attached to the table, and there's the pointed clampy end with a split up the middle, ready to receive your hook....... There's a big adjustable knurled wheel, and an "over centre" device that controls the clamping bits, with three positions - open, really tight, and "over centre" (that's a bit looser than "really tight") - so how do I tighten the vice to make sure the hook is securely held? - use the "over centre device"? (what's worrying me is that I don't want to place unnecessary mechanical strain on it)
You may now fall about!

Smooth Hound

no only joking, not sure what you mean though

just get it to hold the hook anyway you can, as long as its being held so youve got 2 free hands, i wouldnt have thought a bit of pressure would be a problem.

Martin

I'll try to explain - the big knurly wheel controls how "tight" the jaws are when clamped tight - you've then got this lever that goes open- really tight - over-centred, not quite as tight...........So, I want it to clamp the hook really tight so it doesn't fall out or wobble when being "tied" - if I tighten up the knurly wheel, and insert the hook, and then operate the lever it gets really tight, then loosens off a bit when it's gone past "over centre" - swift experimentation suggests that it's got to be blooming tight to achieve "held fast" status, and it seemed to be rather "mechanically unkind", and wondered if I'd missed something (or whether they're "built to take it")

Smooth Hound

sorry, not sure,

Townie

Hi Martin...

When I first started out tying flies, I had the same problems as you, it's just a case of fiddling around with it until you get a grip on the hook that you are happy with. My vice has the gnarled wheel and a lever, I set the wheel so that it the end of the vice was all but closed then when I adjusted the lever to clamp onto the hook It had a good hold.

I have quite a hard grip set with mine, so that once the hook is clamped i can ping the eye end of the hook and it makes a wee tune (if u know what i mean). You do need a fairly hard grip so that when you are winding on your thread the head end doesnt dip, its trial and error but once you've got it, that'll be you set to go.

Also it depends on your vice, my first vice was crap, but it did me, until I got really into tying flies, read loads of books and mags and saw something that I felt met my needs etc...

Did you manage to negotiate the fly tying bundle you were after? and if you did what did you get in it?

kimmie

used to use a fly tying clamp when i work for Orvis, They were made to save that problem, unfortunatly they didnt sell them and not many branches had them to use.(please bare in mind it was years ago...at least 17!...oh now i feel old!

)
have you tried using two small pieces of wood between the clamps, the hook can be held stead fast in them?

Martin

I've got a lightly-used "Gordon Griffiths" outfit with lots of "extras" - the vice appears very well-made. I had another "go" last night fertling with it, and decided that the "middle" position of the lever (the tightest spot) was best - it holds the needle really tight (very "pingable") and didn't make me wince at the thought I was straining it..... Also very grateful I got a book with it that explained what was which in the way of tools that came with it - the bobbin holders are exquisitely made, - without the book, the "whip finishing tool" would be a source of complete wonderment for months as to it's use.....