why a rotary vise ?

Never tied any thing just curious .:scratchhead

Its nice to be able to rotate the jig to see all sides. I don't own one yet but it is on my short list of things. The fixed vise I use is completely serviceable.

I learned on a non-rotary and besides jigs I also tie flies and I've gotten so used to the way I tie don't know if I'd even use the rotary feature if I had one.

I want one because of the reason jwoneil said. Need to be able to rotate and see complete jig. I seem to always have open spot or thin spot of material with my fixed vise. Hands are stiff enough anymore it's hard to hold material properly.

There are more reasons actually. Like I have found some kinds of chenille seem to go on better if I use turning the vise and not making wraps like usual. It's for sure nice to see all sides and o use the rotating for every jig I tie. I use it at the end when I place that drop of glue on, I tilt mine 90 degrees and hands free use my glue dropper. It's not something that slows me down because it's just how I have tied since I got started. I especially like to see hair as well as marabou jigs from the bottom to see better my adjustment if needed. I could go one for a while, but it's an individual thing to pick a vise and even the type and brand so do what your gut tells you and decide to live with that choice for a while!

good luck,

Skip

Tying chenille!!! Go to stumps videos and watch how fast he puts a jig together......I am sure he goes faster but the rotary makes life easier pending on your styles you want to normally tie!
Like Skip's says rotating the jig to see how all sides look prior to final is very nice. Lots of pro's........ You starting talking vices.....this could be a long string!!!!!!!

One more thing to think about when buying a vise or pretty much anything else. You get what you pay for in most circumstances and usually the more you pay, then more you get! I have found that very true with a vise. I started with a Danvise and yes they have changed a lot in the last 11 years. I lasted a year on that, but it's mostly plastic and a bit bulky so I wanted something better and bought a Renzetti Saltwater Traveler with cam jaw, love it a lot, have also tied on a Peak and am a dealer for them, but after a year on the Renzetti I saw the videos made by Norm Norlander (Maker of the (Nor-Vise) and the way he could do dubbing on that thing was amazing to me so had to have one and I still tie on it. What makes it special is you can spin this vise where others you can not actually spin with just a finger and thumb! That is what makes it really special and also allows you to do things different. Anyone interested can go to that site and see videos that will amaze. Don't unless your ready to lay down $300 for one and that doesn't include the other heads they make for that vise of which I have most of them, but really don't need tp any of them unless you want to do something like tube flies.

I can't expand on what Skip has said so far. Spot on. I have been the other side of the coin, my first vise was a Renzetti similar to Skips that I was offered when I said I was looking for a vise. Spinning on chenille is a snap, and when tying hair I can rotate it to make sure I get even coverage. I would have turned out some crummy hair jigs without it. Several good ones available without giving up the farm. Resale on a good vise is good too so it's not a loss should you change your mind or go a different direction.

Everyone has hit on about all the uses of a rotary vise. With tying jigs and flies I use the rotary everyday and tying chenille on jigs can be real easy once you get use to doing it. I use the rotary for making clear goo bodies on jigs also. Makes life easy to end up with a nice even body. Skip said it right about getting what you pay for in a vise like any good tools of any trade. I have bought and tied on a $45 rotary to the Peak, Atlas and now using the Renzetti and plan to buy another vise I have my eyes on, not because I need it but just want it. Anything you can buy to make the craft enjoyable to you is money well spent.