Thinking about starting this addictive thing...

Okay, I've been lerking around here...alot. Reading, picking up things here and there. Looking at my first vise. I have found a "danvise" rotary on ebay and was wondering if that would be good to start with? And what is a tying station? I have not seen that anywhere. What are some other brands for less than 100 that would be good to get?? After reading everything I am going to get a rotary and ceriamic bobbins. I have seen kits and such but most come with on a few things that you guys recommend...is it better to just piece it together as you go?? Thanks guys! :)

a tying station is just where you do your tying at, (desk table bench, where your set-up is). I started with a Bass pro kit that was $60.00, Still using the same vise added a bobbin, whip finisher, and a few other items. The materials that come with it were limited I now have about 25 colors of chenille, a dozen or so packs of maribou, about as many colors of thread and floss. You can start like that the improve your equipment as you go along. Here is a link to a station you might like or you can make something of your own.
Pedestal Base Fly Tying Station

Scrapper, I think ejones1961 privided a good link for you.
I tie on a Peak and now have all the bells and whistles on it. I started out with a cheap vise from Cabelas and it served me well. I have these visions of making a tying station, but haven't got it done yet.
The tying station he provided will be all you need in a vise to start out. ole Mike

Thanks guys...I have a shop I'm going to set it up in...I have a wooden work bench that makes a U in the back of the shop. 8' long a piece. Thats good, I didn't know if there was a big something I was missing...lol. I'll be getting into this soon I think....will be the PERFECT...stay out from in front of the TV thing...lol.

hey folks... let's help scrapper out by posting up pics of our tying areas... seeing this will give everyone lots of ideas of what they can do with what they have!!! I'll post mine up this evening!!

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Originally Posted by AWMiller

hey folks... let's help scrapper out by posting up pics of our tying areas... seeing this will give everyone lots of ideas of what they can do with what they have!!! I'll post mine up this evening!!

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AW...man thats a great idea!! I'm excited to see these pics! I started a thread above so maybe some more folks will post their pics. Thanks alot!

I tied my first 100 or so using vise grips!LOL! Finally bought a cheap vise from Barlows that does what I need. Look at Cabelas bargain cave section, they had a couple of tying stations on sale for under $50.

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Originally Posted by sticksteer

I tied my first 100 or so using vise grips!LOL! Finally bought a cheap vise from Barlows that does what I need. Look at Cabelas bargain cave section, they had a couple of tying stations on sale for under $50.

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He is telling the truth VISE GRIPS :D:D

Man o Man you're in trouble now once you get started your hooked big time. If you don't want to deal with ebay check out a bunch of the fly tying sites in their for sale sections. You may find a really good vise there.

If you have a fly shop in your area take a basic class it will really help you alot. If you don't check out Fly anglers online and take some of the basic tying course stuff.

Welcome to the addiction

Fatman

I got a vise from cabelas and it was not bad just make sure if you plan on tying chenille you get a rotary type will be very helpful. and kits are ok but I got one and won't use half the stuff in it but again I only use hair and chenille.

Joe

You might try contacting Skip about what you posted here. He had talked about setting people with entry level tools for crappie jig tying. He may be able to help you out or steer you in the direction you might need to go.

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Originally Posted by FroggerZ

You might try contacting Skip about what you posted here. He had talked about setting people with entry level tools for crappie jig tying. He may be able to help you out or steer you in the direction you might need to go.

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Skip is the one that set me up with everything I needed and nothing I didn't need. I got all my tools and materials to get started, just had to buy a vise and some extra heads.

rotary vises are great for some things, like making sure the hair is distributed evenly around a hook, when tying a hair jig. but you give up some things to get that feature on alot of them. the way alot of rotarys are made, there isn't much room for my clumsy hands behind the hook. that is whats called a true rotary vise by most, however there are other vises that rotate, but arent true rotaries, like some of the dynaking vices. I bought a dynaking voyager 2, and adjusted the head angle to a flat horizontal position, this alows plenty of room for the hand to rest on when holding materials. heck I could have just bought one of their cheaper models in a fixed horizontal position for half the money. but please know that I tied on a cheap kit vice from 1971 till 2005, then went to a 45 dollar griffen that held a hook like grim death. the only thing I wanted or needed a rotating vice for was thr hair jigs. I know everyone has their own opinions about vices and thats why they make so many models. ;)