PEAK Rotary Vise

By Brendan Mason

"SNAAAPPPPP!!!" Within minutes of taking it out of the box, the PEAK vise had passed my first test. I had placed a size 1 stainless steel hook in the jaws, made a quick adjustment to hold it snug, and bent the hook shank around in a circle until it broke. For the type of tying I do, I was sure this would be adequate holding power.

The PEAK vise is a simple, functional in-line rotary vise. There is only one adjustment to worry about; giving you more time tying and less time spent fumbling with adjustments.

This vise has a lot of attractive features given its low price. PEAK manufactures their product in the USA and provides a lifetime warranty. It is constructed stainless steel, brass, and tool steel, with only the set screws being made of Delrin. All exposed surfaces on the vise are smooth, with no burrs or other imperfections. 

A lever-operated cam makes consistent hook tension easy, unlike many other vises in this price range that only have adjustment screws. When closed, the cam solidly locks in position, guaranteeing consistent pressure. The cam also makes the vise easy to use for both right and left-handed tyers, compared to non-cam vises that require flipping the jaws around. The rotary operation is exceptional. The bearings are smooth and the Delrin screw allows for a full range of tension against the rotating shaft.

The included pedestal base is powder-coated in white. At first I wasn't sure if I liked it, but I found the white background to provide excellent contrast for hooks and tying materials. Since I tie on a dark colored desk, I've actually started piling materials up on the pedestal to make them easier to see. That's definitely not its intended purpose, but a winner nonetheless. There is also a small recess in the top that's great for placing hooks or beads to keep them from rolling off the tying desk. The pedestal is heavy and solid, measuring 6” X 6” X ½” and I have not experienced any problems with it moving while tying.

The PEAK vise comes complete with a pedestal base and bobbin rest. If you frequently tie large saltwater flies or tiny midges, I would suggest adding a set of Saltwater or Midge jaws. I found the standard jaws to be perfect for hook sizes 1 through 22. A c-clamp base is available for those who don't want to use the pedestal, and an optional riser allows for height adjustments when using the pedestal base.

There are a couple things I would like to see different in the PEAK vise. I can’t help questioning if the Delrin set screws will ever strip out or break, but so far I have not had any problems. However, Delrin does act as a great contact surface without scarring the metal, so I can certainly see why it was used. Rotation of the vise could be faster if the shaft extended slightly past the handle. It would also be nice if the vise allowed for adjustment of jaw position for aligning different sized hooks with the rotary shaft.

Overall, I am very impressed with the PEAK vise. For the retail price of $129.95, I would choose this vise over most others in the under-$250 category. With no unnecessary parts or fanciness, the PEAK vise's beauty lies in its simplicity and function.

Peak Fishing
599 W. 71st St.
Loveland,CO 80538
(970)622-9601
Fax (970)622-9602

www.peakfishing.com

 

Article	079
Created	10-21-2004
Modified	2-1-2006
Author	Brendan Mason
Rating