How to make a jig tying vice

[M_A_C_K]

Here is how you can make a portable jig/fly tying vice with house held items.

Things you will need:
1. Clothes pin
2. Electrical tape
3. Rubber bands
4. a stick 18 inches long
5. A file

1. First you need to file down the tip of the clothes pin down so that the whole tip is pressing together completely.
2. Now file all sides of the clothes pin down at an angle coming to a point.
3. Now take the clothes pin and tape it to the top of the stick so that the clothes pin opens and closes sideways. Tape it back and forth in an X shape so that it holds the clothes pin firmly at a slight upward angle.
4. Now take a rubber band and place it around close to the spring of the pin and make sure you twist the rubber band and rewrap it untill tight. Add another 2-3 rubber bands until desired holding strength.

Now you have a jig/fly tying vice that fits comfortably in between your legs that you can use anywhere, and all made simply with common house held materials.

[Bassboss]

AWESOME!!! Looks great mack! I'm definitely gonna do this next time I get bored, lol!

I catch a lot of fish after those boring days, lol!

[bamabassman]

nice mack. that is very helpful for real.

got a question for ya if oyu don't mind.


you ever tie cork popping flies? if so, how is htis done. how do you get the hook in and so forth? i am interested in this for real.

[islandbass]

Man, that is cool and functional! WTG, Mack!

It reminds me of when I made that thingofabob that holds your bobbin when you need to free your hand (I don't know its formal name). I made it crudely, but it is fully functional. I might refine it some day but it works.

It is the contraption constructed out of wood in the pic that is holding up the bobbin.

[M_A_C_K]

Thanks Islandbass, It really is a good vice even if it looks like total crap lol... I couldn't find any tutorials on making a tying vice on the net so I thought maybe If I did I might actually help a lot of people looking for one the same as I was... And this is a vice that anyone can make cuz the materials are in almost every home.

[islandbass]

Thanks to you, actually. I am going to build one per your specs and use it so that I can let my daughter the "real" one. She has expressed interest.

I just love great ideas like yours. It also reminds me of how my brother and I used to make rubber band guns with rubber bands and clothes pins.

[M_A_C_K]

Originally Posted by islandbass

Thanks to you, actually. I am going to build one per your specs and use it so that I can let my daughter the "real" one. She has expressed interest.

I just love great ideas like yours. It also reminds me of how my brother and I used to make rubber band guns with rubber bands and clothes pins.

Thats made the tutorial worth it right there.

[bamabassman]

mack, i want to see if maybe i can make some cork popper. will this work as well for that? and how does one get the hook IN the cork? have you ever done a cork popping fly?

[M_A_C_K]

Originally Posted by bamabassman

mack, i want to see if maybe i can make some cork popper. will this work as well for that? and how does one get the hook IN the cork? have you ever done a cork popping fly?

I have never made a cork popper, but as the way they look I imagine you slip it on by pushing it thru the hook point and using head cement or clear nail polish to hold it in place. But yeah after you get the cork on it You would need something to hold it then probably neddle feed the legs/hairs/feathers ect. but yeah you would need a vice for the fine work.

[bamabassman]

Thnaks mack. I am going to do some research on it as soon as i can. Your work is inspiring me,lol.

[M_A_C_K]

Glad I can