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Tungsten Beads
Post 08 Sep 2020, 23:14 • #1 
Guide
Joined: 02/05/15
Posts: 262
Location: Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Went to use a new 100 pack of 2.4mm tungsten beads only to find that the hole through the bead is too small to accommodate a #14 or #16 hook. Can the opening be enlarged without shattering the bead?


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Re: Tungsten Beads
Post 09 Sep 2020, 01:00 • #2 
Administrator
Joined: 01/10/06
Posts: 7811
Location: Holly Springs, NC
Doubtful. Tungsten beads are made by fusing powdered tungsten with a binder. I think the beads would likely shatter rather than cut if drilled.


Tom


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Re: Tungsten Beads
Post 09 Sep 2020, 07:56 • #3 
Guide
Joined: 07/19/19
Posts: 176
Yah tungsten is extremely hard; just order different size bead;
Sometimes I've been able to bend the hook barb down and get them on that way; otherwise change bead size.


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Re: Tungsten Beads
Post 09 Sep 2020, 08:49 • #4 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/27/16
Posts: 2327
Location: US-IL
Might have to pinch the barb down or use lighter wire hooks.You can also put the bead on a a thin wire or straight pin and lash it on the hook balanced leech style.The quality of beads can vary greatly also.I mostly use them for micro jig type flies on 60 degree jig hooks.


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Re: Tungsten Beads
Post 09 Sep 2020, 14:40 • #5 
Master Guide
Joined: 02/04/12
Posts: 705
Location: SE Pa
Quote:
Might have to pinch the barb down.......

+1. And the fish will thank you too !


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Re: Tungsten Beads
Post 09 Sep 2020, 21:35 • #6 
Guide
Joined: 02/05/15
Posts: 262
Location: Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Thanks for your input. Was hoping I could salvage the beads. Already use barbless hooks, 2.4mm is the size I normally tie #14 and #16s. I have 2.0mm beads that fit on the same hooks. Guess I just got a bad batch. Maybe I could make a necklace.


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Re: Tungsten Beads
Post 10 Sep 2020, 22:13 • #7 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/31/15
Posts: 1238
Location: Northern Rockies
I've had a batch like that before. If you don't think it looks too badly, you could try them on a size 18 hook. Personally, I like a 2.4 mm bead on a #18. I don't use 2.0 mm until I get down to a size 20 and smaller anyway.


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Re: Tungsten Beads
Post 07 Jul 2021, 11:47 • #8 
New Member
Joined: 07/27/12
Posts: 24
Location: US-OR
I had the same experience and I think when we try to save a few dollars on these things the quality sometime shows up as a negative. I have been having good luck with Togen''s beads in the 50 packs. Hope it's ok on the forum to give someone a plug but those are good folks.
Good luck on that necklace. and sorry you had the problem.


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Re: Tungsten Beads
Post 08 Jul 2021, 18:40 • #9 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/21/06
Posts: 3081
Location: Orygun
Yep, I've had the same problem. I have a pack of 4.0mm beads that only fit over size 12 and under hooks...bought them for some size 4 jig hooks. Ah well, live and learn....spend the extra coin from a reputable source on stuff like that.


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Re: Tungsten Beads
Post 09 Jul 2021, 20:31 • #10 
Sport
Joined: 09/21/13
Posts: 71
Location: US-VT
Slotted beads are working well for me.


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Re: Tungsten Beads
Post 10 Jul 2021, 13:33 • #11 
Master Guide
Joined: 02/04/12
Posts: 705
Location: SE Pa
+1 on slotted beads (with crushed barbs too).


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Re: Tungsten Beads
Post 10 Jul 2021, 17:50 • #12 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/21/06
Posts: 3081
Location: Orygun
yep...slotted




now. even on standard hooks with barbs crushed (which happens prior to even going into the vise). lesson learned on that one...

oddly, I've never had an issue with it until I went with the larger beads, which had the same size hole as the really small ones.


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Re: Tungsten Beads
Post 11 Jul 2021, 13:44 • #13 
Sport
Joined: 12/01/18
Posts: 40
Location: US- Great Smoky Mts of east Tn
Where are slotted beads available? Sounds like something I could use. What sizes do you use?


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Re: Tungsten Beads
Post 14 Jul 2021, 20:26 • #14 
Sport
Joined: 09/21/13
Posts: 71
Location: US-VT
Almost any good online shop will have them. Check with your local-est shop first, I guess.


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Re: Tungsten Beads
Post 15 Jul 2021, 16:14 • #15 
Guide
Joined: 01/19/11
Posts: 223
Location: Ontario, Canada
My diamond grit conical files (purchased at a bead specialty shop) did not enlarge some of my early tungsten beads that were bored with just straight holes.
Tungsten is super hard. Best to purchase the right sized tungsten beads. Countersunk or slotted.


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Re: Tungsten Beads
Post 15 Jul 2021, 18:15 • #16 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/27/16
Posts: 2327
Location: US-IL
Seems they are sourced from different places using different alloys and binding agents .Some are attracted to magnets while some are not.A lot easier to manage the ones that stick to the little pen magnet i use to pick up hooks etc.


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Re: Tungsten Beads
Post 17 Jul 2021, 23:32 • #17 
Master Guide
Joined: 12/29/11
Posts: 510
Location: US-CA
You can always use a brass bead and a little lead wire to get the same sink rate. Tungsten is about 2X heavier than brass. You can also squeeze brass beads with pliers to oval the hole if they don't fit your hooks.


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