Cheap tungsten beads???

[Wavey1988 0]

I've been happy with Allens beads, I've also used beads from http://www.tungsten-beads-plus.com/ which are UK based. Good resource for UK members, not sure they would be cheaper State side. Good source of synthetic flash at the moment only 75p.

 

 

Piker mate, thank you!!! Cheap flash is best flash

[Piker20 0]

Yeah not a bad site. Quick postage too.

[Crackaig 0]

Some thoughts on all this. Why do we need tungsten beads? There can be only one reason. It makes the fly sink. Well a hook is steel, and a standard brass bead gets it down well enough. The reason for tungsten then, is that you are adding lots of buoyant material to the hook. So if you tie the fly using sinking materials rather than buoyant ones there really isn't any need for tungsten. What's cheaper than not buying them?

Here is a very fast sinking damsel nymph I tie.

It is on a standard shank size 10 and sinks like a brick. It is very heavy but only uses a standard brass bead. In fact is you are not using a fast strip you had better have at least 8 to 12 feet of water in front of you, or you will catch bottom. Even faster sinking flies can be made. This type of grayling bug will bounce along the bottom as well as any made with tungsten. Even the dubbing at the head is metal! They are almost indestructible as well.

I haven't had to use tungsten in three years now.

Cheers,

C.

[Machocheese 0]

Has anyone used the ones from "Brite Beads" over at the big auction site? It's $28 for 200 mix and match size and color.

 

I usually go with the poor man approach myself, save for the real little stuff.

[Roofish 0]

I get most of my beads from here:

 

http://www.allenflyfishing.com/tungsten-ball-beads/

 

 

That is the normal price, I have not seen it go off of sale. Lots of sizes and they usually have a few more colors than that. For 100 beads that would be around $15, but shipping is free.

Thanx for that link

[BrookTroutAngler 0]

I get most of my beads from here:

 

http://www.allenflyfishing.com/tungsten-ball-beads/

 

 

That is the normal price, I have not seen it go off of sale. Lots of sizes and they usually have a few more colors than that. For 100 beads that would be around $15, but shipping is free.

Thanx for that link

 

 

Glad someone appreciated it. I have used allen beads and hooks, and they are killer for the price.

[Chris Patterson 0]

Has anyone used the ones from "Brite Beads" over at the big auction site? It's $28 for 200 mix and match size and color.

 

I usually go with the poor man approach myself, save for the real little stuff.

 

Been thinking about trying those out too. If you take the plunge let us know how it goes.

[SilverCreek 0]

 

I only buy my beads from this guy. http://www.flysite.co.nz/store/7/Tungsten-Products He's in NZ, but his prices can't be beat, even when you factor in shipping.

 

His prices are in NZ dollars. He also sells on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tungsten-Fly-Tying-Beads-100-size-3-0-mm-7-64-/180491224350?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a061d851e

 

 

I ordered from him and was disappointed. I didn't order the Tungsten but the brass beads. The brass beads were dull and not bright like the photos. My black beads had some brass beads in them and they were not the deep black nickel finish like Canadian Llama. Plus they came a week later than promised.

 

The good part was the price which was cheap, and about what the beads were worth. So they are cheap but of lower quality in my opinion.

 

I'll stick with http://www.canadianllama.com/ and pay more.

[switch10 0]

 

I only buy my beads from this guy. http://www.flysite.co.nz/store/7/Tungsten-Products He's in NZ, but his prices can't be beat, even when you factor in shipping.

 

His prices are in NZ dollars. He also sells on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tungsten-Fly-Tying-Beads-100-size-3-0-mm-7-64-/180491224350?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a061d851e

 

 

I ordered from him and was disappointed. I didn't order the Tungsten but the brass beads. The brass beads were dull and not bright like the photos. My black beads had some brass beads in them and they were not the deep black nickel finish like Canadian Llama. Plus they came a week later than promised.

 

The good part was the price which was cheap, and about what the beads were worth. So they are cheap but of lower quality in my opinion.

 

I'll stick with http://www.canadianllama.com/ and pay more.

Hmm, interesting. He must have a different supplier for brass beads. I have never ordered any so I can only speak for his tungsten beads. Which I've ordered about a thousand or so... I have never had any problem with them, and they are comparable quality-wise to the big name, $7/25 tungsten beads I get from my local shop.

 

Here are his tungsten beads in size 2mm, and 1.5mm.

[vmthtr in green bay 0]

I use Allen when they have them in stock. Hooks are always in stock, Tung beads not so much. I signed up for an account there and get a discount for Military and save. When Allen doesn't have them I get them from http://www.theflyfishing-store.com/servlet/the-Beads-cln-Tungsten-Beads/Categories

[Chris Patterson 0]

Started grabbing up the MFC tungsten wherever I can find the right sizes and colors in stock. Really top quality and about half the typical cost. You can probably get them cheaper but I already saddled myself with 100 cheapos that I can hardly bear to use. After that experience I'm not as enthusiastic about the lowest price options.