moucheur2003 0 Report post Posted September 28, 2015 So last night I was trying to tie up some beadhead nymphs using 5/64" beads on #18 curved scud hooks, and my big fingers simply could not manage the tiny beads and hooks. I dropped 3 beads on the floor before I finally managed to thread the 4th one onto the hook. Is there a simple, easy method for putting small beads on small hooks? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wavey1988 0 Report post Posted September 28, 2015 bit of magnet on a wooden ice lolly stick. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RickZieger 0 Report post Posted September 28, 2015 I use a 2 pairs of needle nose pliers. One holds the hook an the other the bead. Rick Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rstout 0 Report post Posted September 28, 2015 I use a small plate (saucer). I place the beads in the saucer and with a pair of hackle pliers on the hook, I rotate the hook until it aligns with the hole in the bead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kimo 0 Report post Posted September 28, 2015 Check this new tool out.Kimo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OLD BUD 0 Report post Posted September 28, 2015 Put hook in vise upside down.pick up bead with forceps & slip on.Some times will need to crip barb a little.Glass & rubber beads wet finger tip & press bead on tip then onto hook. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dubs 0 Report post Posted September 28, 2015 I lay the bead in the palm of me left hand and use my right to get the hook point in. Yes sometimes the barbs need a tiny pinch, sometimes a little pressure gets them past. Usually no problem tho. If I try and hold the bead its usually too small to pinch and see, and not rotate. If I grab it with something I've launched them Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jokey 0 Report post Posted September 28, 2015 They do make bead tweezers and while I don't use them myself we do sell a lot of them here. J Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted September 28, 2015 i just swear every time my finger gets pricked by the hook point! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FIN-ITE 34 0 Report post Posted September 28, 2015 Watch the Tightlines Productions video. The beginning shows what you are looking for. https://vimeo.com/130887769 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted September 28, 2015 use wire instead Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
moucheur2003 0 Report post Posted September 29, 2015 Thanks to all for the suggetions. I tried putting the bead in my left palm as Dubs does, and holding the hook in an electrical clip as shown in the Tightlines video that Fin-ite shared, and that seems to work pretty well for me. I was 4 for 4 tonight with no lost beads. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
add147 0 Report post Posted September 29, 2015 flytire, Good idea...Never thought about using wire as a bead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jaydub 0 Report post Posted September 29, 2015 I lay the bead in the palm of me left hand and use my right to get the hook point in. This works very well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crackaig 0 Report post Posted September 29, 2015 Important thing to note. ...trying to tie up some beadhead nymphs... That is production tying. Ak Best defined production tying as when you are tying more than one of a pattern. In production tying it is more efficient to get any preparation steps done first before you start the actual tying. That would include putting all the beads on all the hooks you are going to use. There are special tweezers for handling beads, called Bead Nabbers. They are blunt point tweezers that have a recess inside the tips for handling beads. These work great with larger beads. Smaller beads sit inside the recesses and the tweezers close around them, preventing you from getting the hook through the bead. For the smaller beads I simply tip the required number of beads onto a small plate, manipulate them with tweezers so they are sat on their recessed hole, and, using tweezers to handle the hooks, pick the beads up with the points of the hook. You may find probe clips better to handle the hooks as in the video. If you use a magnet on a stick I would have serious doubts about your beads. Usually beads are made from brass, or tungsten. Neither of which are magnetic. If you are picking beads up with a magnet then what is mixed in with the material that is making them magnetic? It must be steel or nickel. If you can pick either up with a magnet then you have lower quality alloy beads. High quality tungsten or brass beads, can not be picked up with a magnet. Tungsten steel beads which are magnetic will be significantly lighter than pure tungsten. If you have magnetic brass it will probably be nickel that is mixed in. This will make them an even greater proportion lighter. Cheers, C. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites