What’s so good about tungsten in fly tying? Can I just forget about tungsten and not care? I have gold beads, plastic beads, cones, dumbells, weighted wire…with all of this can I just ignore tungsten? Are tungsten beads all that much better?
Jim
Tungsten is another type of metallic element (like lead, iron, tin, aluminum, etc). It’s used, in alloyed & composite forms, to add weight to a fly. Since tungsten is more dense than even lead, you get more weight with less bulk, without the well known toxicity of lead.
Disadvantages include that it’s hard to work with in a pure elemental state (melting & working temps are hotter than those of iron), meaning that you cant really use pure tungsten and enjoy the benefits. Rather you have to use an alloy (mixing with a less dense metal) or a composite (commonly tungsten powder mixed into an elastic or a paste-type medium), which will lessen the density, reducing the benefit. Also, tungsten is far less common than lead, and we have few, if any domestic natural sources for tungsten, meaning it must be imported, most often form China. This makes tungsten quite expensive when compared to lead.
see my answers in red
I hate to keep tooting this horn, but, due to the outlandish cost of tungsten beads, I found a nice way to use traditional brass beads and tuck some non-lead wire wraps inside the bead which makes it actually a bit heavier than tungsten and a whole lot cheaper. This also solves the problem of extra thread wraps inside the bead prior to finishing the fly. here’s the link to what I’m trying to explain:
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/fotw/2009/fotw20091228.php
Just my opinion. I know there are many who advocate the use of tungsten beads, but I just can’t justify the cost, and my flies still seem to catch a lot of fish…
Kelly.
kglissmeyer, I saw that you posted that in another of these threads…its kind of funny: I thought that was the standard way to do it! 
Never really thought of just putting thread back there to keep the bead in place.
Kglis, Cold, and Normand
Thanks for the replies. Makes sense to me. I just saw the word tungsten tossed around a lot, but didn’t know what benefits it was for.
Good explanation Cold.
Kgliss…also good. I read your other post about tucking wire into the bead…but didn’t register much. Sometimes you need a bigger bat to beat it into my skull. I understood it first time around, but didn’t think much more on it. Now I really want to do some flies that way. It’s all good man.
Like it. Somehow reading it again on this thread hit home.
Nice Normand…succinct…just heavier…that’s all.
Thanks you guys.
Jim
Yes, tungsten is “just” heavier, but isn’t that the whole point?
Add a few wraps of lead to brass is one way to compensate, but that’s comparing apples to oranges. If I added a few wraps of lead to a tungsten bead, it would be even heavier yet as well.
If you think it is important to get the fly down as fast as possible, then tungsten beads (which is really the only useable form other than putty, which I don’t like dealing with) are a must as long as the cost/benefit ratio is reasonable to you. Can’t say I use tungsten beads on my “everyday” nymphs, but I do use it in instances when I want to make sure the fly is going to sink fast or in a situation where currents are tricky and having that little extra bit of tension on the line can make a difference in hook ups.
Lot’s of vendors sell tungsten beads cheap enough that the cost is not as onerous as some make it out to be.
Jim -
Just a follow up - tungsten beads are noticeably heavier than other metal beads of the same size, and in and of themselves are probably heavier than the combo of metal beads with lead wraps ( which is a method I also use ). It’s easier to tie with just tungsten, you have less bulk, and you will end up with a fly that will sink faster for the size of the bead on it.
The downside is cost. I forget just what the differential is, but it is a LOT more to buy tungsten beads than other metal beads. It may be worth it for a limited number of situations, e.g. getting a fly down very fast in faster currents, but overall doesn’t seem to make a lot of cents ( pun intended ) to me.
John