Goldhead frustrations

[rusty]

I bought some gold beads at the flyfair. I told the guy they were for size 12 and 14 hooks. He sold me some 3.8mm beads for £3 and assured me they would fit.
I can't get them on any hooks unless I find a hook with a small eye that I can pass the bead over. Then I need to treble the hook shank dia. x3 with silk to stop it falling off. The huge countersunk hole in the back tends to ensure the bead stays loose.
Is there a compatibility table of hook to bead size?
Is there a trick to get them on?
Would we be better crimping them on the hook?
Rusty

[greenock]

Try and de barb the hook. I have some beads that won't go on hooks if i keep the barb on.

[Stuart_B]

Originally Posted by rusty

I bought some gold beads at the flyfair. I told the guy they were for size 12 and 14 hooks. He sold me some 3.8mm beads for £3 and assured me they would fit.
I can't get them on any hooks unless I find a hook with a small eye that I can pass the bead over. Then I need to treble the hook shank dia. x3 with silk to stop it falling off. The huge countersunk hole in the back tends to ensure the bead stays loose.
Is there a compatibility table of hook to bead size?
Is there a trick to get them on?
Would we be better crimping them on the hook?
Rusty

I've just tried a size 16 on a 3mm bead I got from Joel at www.tungsten-beads.co.uk and it went on no problem

As for you mentioning the large hole on one side of the beads I have tried what I saw suggested in here and wind on a good few turns of thread and push it in to the hole and add a small drop of superglue ( and probably varnish as well would do) to stop it moving .
Crimping will just mess the bead up.They are not designed for that

EDIT: You are putting the point of the hook in to the smaller of the two holes in the bead aren't you?

[DaveM]

I might be reading your post wrong but, I read it as if you are trying to push the bead on from the eye end of the hook.
If so try going at it from the point with the smaller hole first.
If I am wrong in this assumption then I appologise now.

Dave

[maharg]

Sometimes the profile of your hook will be against you. If it is not a round bend hook, in most cases, you will struggle.

[fishfinger]

If it had hairs round it you would get it in no bother

[Stuart_B]

Originally Posted by fishfinger

If it had hairs round it you would get it in no bother

Tut tut...and you from Glasgow as well.

[noeyedeer]

Speak to Joel at www.tungsten-beads.co.uk - he's your man!
(On here too - handle = Kisauni)

[Rod3]

I cant remember where I got this from but this scale works for me!
BEAD HOOK
1.5 22 to 26
2.0 18 to 22
2.3 16 to 18
2.8 14 to 16
3.2 12 to 14
4.0 8 to 10
4.8 4 to 6

Some hooks may have to be de-barbed before you can pass the bead around the bend & up to the eye. My 'Trick' for fixing the bead in place is to wind on a little lead wire and then push this into the countersunk side of the bead. Once the tying thread secures the wire hard up against bead,all will be tight.
Rod.

[rusty]

Thanks for the replies (except the hairy suggestion!).
From the table provided it seems I have the right bead size for the hooks I am using.
I have problems getting the bead around the bend. I must look for some round bend hooks. That should help.
I am aware they should be put on small hole first and over the point. Putting them over the eye has been a work-around.
It seems that the problem is not unique to me. I guess it is all about finding a bead/ hook combination that works and stick to it.
Regards
Rusty