Tungsten sheet

[maharg]

Found a piece of this rubbery tungsten sheet lurking in my kit. Must have had it years. One thin slice off it so probably didnt do well with it first time.It is very heavy, so should work for underbodies. The queston is has anyone used it to any great extent?
Do you think it would work as a shell back?

All the best to you and yours, Graham

[ickypimp]

I have some, i have used it for both under wrapping an shell backs, it is ok but i prefer lead

[arkle]

I've got some, never liked it though. To bulky & it won't wind, so you can only use it in strips. It'll probably cut when ribbed if you're thinking of using it for shellbacks.

[ickypimp]

Originally Posted by arkle

I've got some, never liked it though. To bulky & it won't wind, so you can only use it in strips. It'll probably cut when ribbed if you're thinking of using it for shellbacks.

depends on what you use for the rib, first time i used it, admittadly i was a new to tying at the time, i used gsp and shredded it, however i have found it ok with wire

[maharg]

Tried it last night by using it in layers to form a shrimp type profile. Works ok if you are not to heavy with the thread.
Will compare it for weight with the same profile in lead and see whats what.
If the lead is heavier its going in the bin, as it is not as easy to work with as sticky back lead.

[stevekale]

Tungsten will be heavier for a given size of course. Note that if you ever want to fish in the US many rivers ban the use of lead.

[icejohn]

its designed to add weight to your fly. Its not ment to be on the outside of the fly as its too soft.

I find i brillant for tying greyling flies in shrip grub hooks. U can shape the tunsten using tying thread and it moulds depending how tightly you pull the thread into a shrimp shape.

Gets you flies down a treat and i find it heavier than wire lead. also tungsten is better for the enviroment if a metal in a trout tream ever is.... compared to lead its loads better.

[Spider]

I have a small sheet that I havent used yet either but hope to do so soon - its much more flexible than lead and i reckon it will work well in small amounts ....

[stevekale]

Originally Posted by icejohn

its designed to add weight to your fly. Its not ment to be on the outside of the fly as its too soft.

Outside, inside doesn't matter. If lead is banned it's banned.

[weight_forward]

If it's rubbery, then I would imagine it's a tungsten powder suspended in a rubber compound so might not be heavier than lead for a given size.

If lead is banned why not just use copper the density difference isn't massive, pure tungsten really isn't nice to work with, it's way too stiff and brittle.

Steve