Stainless Steel vs. Tungsten 2024

luckyinkentucky reply :

I bought some Stainless Steel bullet weights while at Gander Mountain the other night, and thought I'd try them today.

I can't tell the difference between the SS weights and the Tungsten. Other than the fact that the Tungsten are only about 15% smaller in size. I got 64 various weighted SS weights for $7, where as, I would have paid $6 just for 2 or 3 Tungsten weights. Why the hype about Tungsten? I couldn't tell the difference, and I was fishing heavy cover in fast current.

Big_Bass_Rock reply :

Whats the advantage of using these over lead? Simply the fact that lead is toxic?

Micro reply :

Tungsten is denser than lead, and much denser than steel. A tungsten weight will be smaller than an equal weight lead weight, and significantly smaller than an equal weight steel weight. Also, like BBR said, tungsten is non-toxic.

Bassin_Fin@tic reply :

There is another advantage to Tungsten.The biggest difference is when using heavier weights especially 1/2 oz or more.It is a lot harder and smaller and does not get in the way when setting the hook.A giant lead or steel weight will have to pry a bass jaw wide open while a smaller tungsten will just slide right through. Or on a carolina rig smaller means less snags .It is also louder whenever it contacts any type of structure.You can feel everything too.Ever try tungsten on braid?If it touches a tiny piece of gravel you know about it.

BassFishingMachine reply :

The price is ridiculous though, its a great weight and I use them, but like LuckyInKentucky said, 3 of em for 6 bucks is just wrong. How can this guy live with himself charging people that type of money for bullet weights. I hope someone copies his tungsten weights, and sells them for half the price, he'd deserve it and I'd never buy a tru-tungsten again. > Another thing I notice is its not just the weights, the guy is just plain out expensive, all his products are no less then 5bucks, his bulletweight pegs are even like 5$ I believe.

Bassin_Fin@tic reply :

The BPS and excalabur tungstens arent quite as bad.Tru tungsten is just way too expensive and is for those guys who think they have to pay top dollar for everthing.

JigNBig reply :

I like tungsten for my weights rangings from 1/8 to 1/2 Before and after that range I don't feel that it matters that much unless you are using it for heavy flipping that the weight is too large for it too just look "right".

luckyinkentucky reply :

I also think the painting process has something to do with Tru-Tungsten weights. I would much rather get a plain weight, and dip it in the color I want, and save $2.

I'm all about cutting corners these days, and if someone knows of a cheap source for plain Jane tungsten weights .... please let me know.

grimlin reply :

The time and quality they put into these weights simply cannot be beat.Perhaps reason for a higher price?

Something to ponder on....

RoLo reply :

The next ice age is still a few million years away, so for now at least, we have no choice but to abandon the use of lead.

I feel that steel shot and steel sinkers fill the bill quite nicely. In the course of a year, how many more bass do you think

you will catch using tungsten sinkers over steel sinkers? And in the grand scheme, does it really matter?

I don't know, but it seems like the fishing fraternity is either rich or gullible, because corporate America has us where they want us.

I've been a tool & die maker all my life, so naturally I've known about tungsten carbide long before the fishing community.

At one job shop that I worked, I was the form grinder for lathe cutters (angles, radii and relief). Most of the cutters

were made of high-carbon, high-speed steel, but occasionally I had to grind cutters made of tungsten carbide...Arrghh!

Tungsten carbide is the hardest metal known to man, and the only grinding wheels that will cut tungsten

are silicon carbide wheels ("green" wheels) and diamond wheels (exceedingly expensive). The price of tungsten

isn't likely to fall anytime soon, because of its unique hardness (second only to diamond) and its industrial value.

Even in the industry, rather than use a solid carbide cutter (which we could) we would braze carbide inserts onto the tool bit.

To my mind at least, dunking sinkers made of tungsten is pure folly!

PS:

If the emphasis is on maximal sensitivity, there are two other avenues for achieving the same goal.

Stepping-up on the "tensile modulus" of the rod blank is a one-time expense that will greatly enhance sensitivity.

Switching from monofilament line to braided line will provide an even greater boost in telegraphy.

On many occasions I wished that PowerPro braid were just a little more absorptive, so pebbles didn't feel like strikes.

Roger

TrickyVT1887 reply :

For me i used to use all lead and people used lead for years and i honestly don't see too huge of a problem with that, but for me i switched over to tungsten because its smaller profile and the fact that its soo much harder and denser than lead and is much more sensitive. When using a G-loomis rod its like a handicap almost. I started throwing tungsten and felt the bottom and structure like never before so I switched and I'm not going back to lead, I even use the tungsten beads on my C-Rigs now too as well it has a little different sound than brass and glass and i have more confidence in it. One thing though is to get the full potential out of using the weights use a sensitive line like a co-polymer or a fluorocarbon and a sensitive rod.

Oh forgot last thing, for me the fact that I can catch possibly 20 fish on one weight and the weight costs $1.25 that averages to $.05 per fish while i'll spend $.60 a bait to throw a senko that i might catch 2 fish on before the bait is trash

Sam reply :

Tungston transmits more information to you regarding the bottom and any strikes you may be getting than any other metal.

I use tungston for tournaments.

I use other weights when fishing for fun.

Crestliner2008 reply :

Here in MA more & more lakes & reservoirs are banning the use of lead sinkers due to the toxicity to wildfowl. Loons, eagles and shorebirds are most suseptible to lead poisoning. That said, it'll be a cold in hell before I'll spend a buck a sinker for any kind of metal! (I'm too cheap.) Wal-Mart carries a variety of steel sinkers which work just fine. And you get 7 or 8 in a pack for under $2.00!

.ghoti. reply :

I've been using Ultra Steel weights for as long as they've been available. Because they're hard enough to resist deformation. I used to buy new weights every year to replace the ones I'd lost and to replace all the ones with the pointed end bent shut. And it wouldn't be long each year before I found myself sorting through all the new weights to find one that wasn't bent shut. I tried reforming them, but ended up with a line cutting edge on them every time, so I gave up on that.

I have Ultra Steel weights that I know are three years old, and still look as good as new. I can't say that about lead weights.

I did notice an increase in bottom feel when I switched to steel weights. Subtle, but real.

As far as tungsten goes, I picked up some that were in the clearance bin for 50 cents a pack, and I like them every bit as much as the steel version. I fished them side by side to see if I could tell the difference. The only difference I see in them, versus the steel weights, is the price. Two bucks a pop, for weights, is ridiculous.

How may states have banned lead weights? I don't know, but I'd feel safe guessing that more will follow in the near future. I like to travel, and my fishing gear goes with me most of the time. I don't have to worry about lead sinkers in my box, because I don't have any. One of the few cases where I've been ahead of the curve, if you can call it that.

Cheers,

Raul reply :

Tungsten weights give away a better clacking sound than steel and lead sinkers when they hit the glass beads used in some rigs.

TrickyVT1887 reply :

Many people complain about the price of tungsten but i just don't see it, If I'll buy the best hooks I can and high quality plastics why is it such a travesty to pay $5 for 4 weights. You will pay $15 for a lucky craft that if u hang it up you lose a $15 bait, you can break off 12 tungsten weights to equal one lucky craft. And if your that worried about breaking off use heavier line or learn to tie a better knot.

Bud reply :

Quote
The price is ridiculous though, its a great weight and I use them, but like LuckyInKentucky said, 3 of em for 6 bucks is just wrong. How can this guy live with himself charging people that type of money for bullet weights. I hope someone copies his tungsten weights, and sells them for half the price, he'd deserve it and I'd never buy a tru-tungsten again. Another thing I notice is its not just the weights, the guy is just plain out expensive, all his products are no less then 5bucks, his bulletweight pegs are even like 5$ I believe.

If you knew what went into the process of making then you would not feel that way

TrickyVT1887 reply :

Quote

Quote
The price is ridiculous though, its a great weight and I use them, but like LuckyInKentucky said, 3 of em for 6 bucks is just wrong. How can this guy live with himself charging people that type of money for bullet weights. I hope someone copies his tungsten weights, and sells them for half the price, he'd deserve it and I'd never buy a tru-tungsten again. Another thing I notice is its not just the weights, the guy is just plain out expensive, all his products are no less then 5bucks, his bulletweight pegs are even like 5$ I believe.

If you knew what went into the process of making then you would not feel that way

Tungsten is an expensive material, its not just Tru-Tungsten, Lake Fork is the Same price. How about Tungsten Shot for waterfowl over $25 for a box it just isn't cheap.

BassFishingMachine reply :

Well then whats up with the pegs being 5dollars also? lol

Catt reply :

Y'all mean all I gotta do is switch to tungsten and I'll catch more bass than I presently catch? :

TrickyVT1887 reply :

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Y'all mean all I gotta do is switch to tungsten and I'll catch more bass than I presently catch? :

its not a guarantee because its the fisherman that catches the fish the tackle is just a tool to catch them, but tungsten does have a superior feel than lead and its a lot easier to feel the fish pick it up and as Raul said it has a distinctive sound that neither lead or steel have.

Catt reply :

Quote

Quote
Y'all mean all I gotta do is switch to tungsten and I'll catch more bass than I presently catch? :

its not a guarantee because its the fisherman that catches the fish the tackle is just a tool to catch them, but tungsten does have a superior feel than lead and its a lot easier to feel the fish pick it up and as Raul said it has a distinctive sound that neither lead or steel have.

I get the same sense of feel out of lead because I've long ago stepped up to a higher "tensile modulus" rod blank. Lead is only toxic if you eat it which I don't plan on doing and neither do any of the bass I catch.

TrickyVT1887 reply :

its $5 for a back of tungsten buy it try it if u dont like it dont try it again i used it and got "hooked"

Catt reply :

$5.00 I can buy 25 Gene Larew Ring Worms which catch bass; aint never caught a single bass on a weight.

fourbizz reply :

tungsten is awesome.

i think its true value isn't realized unless you are fishing deep, in clear water, over rocks.

smaller profile gets you down quicker ( not really noticeable, but after fishing in 60FOW all day, it adds up)

smaller profile is less obtrusive in clear water that gets lots of pressure.

tunsten transmits rocky bottoms amazingly well, 'specially in deep water.

also nice when punching mats, a 1.5ounce weight isn't nearly as big, and with the very heavy line used and the relative absence of potential snags, its not unrealistic to fish that one weight all year.

it is a relatively rare metal that due to its extreme hardness and heat soaking properties, is very very expensive/difficult to manufacture. hell that is what the tip of a TIG welder uses as its electrode. (i'm sure catt knows all of this, but some may not)

also worth noting, is the fact that not all tungsten weights are created equal. some of the alloys contain much less tungsten than other companies. tru tungsten claims 97% pure, and they definitely have the smallest profile of the tungsten weights, also they are now machined so that no insert is needed which I think is very very good.

now do i use them for dropshotting: not usually. I use them at night, when the bite is tough, or when i am flipping.

tungsten rocks

mayassa reply :

I switched to the steel sinkers a long time ago, because they did not deform or get sharp edges to cut my line.

Davis reply :

I used the Ultra Steel weights this summer when actually fishing using bullet heads.

But I did pick up some Tru-Tungsten weights this offseason. They are a lot smaller. Look forward to using them next year.

Ghetto_Basser reply :

Tungsten is all I use. I like the profile and the sound factor.

fishfordollars reply :

It may be me but I seem to feel everything a lot better with the tungsten. I know it is expensive but I will pay the bucks everytime to get the right feel.

Branuss04 reply :

Once again I gotta agree with 4 biz. I use tungsten when going through mats. I went to the tackle shop today to get some more drop shot weights. I decided that since I had a gift card, I would indulge on some tungsten. After looking at the price, 4.19 for 3 weights, I decided that at the rate I loose drop shot weights, I might as well start smoking cause it would be cheaper. So I think for certain techniques, tungsten is the way to go.

Bassin_Fin@tic reply :

I made a post earlier kind of looking down on tungsten.So what do I do? Monkey told me I need to pick up a few tru tungtens.I got 1/16,1/8 and some 1/2-3/4.I must say that I am impressed.I love them! I thought:well I have paid 5 and change for some cheap azz bullet weight screw ins I always use,and the quality is total s--- on those.The tungsten cost the same for the smaller ones.Even with a small 1/16 I can feel my bait hit a pebble 8 feet down.

To the ones that said "once I tried it I never will go back",I am joining you now. Steel shares many of the same attributes and is cheaper.Problem is they are HUGE.

TrickyVT1887 reply :

congrats on your purchase told you you wouldn't be dissapointed

grimlin reply :

Quote
I made a post earlier kind of looking down on tungsten.So what do I do? Monkey told me I need to pick up a few tru tungtens.I got 1/16,1/8 and some 1/2-3/4.I must say that I am impressed.I love them! I thought:well I have paid 5 and change for some cheap azz bullet weight screw ins I always use,and the quality is total s--- on those.The tungsten cost the same for the smaller ones.Even with a small 1/16 I can feel my bait hit a pebble 8 feet down.
To the ones that said "once I tried it I never will go back",I am joining you now. Steel shares many of the same attributes and is cheaper.Problem is they are HUGE.

It's amazing stuff ain't it? The cost doesn't seem so bad now does it? For shore anglers like myself they work like a structure finder,helps me figure out what's on that bottom.

7935

Stainless Steel vs. Tungsten 2024

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