Why not steel?

[DJ_Callahan_27]

I've noticed that there are alot of post about lead or tung. weights but why not steel. I have seen them sell as cheap as lead at times. Why aren't they considered as a good option? I haven't used them but it seems to me that they are smaller in size than lead of the same weight and of course more dense. Isn't that the whole marketing bs behind the arguement that tung. is better than lead? My question is, is tung. better than steel?

Just wanted to get your opinions on this matter. Seems to me that steel may be the best, most economic choice.

DJ

[kyjake]

The steel or iron 'eco' sinkers are pressed together with iron or steel fines and something to bind them together and after a few used they fall apart.
Jake

[Shimano4Life]

The great things about tungsten are that it is environmentally friendly, and is more dense -- so you can make a smaller profile weight that is just as heavy as bigger lead counterparts. It is also a killer duo when teamed with fluorocarbon line when figuring out whether the bottom composition, and whether it is rocky or soft.

The downfall -- it is expensive, but I believe it is worth every penny.

Have you ever compared the sizes of lead, steel, and brass weights vs. tungsten weights? Not to mention they are larger, but too large for many applications. Jig sizes are fine with lead, but I don't want the rear quarter panel of of a 57 Chevrolet for a weight with my soft plastics. Also, being more compact sometimes makes for better presentations.

Sure, tungsten make cost a few more $$, but you don't know what you're missing until you try them.

[DJ_Callahan_27]

I was unware of the fact that steel weights were bigger than lead. I haven't used them. Thanks for the info guys.

DJ

[RICHYD4U]

Takes a lot more steel to equal the weight of lead. Tungsten is by far the best alternative.

-Rich

[dpage70]

I would think that the main reason would be that steel will rust Even if it's painted while lead and tungsten won't.

[slobslayer]

The specific gravity of tungsten is more than twice that of steel. Therefore a steel sinker or jighead would need to be more than twice the size of an tungsten sinker or jighead of equal weight.

[bob46]

I tried tungsten last year and there is a different in sensitivity, I was amazed, they are expensive. If fishing in a lot of snag areas I still use lead it doesnt hurt as much to loose the weights as much.

[artcarney_agr]

I use steel egg weights for my carolina rig - usually 3/4 oz.

Yes, they are bulkier than lead, but I feel like the bulkiness allows it to roll up and over rocks far easier than something smaller that has a tendency to wedge in.

Steel is much louder as well - a glass bead will make a whole lot more noise against steel than it will lead.

As for rust - it's minimal, usually about like a tarnish more than anything, and frankly it hasn't ever been an issue for me.

Egg weights are the only steel weights I use - any other kind of weight is lead.

[DaveR]

I'll 2nd the use of steel on carolina rigs or catfish weights. Steel is better on environment than lead and is cheaper than tungsten, so if there is a chance I'm gonna be loosing and replacing them, I'll go with cheaper. Got my butt kicked once by a guy using ultra steel weights on a C-rig from back of boat. It was probably just because he was a better fisherman than me.

One thing that Steel doesn;t have over lead is the protection of the line from abrasion.So if not machined perfectly with rolled edge. The steel can create rough spots or sharp spots if not machined properly and don't give at all, where lead will not have as much as a blade edge when it comes to abrading or cutting line.