Anyone know how the barb of a fish hook is made?

[ftech]

I am developing a tool that needs some high strength steel wire to be formed with something that would resemble a fish hook barb except that it would have two barbs opposite each other. The wire is about the same size as a small fish hook and the barbs would actually need to extend a bit further than most hooks do. It also doesn't need to have a U bend like a fish hook.

I imagine the tool might be a small press or forge but the parts are very small compared to what I am used to.

Thanks for any input.

Rick

[bobsch]

I think the barb is stamped. Here's an article that might help: http://www.howtofishguide.com/tackle...-fishing-hooks

[ftech]

Thanks Bob,

That's about as much as I could find too. I think the machines they use now may be closely guarded secrets because there doesn't seem to be any patents for them.

The steel they use (and I want to use) is pretty high strength stuff and would be tough to form, so I suspect they must use carbide punches or dies. I can machine some O-1 dies but I'm not sure if they would hold up. I could also make a copper plug for a sink EDM and get them made out of some carbide inserts.

Anyone have any suggestions or recommendations?

Thanks again,
Rick

[bobsch]

Going from memory here, but I think they form the hooks and barbs then heat treat them.

[ftech]

I'm pretty sure you're right. They would want to work with annealed or at least normalized material first, then heat treat to harden.

Depending on the material I use and whether I hot or cold forge, it may work harden enough to be able to skip the heat treat process. However, I'm sure I would need to use carbide dies then.

Rick