Braid Diameters

[NeilD]

I went out a couple of days ago to pick up some braid for a new reel. I was looking for something around 10kg to suit heavier soft placky's etc. I wanted something smooth and thin for B/S so my usual Fireline was out. I looked at everything I could find at four stores and I ended up with Fins PRT. For the stated B/S it seemed significantly thinner than some of the other products.

I was very surprised at how thick some of the best credentialed lines actually are when compared side by side. The Bionic stated it was the thickness of 6lb mono while the Fins was equivalant to 8lb mono. The Fins in reality appears considerably thinner than the Bionic. Surely there can be some sort of uniform line measurement. Even if the mono or braid is not round then the cross section could be measured. One of the main considerations when buying braid is its diameter as well as its other characteristics.

It would be nice to know that I am comparing apples with apples when making a decision.


Cheers

Neil

[Cheech]

Can be an optical illision on thickness. I have compared (using a vernier) the thichness of fireline and live fibre braid. The sizes on the spools idicated the fireline was thicker, but visually it looked thinner than the live fibre. Ends up the packaging was correct and the fireline was thicker.

[NeilD]

Yea Cheech.
The Fireline is much thicker than the braids I looked at. Thats why I was looking for a true braid rather than fused

Neil

[Jonli]

Guys ,

Japanese braided lines are measured in GOUW unit which is based on the Japanese traditional silk thread measurements , I am don't know the conversion factor to other
measurement units but who cares ? Most of our casting reels ( spin/bait ) indicate
the line capacities in PE number and line diameter number , as my Japanese angler friends told me , stronger line - put more drag - less line out and vice versa .

To us , we look at PE number so and so , once upon a time a PE number approximate
the multification of 10 lbs , for example PE5 = 50 lbs but with the advance of braiding
methods and improvements in P.E. fiber strength , the latest I see a PE4 = 64 lbs but
I heard this particular line is not popular due to it's high price .

Varivas is the leader in PE/Braided line , they have lines specifically for jigging , GT popping and casting from PE 0.8 ( 12 lbs ) to PE10 ( 130 lbs ) along with other nylon
and fluoro-polymer based resin .

JonLi .

[HST]

The top PE line on the Japan market is Gosen with PE 0.4 and 0.6 selling for around 600 US for 1000 mts ,they also make the best tapered leaders in braid in many different sizes ,Ive used them in the 30 lbs thru to 150lbs fluro pink 15 meter in length , PE 1.5 PE 12



HST

[Feral]

Yeah many braids say equivilent diameter to a certain size mono, but I reckon they are talking about those 1000m spools of jarvis walker you get at kmart and big W for $5! which is 50% thicker than good quality mono. IE 6lb brain is hardly thinner than good 6lb mono (yes I know, much stronger than 6lb) but really not worth using braid for small stuff if your only after a thinner line.

[Cruiser]

I get cheesed off with those brands of braid that don't state what the diameter actually is (in mm or inches). Fireline used to say but now just claim it's equivalent to certain BS mono. As Feral said, they're either comparing it to real crap mono or else stuff from 40 years ago.

If they were proud of their small diameter then they would state it on the box.

Same goes for some brands of mono that claim it's the strongest and thinnest you can get but won't actually tell you what the diameter is. You buy, get it home, measure it, and find it's no better than the old stuff you already had. Mongrels.

Chris.

[blue-mako]

Feral, Cruiser: Why would they want to compare their Braid to thicker mono? :P . If anything they would compare it to the thinnest and highest quality mono possible to make it sound thinner.

I understand about the whole 'Not naming the diameter on packet' thing. Playtpus Super Braid doesn't even have the mono diameter on it! Just says 50lb etc.

But general rule is. Fused Line (Spiderwire Fusion, Fireline etc.) Is thicker then Spectrum Braid (Bionic Braid, Super braid.)

Troy