Spiderwire Original

[Tim_N]

We have all heard about the superlines, but you don't hear too much, if anything, about Spiderwire Original. It is made from 100% Spectra like Finns PRT etc but is it the marketing of opposition braids that has lead to its decline, or is something else. I know it was soft and limp, unlike some other stiffer/coated braids, but I thought it was alright in certain applications. It was certainly thin enough and well made. It was also quite expensive, so that may have been its death knell. There are plenty of cheaper superlines around today, but the quality may be questionable.
Can anybody shed some light and tell me why it is no longer mentioned. It used to be made by Safariland who made bullet proof vests, then it was bought by Johnson Worldwide (I think), and probably for the number of years, it has been the property of Berkley.
Tim

[NAGG]

We have all heard about the superlines, but you don't hear too much, if anything, about Spiderwire Original. It is made from 100% Spectra like Finns PRT etc but is it the marketing of opposition braids that has lead to its decline, or is something else. I know it was soft and limp, unlike some other stiffer/coated braids, but I thought it was alright in certain applications. It was certainly thin enough and well made. It was also quite expensive, so that may have been its death knell. There are plenty of cheaper superlines around today, but the quality may be questionable.
Can anybody shed some light and tell me why it is no longer mentioned. It used to be made by Safariland who made bullet proof vests, then it was bought by Johnson Worldwide (I think), and probably for the number of years, it has been the property of Berkley.
Tim

Tim , its still around & very popular in the states!
personally ..... I felt that in its day it was a great line! ..... but today it has been surpassed by the likes of Nitlon , Fins etc etc

A few of the bream fishoes I know use the Spiderwire Stealth.

cheers

Nagg

[Tim_N]

Thanks Nagg,
But what makes the others you mentioned so much better, is it price or quality or the "feel" etc.
I just like to know what you people reckon, because to me the basic element is Spectra, so what makes the others different?
Tim

[reidy]

Spiderwire aaaggghhhhh
Near cut the graphite bail arm off my lovely old Spirex with a wind knot,The 3 handle rotations i will never forget when it first hit the market all those years ago..
Cheers
Reidy
Thats not saying its a poor line just a poor experience.

[NAGG]

Thanks Nagg,
But what makes the others you mentioned so much better, is it price or quality or the "feel" etc.
I just like to know what you people reckon, because to me the basic element is Spectra, so what makes the others different?
Tim

I'm not up to speed with the ins & outs of braid construction ..... but this is a generalisation of the two types

.... With Nitlon , Bionic , TD Sensor for instance ..... These are true braids which are constructed with a tight braided weave of the fibres ( looks more like parachute chord) ...... This leads to a stronger & more abrasion resistant line , Its also rounder in profile ( so it lays better on the spool ....casts better) ..... It is softer in feel straight out of the box ........ It is a expensive construction process & it reflects in the price ($40-$60+ / 120m spool) ...... .However I have no doubt that these types last longer & are better to use .

Fused braids generally rely less on the construction of the fibres ( more simply twisted rather than woven) ..... These twisted fibres are then Bonded ( under heat .... or with the use of resins or both to help hold it all together!) .....
These fused braids usually feel stiffer until the coating/bonding wears !
The trouble is that because of the bonding method, the line can become fluffy & weaken once the bonding breaks down ..... Imagine the heat that could be generated through guides on a fast running fish or during casting ( that all helps destroy the bond) ....... Most of these types are relatively cheap ($20-30 / 120m spool) ..... an exception would be Fins PRT......... One benefit is that there can be less problems with wind knots ( specially in lighter line classes ... on spin reels)

So thats basically the difference with some pros & cons

Nagg

[Rockfish]

I still use and much appreciate the Spiderwire. Mostly i use in on my spinning reels, live baiting for anything from flathead to barra and mackerel. I've found it very strong and a good wearing line that is probably just thicker and more likely to fluff up than true braids. Like Nitlon, TD Sensor etc.

Therefore, if you can get it for the right price where line capacity is not a big issue use it. However the likes of true braids will always outperform it.

Mostly these days i'm using Nitlon or Sufix. Great line and the price is better than TD Sensor and other lines.

[GPB]

Rockfish, if your Spiderwire fluffs up it means it is SW Fusion as the original SW was a fine, pure white, true braid and was very expensive, I still have some 30 & 20lb and although it is over 15yo it is still in primo condition.
The Fusion was out the same time as Berkley Gorilla braid [had a coloured mono core] but lost it's popularity when Fireline hit the scene, I prefered the Fusion myself

[Tim_N]

Okay, an update after some research.
Spectra is the USA version of Dyneema, which in the earlier days was more advanced than the Dyneemas. The Japanese have improved the Dyneemas and while both have certain advantages, both in good quality remain expensive. Also, Dyneema, or the Japanese stuff, is rated PE line, whereas the USA stuff, Spectra is not. Hence the 100% Spectra lines like Finns in say 20 lb will actually break at closer to 30 lb, but the PE's can be line class.
The Spectra is thinner, but the down side of that is the thinner the line, the less abrasion resistant, hence the Spectra lines with the same diameter as the Dyneema lines arte stronger and cannot be line rated. All very confusing.
So, the Spiderwire Original is a true braid, but it is 100% Spectra and it is not to be confused with the fused lines like Spiderwire Fusion or even Fireline. The true Dyneema like the Nitlons etc are a little stiffer, a little better at abrasion resistance, but both types made from good quality materials will cost. Which is better, well, how long is a piece of string. My answer is, whatever one you are happy with, or if you prefer Japanese or USA gear, or if you prefer rated or unlimited line classes, or..............
Tim

[banshee]

Some years back Spiderwire,at the time a very good product, suffered some quality control issues which left the product somewhat tainted,even today it will sit on the shelf unwanted.
Dyneema/Spectra/PE call it what you will it is all basically the same product,that is, Gell Spun Pollyethelyne.As Tim has said DSM (Dutch State Mines) first came across the process,patented it,and called their product Dyneema.Not to be out done the yanks (Honeywell industries)arrived at the same product through a slightly different process,thus avoiding the patent and called their's Spectra.Time has seen both processes improved to the point we are at today.Price is generally governed by the carriers and the tightness of the weave (And obviously the quality of the base fibre),from what I understand the process for producing fused lines came about because of the painfully slow time it took the original looms to weave the lines,one article I read claimed it took one minute to make an inch of line.Dyneema/Spectra/PE can also be moulded into solid blocks/shapes such as body armour etc.

[NAGG]

As banshee said Spectra & Dyneema are basically the same product! ( GSP)

It's the contruction of those fibres ( the weave) that makes it True ...... you can make True braid out of either Spectra or Dyneema
The same goes for Fused braids

Nagg

[Rockfish]

Rockfish, if your Spiderwire fluffs up it means it is SW Fusion as the original SW was a fine, pure white, true braid and was very expensive, I still have some 30 & 20lb and although it is over 15yo it is still in primo condition.
The Fusion was out the same time as Berkley Gorilla braid [had a coloured mono core] but lost it's popularity when Fireline hit the scene, I prefered the Fusion myself

Sorry bout the late reply, GPB: mate you obviously have no idea how many variations of spiderwire are in existence. The stuff i have is Spiderwire stealth the 2nd generation BRAID (not fusion) before ultra cast came out. It fluffs up because the coating becomes worn off just like any other GSP (gell spun polyethylene) and exposes the raw spectra. Fins PRT seems to retain greater abrasion resistance and original feel due to differing construction methods.

Cheers

[GPB]

I think I have a pretty good idea about the variations of Spiderwire Rockfish, it was just that I thought you were referring that a vintage model [original] Spiderwire fluffed up, my mistake .
I too use the Stealth in 10 and 20lb on SP spin outfits and have also used Original Spiderwire [A1], Spiderwire 2000 [supa fine] and and the Fusion [short lifespan] when they first became available from the early1990's, my favorites now though are the YGK variations like Nitlon, Jigman and Ultra Castman.

[Rockfish]

I think I have a pretty good idea about the variations of Spiderwire Rockfish, it was just that I thought you were referring that a vintage model [original] Spiderwire fluffed up, my mistake .
I too use the Stealth in 10 and 20lb on SP spin outfits and have also used Original Spiderwire [A1], Spiderwire 2000 [supa fine] and and the Fusion [short lifespan] when they first became available from the early1990's, my favorites now though are the YGK variations like Nitlon, Jigman and Ultra Castman.

Mate i would have to agree, the YGK products like Nitlon and Jigman are great braids. Good diameter, abrasion resistance, round shape and above all soft feel. Although i have found Sufix Matrix Pro in the 20lb + lines great and it is even finner than Nitlon. Time will tell which one is superior!