Lines: Qualitative Data

[Rayman]

I didn't have much to do today, so made some use of the microscope to check out a few lines. The results are really just qualitative - comparing line diameters.

Here's one of them,

Berkley Fireline 4lb (flame green)
vs.
Berkley Fireline 6lb (pink)

[Rayman]

I made an effort to try to measure the line diameters of Fireline, by comparing it to lines of 'known' diameter, i.e., YGK's Nitlon Bait 6lb (0.205mm).

So the following measurements are as accurate as what YGK's measurement of its lines (plus some imprecise measurements by me).

Fireline 4lb ~0.142mm (0.130mm)
Fireline 6lb ~0.171mm (0.150mm)

The line diameters in parentheses are what is quoted by Berkley, so there are some discrepancies. Who's to blame, who knows.

[Rayman]

Here are the remaining microscope stuff in full resolution (1000x750px).

Berkley Fireline 4lb vs. Berkley Fireline 6lb (again)

Daiwa T.D. Ades 3lb vs. Berkley Fireline 4lb

Toray Super Eging PE #0.8 vs. Berkley Fireline 6lb

Toray Super Eging PE #0.8 vs. YGK Nitlon 6lb

Toray Super Eging PE #0.6 vs. #0.8

There are tick marks that you can count up for comparison purposes.

You can also see the weave of the braided line (Toray Super Eging PE) which really reinforces the difference between fused and braided lines (if you go back to the third link).

[kamikazeghost]

You must seriously be bored Rayman.

At that diameter, doing the maths upon water resistance and density versus movement of the line in the water it is basically neglible.

I find it quite hilarious that you did that.

[Brad Y]

Awesome stuff this is a bit more of what people can understand and believe other than whats just on the box.

The only thin Im worried about is that some of the PE braids are claimed to be rounder than fused lines.

Is there any chance you measured the fused braids on its side (thicker) part? Would it be possible to obtain a cross section of the different lines to see if this is actually true?

Used to love playing with a microscope- havent done it in years since I switched professions.

[BIG PETE]

Rayman
that is awsome work fella well done what great way to look at line to know what thickness it really is

[Rayman]

This is as close as I got to (or bothered really) to ascertaining the not-so-round profile of Fireline (6lb in this case).

Brad, I couldn't get the cross-section of Fireline, mostly because cutting it would deform the line and cutting a thin enough slice with your ordinary home-tools is not easy task either. What I have found whilst running the line through the telescope, however, is that despite the image below, the diameter of Fireline was rather constant relative to the braided line. Maybe there were some twists in the braided line, but the uneven diameters were quite common over a small length of line.

I think I will be staying with Fireline a little longer, switching to 3lb Crystal when the time shall come. I just don't think that I can achieve the same casting distance as Fireline with the braided line (PE#0.6 - which is as low as most PE lines go). It is something I have noticed myself when fishing as well, especially when I'm landbased and need the casting distance to cover more ground.

As some additional information, the Toray Super Eging PE line has the following diameters:
#0.6(10lb) ~0.189mm
#0.8(12lb) ~0.193mm

You can hence see that Fireline 4lb (~0.142mm) is very much thinner than braided lines, even at #0.6. Of course, there is many more qualities important in a line than its diameter alone, and I guess it's up to yourself to see which line you prefer. Tying a uni-knot with the braided line is really a b*tch.

[Rayman]

Here is what I meant about the uneven diameters of the braided line.

[Drewy]

Nice pics, interesting topic. I think its pretty fair to say that the uneveness is due to the braiding of the line and that fact that each twine is pulled tight to create the knot/braid in the line. l would imagine the indent would be quite a bit smaller than the contact point on the guide, so the resistance wouldnt be increased with braids on the guides edge. The resistance would have to come from the reel, where the lines are touching each other. So maybe a different reel setup needs to be used for a braid instead of fusion lines. Maybe a change in washers could be a good place to start so the line comes off more easily for braids.

[kamikazeghost]

Honestly, if you're really going to look at this seriously, look at it under an electron microscope. You only get the true sense of the line under this apparatus.

There's a big difference.

[luke_H]

good work rayman very interesting stuff
electron microscopes arent cheap and i think we get a good idea of the thickness of lines with this standard one so its really not neccesary, maybe if looking at individual fibres it could be useful but for a comparison of thickness whole lines no point in my opinion

[Rayman]

Brushing the dust off this temporarily..

I had nothing to do again waiting for exams to come around.
So decided to do a follow up of this thread since I found a crazy part taken from a monocular that could do crazy magnifications when attached to my digicam (a magnifying glass you say? well almost).

Results are not what is expected, particularly between Fireline 4 and 6lb. It's like the 6lb is the same diameter if not thinner than the 4lb. Maybe because the 6lb is new, and the 4lb is a little beat up.

3lb Fireline is noticeably thinner, and you can hardly consider Fireline Crystal to be any more translucent/transparent than the other lines. It's just not some in-your-face colour.

Fluorocarbon wins hands down with the (lack of) visibility part.

[Hotrods]

pretty darn impressive rayman..bored or not, tis very interesting...
keep playing..im enjoying it !