Testing Uni Knot Strength

[breamobasser]

Im fairly new to using leaders, i always just tie on and away i go. But now i have expensive fireline, i think its time to start using them.

Currently im running 6lb fireline and using 9lb Platil universal on my Epix.

So what is the best way to check the knot strength. Im unsure of how much pressure to apply while pulling both ends-cause im good at breaking them. So tonight i tried tighting the drag up and pulling out the line above the leader, didnt break- but did a apply enough pressure?

If you get what i just wrote please tell your ideas

cheers breamobasser

[Angry]

After you've tyed your knot grab both ends and give it a good sharp tug. Don't go over board, but even tying 4 and 6 lb leader you can give it a fair go. If your knot comes apart with this test it probably wouldn't have lasted a decent fight. Same deal for your terminal knots.
Just sit at the table one night tying and testing knots, test them until they break. you'll get a feel for it.

[newbie]

-One end of mainline tied to a spring loaded weighing scale (like the ones u can use to measure the weight of fish) which is secured to something hard to move
-Other end to a fork or like say. Pull till line or knot snaps while watching the scale to determine approx breaking strain.

Some of my findings
-Fireline 4lb(1.8kgs) breaks at about 3kgs
-Fireline to 6lb mono via standard albright- Breaks at albright knot at about 2.7kgs or just under 3kgs
-Fireline to 6lb mono via uni to uni = poor performance for me at about 2kgs
**n.b. knots tied to the best of my ability with extreme caution and use of fresh fireline and leader.

Just with the use of the albright knot, when it snaps on yah do u guys find it snapping clean at the knot itself? It seems that the weakness is where the fireline joins to the mono (sorry if i am stating the obvious) and that the knot process weakens the fireline a tad bit. I mean am i asking too much of the knot as it is pretty much breaking at the breaking strain of fireline anyway?

[Chris_Jackson]

I have the same problem, bought some 4Ib Fireline and tried tying it too 6-8Ib leader and know matter what knot i did, it kept slipping, so i threw away the fireline and am using cheap stuff