Spectra topic: has anyone tried fuzed braids?

[steven yampolsky]

For starters, I've read a lot of info about Spectra lines on this forum and the the "other" one as well.

If you follow fishing line technology( everyone does, right  ), you are probably aware of a fairly new development in fishing lines: fused braid lines(or superlines). Spectra as we discuss is a regular braid. From what I've been reading, superlines are less stretchy and have better pull test performance for the same diameter line while maintaining all other benefits of braided lines(spectra).

My question to the "plastic line" croud is: has anyone tried superlines? I am thinking of giving Sufix 832's a try and would like some feedback.

[Bill Adair]

It's not new. Spider Wire Fusion was on the market many years ago.

Phil Cartier reported that it has less shock tolerance than braided Spectra, and may break if lines go slack - allowing the airplane to hit the end of the lines hard.

Bill

[Randy Powell]

Won't know till you try, I guess.

[Jorge de Azevedo]

Hello,
I am using braided "spectra" lines for 2 years now. I use 80lbs Tryumph or Vexter Dyneema braided fishing lines for my Thunder Gazer, but I think 60lbs are strong enougth.
In fact, Spectra and Dyneema are trade marks of an Ultra-high-molecular-weight_polyethyle (UHMWP) and Tryumph, Vexter and others are fishing lines marks.There are many diferents blands using UHMWP with others polymers to do braided fishing lines genericaly named Spectra. Take care ! Some are inextensive and good to control lines and others are not. UHMWP are 15 times more resistent than steell at same diameter.
If you didn't understand my brasilian English, enter "Ultra-high-molecular-weight_polyethyle"and you find lots of information there.
Regards,
Jorge de Azevedo

[Jorge de Azevedo]

One other important information I didn't mention before is:
YOU HAVE TO USE SPECIAL KNOTS IN THOSE LINES !
Best regards,
Jorge

[tom hampshire]

Hi Steve - Although I have bought and used about 15 different brands and sizes of Spectra lines, Fusion braid is not an avenue I'd pursue without some sort of impact testing before flight.  The reason is that all strands will break if one does.  Just like steel leadouts, stranded gives better impact protection, and a solid strand fails catastrophically if it fails at all.  I'd be wary of trying fusion in flight because of this.  You might want to try a test of dropping a 10 lb or so weight through a series of greater heights, so as to get some data on the failure heights of steel, spectra and fusion.  Please post some results if you do it.
     One other thing...  Please refer to Spectra as Spectra, not UHMWPE.  I know the tech jargon makes us sound smart, but a model flyer who goes to Bass Pro or Cabelas to buy line will get spectra if he asks for it.  If he asks for UHMWPE, he is not using the language of the fishing tackle business and the clerk will accordingly try to sell him any product he has on hand.  The word Spectra or Dyneema will always appear in the fine print on the package of the product we want.  If the package does not use these words, then the fibers are some other type.  Best, Tom Hampshire