We publish the diameter we measure, not the one on the box
A “0.16 mm” braid that measures 0.19 mm costs you spool capacity and casting distance. Nobody notices until the fish of the season spools them. So every SKU goes through the same five checks before it gets a page.
Five checks, one page per SKU
Bench equipment, not a laboratory. The point is repeatability and disclosure, not accreditation.
| Check | Method | Pass condition | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diameter | Digital micrometer, 3 points × 3 samples under 500 g tension | Mean within ±0.01 mm of nominal | Mean + range |
| Break strength | Palomar knot, motorised pull at 300 mm/min, 5 pulls | Median ≥ 90% of nominal rating | Median + lowest pull |
| Water soak | 24 h submerged, then break test again | ≤ 10% strength loss | Before / after |
| Abrasion | 200 g load over 400-grit, 50 cycles | No fray-through; record cycles to first fibre break | Cycles |
| Spool & label | Line length by weight × linear density; label against invoice | ≥ stated metres | Measured metres |
Where a sample fails, the SKU does not get listed. If it passes but the measured figure differs from nominal, both numbers go on the product page.
How the results are published
Nominal only
Products currently show supplier nominal specs, clearly marked. No measured figures are printed until the test bench run is complete — including for our own sets.
First batch results
Results publish here, SKU by SKU, as the first production batch clears the bench. Each entry gets date, batch code and the raw numbers.
Failures stay up
A SKU that fails and is re-sourced keeps its failure note. Deleting inconvenient test results is how line brands become marketing companies.
How to check the line you already own
You do not need our bench. A $20 digital micrometer and a spring scale get you most of the way, and both fit in a tackle bag.
- Measure at three points under light tension — line flattens when pinched.
- Tie the knot you actually use, not a Palomar because it tests well.
- Pull slowly. A jerky pull measures your patience, not the line.
- Soak a sample overnight and repeat — most cheap braids lose 5–15%.
