- Which is better- twisted or braided?
The application for which twine will be used will determine this. Each construction has advantages and disadvantages:
Twisted Construction
- Most commonly used worldwide
- The tensile ( breaking) strength is higher than braided
- Usually is less expensive than braided
- Not as abrasion resistant as braided
- Can unravel when cut
Braided Construction
- More abrasion resistant than twisted
- Not as strong as twisted
- Does not unravel when cut
- Normally is more expensive than twisted
2. Which fiber is best?
Each fiber has advantages and disadvantages (click here to see Characteristics of Twine Fibers Chart).
- Generally speaking common polyethylene and polypropylene are lightweight, will float, and are inexpensive compared to other fibers.
- Nylon and polyester are stronger, heavier, will not float, and are more expensive than common polyethylene or polypropylene.
- Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene ( UHMWPE) is extremely strong, will float, and is very expensive compared to other fibers.
3. What is Twine Diameter?
Twine diameter is the measurement of the thickness of the twine. This measurement can be in inches or millimeters.
4. What is tensile strength?
Tensile Strength is a measurement in pounds or kilos to indicate the amount of weight, tension, or force that will cause twine to break. Tensile strength is often called breaking strength.
5. What are grams per denier?
Grams per denier is a method of measuring the strength of fiber. The higher the grams per denier, the stronger the fiber.
6. What is Abrasion Resistance?
Abrasion resistance is the ability of twine to withstand wear and tear or chaffing due to rubbing or scraping against something such as sand, rocks, etc.
7. What is Twine Yield?
Twine yield is simply the measurement of linear feet, yards, or meters that is in a pound or kilo of weight.
Example: a yield of 1000 feet per pound means that 1000 feet of twine will weigh one pound.
8. What are Twine Treatments and which is best?
There are several reasons why nylon and polyester twines are coated in twine treatments.
- Nylon and Polyester fibers are somewhat slippery and knots can slip when pressure is applied to twine.
- Ultra violet (U.V.) rays in sunlight will cause twines to degrade and lose strength.
- Untreated twines will wear out more quickly than treated twines when rubbed or scrapped against rocks, sand, and other rough surfaces.
To solve these problems, nylon and polyester twines are often soaked in liquid “tar” or liquid “bond or resin”. Tar and bond will both significantly improve knot holding, slow down UV damage, and increase abrasion resistance. Tar has been used for centuries, is usually less expensive than bond, but tends to rub off onto other surfaces. Bond is more expensive, will stiffen or harden the twine more than tar, usually is more expensive than tar, and normally does not rub off onto other surfaces.
Common polypropylene and polyethylene twines are not coated- the coating will not adhere to the surface very well.
Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene fibers are often coated with special designed coatings that are relatively expensive but will improved knot holding ability, slow down U.V. damage, and increase abrasion resistance.