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Thread, silk, cotton
whatever you call it, it is probably the most important
part of a fly other than the hook. Have you ever
experimented with different threads early in your fly
tying career leading you to choose a favourite thread?
I certainly did. Human nature being what it is means we
often stick with that same thread through thick and thin
and only changing it when we can’t get it anymore.
Well I started to wonder
what those other threads were like, of course my
favourite thread got jealous and we had a bit of an
argument along the lines ‘how could you leave me after
so long’ which was quickly resolved when I was only
doing this in the name of science and the Flydressers
Guild.
Therefore for those with
an enquiring mind but don’t want to upset ‘the thread
indoors’ do you ever wonder how the different threads
compare against each other? What does 70 denier mean
and is this the same as 8/0. Does 8/0 thread break with
2lb of pull or 2ozs?
Well I decided to try and
pull together a definitive chart. I hope that I have
got all of your favourites in here – if not send me
details and I’ll add them to the chart. It is not
complete, by any stretch of the imagination but it’ll do
for now and I’ll add extras if anyone wants to send me a
spool of thread to test. I have tried to get the
manufacturer specifications for each of the threads and
where there are gaps either the manufacturer doesn’t
know or isn’t saying! One other thing I also need to
point out is that Gudebrod has stopped making fly tying
threads and only a few suppliers in the US and UK still
sell this – but seeing it is still found in some flytyers boxes I’ve put it in.
If we are going to make
any sense of the comparison table we are going to have
to go back to basics with the fundamental questions of
what does those strange symbols and language mean on a
spool of thread? Well basically they are a notation for
the fineness or sheerness of the thread.
The
first attempt at some sort of thread notation was the
‘naught’ scale.
This was
based on a system where the number 0 or "naught" was the
base point (i.e. the company standard) and as the thread
became smaller additional zeros were added indicating
that the thread was finer. As an example, a thread with
six zeros (000000) translated to a 6/0 thread. As other
manufacturers appeared they followed the same system
however each company had a different standard for its
base point. As more brands became available, the
accuracy of the "naught” became pointless unless
comparing within the same company. Now it isn't often I say
this but thank goodness for the French as they
‘invented’ the Denier scale.
For those who didn’t
know Denier is a measure of the fineness/sheerness of
thread. It is based on the number of grams per 9000
metres. Therefore a 70 denier thread weighs 70 grams.
Therefore the finest thread has the smallest number.
Of course it
couldn’t stay this simple. The international drive for
decimalisation and the use of SI units (mm, km, kg
instead of inches, miles and pounds) created the Decitex,
which is the weight in grams per 10,000 metres and is
the officially adopted unit of thread fineness (NB of
course it has been adopted by the EU which means that
nobody actually uses it but it is here in my table just
for completeness).
There
is a correlation between denier and breaking strength of
nylon and polyester thread. The smaller the denier
numbers the lower breaking strain sounds obvious and of
course it is – however when you get onto comparing
Kevlar and GSP (Gel Spun Polypropylene) threads they are
much stronger than their equivalent nylon of polyester
threads therefore they can have a higher breaking strain
for the same denier.
Fineness or breaking strain of a thread is not the end
of the matter, there are other issues such as can the
thread be split for dubbing loops?, does the thread lie
flat if twisted against the roll of the individual fibres?, how slippery is the thread? and does it grip
all materials well? The list goes on – but basically
you will need to try the threads to find the ones you
like and suits your tying style (just like choosing a
rod to match your casting style). Hopefully this table
will point you in the right direction to start trying
other threads. Good luck if you do!
If you would like to download a copy of the following
table please click
<here>
Paul
Davis
|
Thread Brand |
Naught Size(X/0)
|
Denier |
Decitex |
Breaking
Strength
(oz) |
Thickness
(.000) |
Material |
|
Giorgio Benecchi Fine |
8/0 |
150 |
167 |
29 |
2.2 |
Polyester |
|
Giorgio Benecchi Fluorescent |
4/0 |
? |
? |
? |
? |
Polyester |
|
Giorgio Benecchi Ghost |
N/A |
60 |
67 |
11 |
3 |
Nylon Monofilament |
|
Giorgio Benecchi Strong Medium |
6/0 |
? |
? |
? |
? |
Polyester |
|
Giorgio Benecchi Super Strong |
10/0 |
50 |
56 |
38 |
1.3 |
Gel
Spun Polypropylene (GSP) |
|
Giorgio Benecchi Superfine |
10/0 |
120 |
133 |
22 |
2 |
Polyester |
|
Giorgio Benecchi Ultrafine |
12/0 |
70 |
78 |
15 |
1.9 |
Polyester |
|
Gordon Griffiths (Veniards) Cobweb |
N/A |
134 |
149 |
67 |
4.1 |
Polyester |
|
Gordon Griffiths (Veniards) Shear |
14/0 |
72 |
80 |
10 |
1.8 |
Polyester |
|
Gordon Griffiths (Veniards) Wisp |
8/0 |
108 |
120 |
15 |
2.2 |
Polyester |
|
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon |
N/A |
210 |
233 |
46 |
2 |
Nylon Multifilament |
|
Danville Fly Master Plus 140 |
N/A |
140 |
156 |
32 |
1.8 |
Nylon Multifilament |
|
Danville Fly Master Plus 210 |
N/A |
210 |
233 |
48 |
2.8 |
Nylon Multifilament |
|
Danville Fly Master |
6/0 |
70 |
78 |
11 |
1.5 |
Nylon Multifilament |
|
Danville Nylon 3/0 Monocord |
3/0 |
116 |
129 |
26 |
2.6 |
Polyester |
|
Danville Spiderweb |
N/A |
30 |
33 |
5 |
2 |
Nylon Monofilament |
|
Euro Thread |
12/0 |
45 |
50 |
15 |
1.3 |
Polyester |
|
Gudebrod |
10/0 |
50 |
56 |
43 |
4 |
Nylon Monofilament |
|
Gudebrod |
10/0 |
45 |
50 |
9 |
1 |
Polyester |
|
Gudebrod |
3/0 |
176 |
196 |
38 |
4 |
Polyester |
|
Gudebrod |
6/0 |
143 |
159 |
43 |
6 |
Nylon Monofilament |
|
Gudebrod |
8/0 |
67 |
74 |
15 |
1.8 |
Polyester |
|
Gudebrod G |
N/A |
210 |
233 |
55 |
7 |
Nylon Monofilament |
|
Gudebrod G |
N/A |
330 |
367 |
59 |
3.5 |
Polyester |
|
Gudebrod GX1 |
N/A |
70 |
78 |
89 |
1 |
Gel
Spun Polypropylene (GSP) |
|
Gudebrod GX2 |
N/A |
130 |
144 |
112 |
2 |
Gel
Spun Polypropylene (GSP) |
|
Gudebrod Kevlar |
3/0 |
115 |
128 |
? |
3.5 |
Kevlar |
|
Gudebrod Nylon D |
6/0 |
143 |
159 |
31 |
2.3 |
Polyester |
|
Lagartun X Strong |
N/A |
75 |
83 |
16 |
1.2 |
Polyester |
|
Lagartun X Strong |
N/A |
95 |
106 |
17 |
1.4 |
Polyester |
|
Lagartun X Strong |
N/A |
150 |
167 |
32 |
1.9 |
Polyester |
|
Lagartun XX Strong |
N/A |
50 |
56 |
? |
? |
Gel
Spun Polypropylene (GSP) |
|
Lagartun XX Strong |
N/A |
75 |
83 |
? |
? |
Gel
Spun Polypropylene (GSP) |
|
Lagartun XX Strong |
N/A |
100 |
111 |
? |
? |
Gel
Spun Polypropylene (GSP) |
|
Lagartun XX Strong |
N/A |
130 |
144 |
? |
? |
Gel
Spun Polypropylene (GSP) |
|
Marc Petitjean Split Second Thread |
8/0 |
? |
? |
? |
? |
? |
|
Pearsall's Gossamer Tying Silk |
6/0 |
N/A |
N/A |
? |
? |
Natural Bombyx Silk |
|
Pearsall's Marabou Floss Body Silk |
? |
N/A |
N/A |
? |
? |
Natural Bombyx Silk |
|
Pearsall's Naples Silk |
4/0 |
N/A |
N/A |
? |
? |
Natural Bombyx Silk |
|
Pearsall's Stout Floss Body Silk |
? |
N/A |
N/A |
? |
? |
Natural Bombyx Silk |
|
Roman Moser Power Silk |
6/0 |
110 |
122 |
72 |
1.3 |
Gel
Spun Polypropylene (GSP) |
|
Roman Moser Power Silk |
8/0 |
55 |
61 |
38 |
1.3 |
Gel
Spun Polypropylene (GSP) |
|
Sparton Fluorescent |
N/A |
162 |
180 |
32 |
? |
Polyester |
|
Sparton Macro |
N/A |
225 |
250 |
48 |
? |
Polyester |
|
Sparton Micro |
N/A |
72 |
80 |
20 |
? |
Polyester |
|
Sparton Professional |
N/A |
135 |
150 |
35 |
? |
Polyester |
|
UNI
Big Fly Thread |
N/A |
400 |
444 |
100 |
3.5 |
Polyester |
|
UNI
Caenis |
34/0 |
20 |
22 |
3 |
1.7 |
Nylon Monofilament |
|
UNI
Cord 12/0 GSP |
12/0 |
50 |
56 |
39 |
0.9 |
Gel
Spun Polypropylene (GSP) |
|
UNI
Cord 7/0 GSP |
7/0 |
100 |
111 |
89 |
1.4 |
Gel
Spun Polypropylene (GSP) |
|
UNI
Cord 8/0 GSP |
8/0 |
75 |
83 |
68 |
? |
Gel
Spun Polypropylene (GSP) |
|
UNI
Flexx |
N/A |
1620 |
1800 |
? |
? |
Spandex |
|
UNI
Floss |
N/A |
600 |
667 |
44 |
? |
Polyester |
|
UNI
Kevlar |
N/A |
200 |
222 |
134 |
? |
Kevlar |
|
UNI
Micro Tinsel 3/0 |
3/0 |
215 |
239 |
44 |
? |
Tinsel |
|
UNI
Micro Tinsel 6/0 |
6/0 |
135 |
150 |
17 |
? |
Tinsel |
|
UNI
Mono Thread Fine |
N/A |
? |
? |
22 |
4 |
Nylon Monofilament |
|
UNI
Mono Thread Medium |
N/A |
? |
? |
59 |
6 |
Nylon Monofilament |
|
UNI
Nylon 210 |
N/A |
210 |
233 |
53 |
2 |
Nylon Multifilament |
|
UNI
Nylon 70 |
N/A |
70 |
78 |
15 |
? |
Nylon Multifilament |
|
UNI
Stretch |
N/A |
270 |
300 |
53 |
? |
Polyester |
|
UNI
Thread 1/0 Neon Fluorescent |
1/0 |
234 |
260 |
35 |
? |
Polyester |
|
UNI
Thread 3/0 |
3/0 |
220 |
244 |
32 |
? |
Polyester |
|
UNI
Thread 6/0 |
6/0 |
130 |
144 |
29 |
2.9 |
Nylon Multifilament |
|
UNI
Thread 8/0 |
8/0 |
72 |
80 |
15 |
2 |
Polyester |
|
UNI
Thread A+ |
N/A |
315 |
350 |
48 |
? |
Polyester |
|
UNI
Trico 17/0 |
17/0 |
40 |
44 |
5 |
2 |
Polyester |
|
UNI
Yarn |
N/A |
436 |
484 |
34 |
? |
Polyester |
|
Virtual Nymph Dyneema |
12/0 |
? |
? |
96 |
? |
? |
|
WAPSI GSP 100 |
N/A |
100 |
111 |
111 |
1.2 |
Gel
Spun Polypropylene (GSP) |
|
WAPSI GSP 50 |
N/A |
50 |
56 |
37 |
0.8 |
Gel
Spun Polypropylene (GSP) |
|
WAPSI UTC 140 |
N/A |
140 |
156 |
44 |
1.6 |
Nylon Multifilament |
|
WAPSI UTC 210 |
N/A |
210 |
233 |
53 |
3.2 |
Nylon Multifilament |
|
WAPSI UTC 280 |
N/A |
280 |
311 |
62 |
2.7 |
Nylon Multifilament |
|
WAPSI UTC 70 |
N/A |
70 |
78 |
13 |
1.1 |
Nylon Multifilament |
|
