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Making a Vinyl Float Line

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A

arty

New Member
Sep 29, 2003
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I'm in the process of making a 100' vinyl float line using 5/16" O.D. clear vinyl tubing with 200 lb mono. The problem I'm having is threading a pull line (some very thin kite string to pull the mono thru) thru the 100' tubing. I tried the shop vac trick with no success...the vacuum at the end of the tubing is just not enough to pull the very light and thin kite string more than 6" within the tubing. Next I'm thinking of attaching a small piece of steel (maybe a nail) to the string and using a magnet to pull the string thru.

Before I try this, anyone have any other tricks to get the mono thru the tubing?

Thanks, Arty
 
you dont really need the pull line if your using mono. the mono is stiff enough for you to push the line through. If you were using spectra or some type of line that is too flexible then you would need to use the vacuum. But 200 lb mono should be more than stiff enough for you to thread it through easily.
 
What you need to do is tie a plastic bead just abit smaller than the inside diameter of the tube to the end of the kite string then seal the vacuum to the tube with tape, it will fly through then
 
TRY A SMALL PIECE OF YARN. SUCK IT THROUGH FIRST THEN TIE THE MONO TO IT AND PULL IT BACK THROUGH. ALSO KEEP THE VINYL TUBING PULLED AS STRAIGHT AS POSSIBLE AND TAPE THE END OF THE VACUM TO THE TUBING SO NO AIR CAN SUCK BY. THE YARN SHOULD RIP THROUGH. GOOD LUCK
BRAD
 
Last edited:
it's all friction

To pull mono through a vynil tubing here what I did:

1)I pushed mono into the tubing as much as I could.
2)Then, my friend put the tubing with the end of the mono on the ground and pressed it to fix the end of mono inside (accidentally, he used the edge of a tennis racket). At the same time I pulled the end of the tubing, feeding the mono into the tubing. The tubing is very stretchy so you can feed about 10-15feet.
3) Then I fixed mono at the end of the tubing with my fingers, while my friend let the tubing go. Magically, mono started to crawl inside as the tubing contracted. Now the friction works for you, not against.

Bu doing steps 2 and 3 several times we managed to pull about 80 feet.

P.S. magnet and vacuum cleaner with a pulling line failed for me.
 
Reactions: Pablo
Get a pressure line coming out an air compressor or diving tank.

On your kite string attach something can act like a piston... like a small plastic ball. Extending straight the vinyl pipe you need to feed some line (a bit of wire will do that nicely) and then apply some pressurized air that will push the piston pulling the line. Feed some more line and apply some more air.

A vacuum cleaner create dif of pressure of a few weak psi. With a compressor you can at least create a dif of 50-60psi = more pulling force!

You may be able to feed the string with a thin tube, while still forcing the air in... much faster!

Let me know if he works, because I always want to try that!!!

I like Zerg approach, and at least we know he works!
 
It worked!

Kumuhunta had the right idea.

Well, I feel kinda stoopid for not trying the obvious first. As Kumuhunta suggested, I just pushed the stiff mono thru the tubing! I guess I didn't try this at first 'cause I thought the friction would be too much. You just have straighten out the tubing first. Pushing 200 lb mono thru 100' of 5/16 O.D. tubing (3/16 I.D.) was no problem at all.

The only thing I'm concerned about now is not being able to see the clear tubing in the water. I'm thinking about spraying some paint into the tubing to give it some contrast so it doesn't disappear.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

Arty
 
ARTY
I have made quite a few float lines and used just plain Rit dye to color them but black dye always came out purple. I then discovered that if you boil the vinyl tube with the powered dye it will keep the black color and dye it more uniformly than just cold dye. I have a clambake cooker and an old pot that I use for the dye. One other thing is that befor the vinyl cools down stretch it out straight or it will take the shape it was in when boiled
Brad
 
Where do you guys get the vinyl tubing from. Is it the clear kind they use in hardware stores? Also how do you keep the inside airtight? It does need to be airtight to float right. Im thinking about making myself a float line. Ive seen two differnt kinds of tubing used before. One was like a black irrigation line that was very stiff and kinda thin. The other was like the clear tube that you can find in hardware stores only it was blue. I like the bigger blue one because it seems more flexable and looks nicer.
 

Yes its the stuff from hardwear stores and it does need to be air tight. This can be done by using silicon sealer around the swivel as you push it into the end of the tubing before crimping Well thats what I did and its still watertight after 4 years
 
Hey thanks alot for all the info. The store wanted 46$ for a 50ft tag line with 600lb mono in it. I rember reading over here that you can make your own. Even worse the cheap black one that looks like irrigation line I could get it by the spool fulls since my dad is a irrigation specialist for the sugar plantation. Im stoked that I dont have to spend almost 50 bucks for something that I could make for free or probally 20 bucks if I go for the vinyl tubing.Thanks for the info. I love this forum. Such a wealth of information.
 
NOt sure if this will work but here goes.

Find a high rise block of flats. Go to a high floor (over 100 ft) and knock on one of the doors.

Tell them you are on the verge of a technological breakthrough and conducting a highly important experiment which requires the use of their window.

drop the vinylt tubing out of the windowso it is hanging straight down.

Using a small nail tied to some string, drop the nail through the tubing and allow gravity to work for you.

Once it has come out the other side you attach the mono to the string and pull it through.

It should work but if you get your ass whooped don't blame me



Drop
 
As it has been mentioned before, the mono should slip through the pipe, just keep the pipe straight (attached to something or somebody holding it for you). Then on the other end you begin to insert and push the mono.
It helps to get water into the pipe, that makes the mono slip easier.
I have done this many times and the line works pretty well.
About the visibility, dont worry cause you are going to see it, there is air that stays inside the pipe, and you see this. (Well, and for those who like colors, the red mono looks good too).

Its also a good idea (to make the line more flotable and to always have it behind/above you) to attach a little buoy 5 mts from the end that goes to you or to the speargun. (Buoys like those circular ones that the fishermen have in their nets, like 2.5'' diam x 1 '' thick. Just make a hole through it (diameter) and pass the pipe, then glue it.)
This way, if you go up some meters, the line will follow you up faster than if it wouldnt have that extra buoy.

Cheers

Roberto
 
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