I set up my old myford machine lathe to test my knots.. and figure out why some are strong others not as...

It was thru this that I 'discovered' about making sure every turn, hitch in braid needs to be done each time.

By watching a knot dig into its turns one gets to understand why different knots are better for different mediums and line diameters.

 The biggest fail was where.. be it due to the type of knot, medium diameters or simply tied untidy, the loaded strand(s) crossed inside the knot itself

A good video here

Basically it is a small tool, that one end is the tip of the rod, the other the reel handle the main line is tensioned to.

 And the method to tie.. figure of 8s of the trace around the main line between the anchor/ tension points, and pull up each time.. 

 Note how they stress and demonstrate each turn must be pulled up...

The finish knots.. now that is where things slow down , have to mess around changing anchor points, even after the 1st tie off to secure the plaits..

 Helps tie great FG knots in PE1/16lb leader to PE8/200lb.

This tool helps when bouncing on the water in a small boat and or in the wind.

Most others vary between 40 and 70%.

 Most knots are not tied 100% well.

 Therefore doesn't matter if fishing or hanging off a rope on a clift face  the tension strength of the line should be taken..

 eg a 30lb line with a say.. uni .. means the line now becomes 20 to 22lbs.

 So when you snap off it means a very close inspection as it if it was the knotted  line that failed or the knot.

 most cases it will be the knotted line not the knot.

You must have faith in whatever knot you tie or dont use it.

There are numerous ways to tie the FG, but the method in this vid works for me. And this is about as fast as I can tie it - it has a simple tie off at the end, not Rizzuto etc. if you add a complicated finish, it would take longer.

 15 mins video.....Its only a 35 / 45 sec knot to tie...

 I put a 1/2  hitch around the braid.. 3 1/2 hitches , each pulled up as you go.. around braid and trace. 3 x 1/2 hitches around the braid to give a taper .

 cut the trace back flush..

 Im not a fan of getting heat close to braid /synthetic lines.. heat very quickly kills fine line strength.. and you dont know if it has till you loose that PB fish.

After a lot of use the trace occasionally pulls back out of iys last 1/2 hitch.. quick snip...but doesn't effect the integrity of the knot.. and by that time it or the trace usually past its use by date and ready to be replaced anyway.