I've been using single-braid dyneema (Amsteel, Endura 12, etc.) for a variety of applications. It's lightweight, incredibly strong, and easy to splice. In fact, it's so strong that for lightly loaded applications (on my small boat), I thought I'd try something even smaller.
The smallest Amsteel is 7/64" (~2.8 mm). It runs about $.30/foot, and is rated for 1600 lb breaking strength (so ~320 lbs working load at a 5:1 safety factor). Samson also makes a single-braid dyneema product called Lash-It, that's about 1.5mm (rated 500 lbs, or ~100 lb SWL). I picked up a 180 foot spool for $18 on WM's 40%-off-line sale.
I wanted to add a messenger line for my 2:1 spinnaker halyard - a nice application for really thin (and low windage) line. I thought some others might be interested in my experience with this tiny line. (Note: I did this before reading Samson's site that calls Lash-it 'not spliceable'. In my experience, splicing is doable, but not trivial).
First, I found that my standard wire fids won't fit in it. I've always made wire fids from a random spool of wire I had laying around. As it turns out, it measures .035" (I never thought to measure before). That's too big for this line, so I picked up a bit of tiny piano wire on Amazon. I bought .010". It's working, but I'd recommend something in between. Maybe ~.020". If for no other reason than that the .010 is SHARP! I left a little blood on my desk during this project; caveat emptor.
I wasn't sure if I could separate the braid enough to do a Brummel splice, but finish nails of a couple sizes (dulled just a bit on the grinder) worked well (then I can get a normal fid in to widen it a bit). If you have a tiny dull pick, that would work too.
The strands are pretty close to the limit of my aging eyesight, so I know my tapers aren't great. But for low loads, I think it'll work.
While I was at it, I replaced my fixed topping lift line* (for the same reasons). With a boom that only weighs around 30 lbs, the topping lift load can't be any more than ~15 lbs; well within spec for this line.
The 'hand' is stiffer than Amsteel - it seems to be braided a little tighter, so it's more prone to hockles (no surprise in a product that's really intended for lashing). I don't think that will be a problem for the topping lift line (which stays fixed in place), but it might be annoying for the messenger line. TBD.
I may replace my flag halyards as well (1/8" solid-braid nylon only lasts a season or so in the UV, even up here in the cloudy PNW; dyneema would probably last me for decades). Same for my backpacking bear hanging lines** (the stretch in my nylon lines is annoying).
In theory, you could make really tiny soft shackles with it (~1k lb breaking strength using Evans Starzinger's design). I haven't tried that yet; I tend to think that 2mm or 2.2mm would be a better minimum there, but I might give it a try sometime.
If you're interested, there are a few other options for tiny dyneema - NER makes a 3/32 Endura 12 (~2.4mm). Apparently it's used for spearfishing tethers, so there's lots on eBay.
* My topping lift is designed as at https://www.catalinadirect.com/inde...opping-lift-kit-std-rig-cp-22-c-25-c-250-.cfm and https://stingysailor.com/2018/07/21/boom-topping-lift-solution-2/, with a mini block at the end of a fixed line from the masthead. With a short control line, a cheek block, and a cleat on the boom. This Lash-It setup replaces the larger fixed line.
** That would be to hang food away from bears, not to hang bears. If you need the latter, I'm afraid you're on your own (and probably at the wrong Internet form - see https://darwinawards.com instead).
The smallest Amsteel is 7/64" (~2.8 mm). It runs about $.30/foot, and is rated for 1600 lb breaking strength (so ~320 lbs working load at a 5:1 safety factor). Samson also makes a single-braid dyneema product called Lash-It, that's about 1.5mm (rated 500 lbs, or ~100 lb SWL). I picked up a 180 foot spool for $18 on WM's 40%-off-line sale.
I wanted to add a messenger line for my 2:1 spinnaker halyard - a nice application for really thin (and low windage) line. I thought some others might be interested in my experience with this tiny line. (Note: I did this before reading Samson's site that calls Lash-it 'not spliceable'. In my experience, splicing is doable, but not trivial).
First, I found that my standard wire fids won't fit in it. I've always made wire fids from a random spool of wire I had laying around. As it turns out, it measures .035" (I never thought to measure before). That's too big for this line, so I picked up a bit of tiny piano wire on Amazon. I bought .010". It's working, but I'd recommend something in between. Maybe ~.020". If for no other reason than that the .010 is SHARP! I left a little blood on my desk during this project; caveat emptor.
I wasn't sure if I could separate the braid enough to do a Brummel splice, but finish nails of a couple sizes (dulled just a bit on the grinder) worked well (then I can get a normal fid in to widen it a bit). If you have a tiny dull pick, that would work too.
The strands are pretty close to the limit of my aging eyesight, so I know my tapers aren't great. But for low loads, I think it'll work.
While I was at it, I replaced my fixed topping lift line* (for the same reasons). With a boom that only weighs around 30 lbs, the topping lift load can't be any more than ~15 lbs; well within spec for this line.
The 'hand' is stiffer than Amsteel - it seems to be braided a little tighter, so it's more prone to hockles (no surprise in a product that's really intended for lashing). I don't think that will be a problem for the topping lift line (which stays fixed in place), but it might be annoying for the messenger line. TBD.
I may replace my flag halyards as well (1/8" solid-braid nylon only lasts a season or so in the UV, even up here in the cloudy PNW; dyneema would probably last me for decades). Same for my backpacking bear hanging lines** (the stretch in my nylon lines is annoying).
In theory, you could make really tiny soft shackles with it (~1k lb breaking strength using Evans Starzinger's design). I haven't tried that yet; I tend to think that 2mm or 2.2mm would be a better minimum there, but I might give it a try sometime.
If you're interested, there are a few other options for tiny dyneema - NER makes a 3/32 Endura 12 (~2.4mm). Apparently it's used for spearfishing tethers, so there's lots on eBay.
* My topping lift is designed as at https://www.catalinadirect.com/inde...opping-lift-kit-std-rig-cp-22-c-25-c-250-.cfm and https://stingysailor.com/2018/07/21/boom-topping-lift-solution-2/, with a mini block at the end of a fixed line from the masthead. With a short control line, a cheek block, and a cleat on the boom. This Lash-It setup replaces the larger fixed line.
** That would be to hang food away from bears, not to hang bears. If you need the latter, I'm afraid you're on your own (and probably at the wrong Internet form - see https://darwinawards.com instead).
