Fishing line isn’t just good for fishing; it can also be used in a lot of arts and crafts projects. However, since fishing line comes in spools, it may take the shape of the spool and appear twisted or tangled when you try to use it.
If you want to use fishing lines in various crafts, you will have to straighten the line before it can be useful. Fortunately, there are several ways that you can straighten fishing lines with ease.
How do you straighten fishing line for crafts? There are three easy methods for straightening fishing line: the anchor method, rectangular board method, and warm water method. We’ll explain each method in detail below. Do not attempt to straighten fishing line using high heat, or it will melt.
In this article, we will share three ways that you can straighten fishing lines quickly and easily before using them in your craft.
How To Straighten Fishing Line
The first thing you need to know about fishing line is that it is made of synthetic materials, most commonly nylon or polyethylene.
Why is that important? While “straightening” is mostly associated with heat (like when you use a steamer or iron to straighten your clothes), synthetic materials like nylon can easily melt under high heat.
You can still use a moderate amount of heat to straighten the fishing lines, but over-cranking the heat may leave you with an ugly, melted mess.
Fortunately, these materials also have “memory,” which means they can easily conform to their most recent shape. So, when the fishing line is wrapped in a spool, it will come out with circular loops, but when you wrap it in a straight line, the twists will relax and straighten in no time.
Now that you know the properties of the material, here are some of the easiest ways that you can straighten fishing line.
1. Anchor Method
If you have a spool of fishing line and you only want to use a few yards of the material, the easiest way to straighten the fishing line would be to tie one end of it around a sturdy anchor, for example, a table leg.
Then, walk backward until you have reached the other end of the fishing line, and pull the line so that it’s taut, but not so tight that it will break. After a minute or so, your fishing line will be totally straight.
If you have a short piece of fishing line, you can also hold each end in one hand and pull your hands apart to apply some tension to the fishing line. It should relax after several pulls.
2. Rectangular Board Method
If you want to straighten your fishing line for future use, one great way to relax the fishing line is to transfer it from the spool to a rectangular board. Wrapping the fishing line around the board will create short, straight lines. You can use a wooden board, or even cardboard.
You can store the fishing line this way to always have straight fishing line to use. If you need quick results, you can also use a blow dryer with a low heat setting and blowdry the line while it is wrapped around the board. Don’t apply too much heat too close to the fishing line, or it may melt.
Keep in mind that the line will only be straight in the portions that span the length of the board, and it will be bent around the edges of the board where the fishing line is wrapped to the other side, so this method is not great if you need a long, straight line. It is usually the best method when you need short pieces for jewelry making.
3. Warm Water Method
If your fishing line is hopelessly twisted and tangled, don’t worry; warm water can help.
You can pour warm water (warm, not boiling) in a bucket and drop the fishing line in for a few minutes. Make sure that every portion of the line is submerged in the water to make sure that the line is evenly relaxed. After a few minutes, all of the “memory” in the fishing line will be completely removed.
Because heat is the main element that helps relax the fishing line in this method, you will need to make sure that the water is not too hot because it will melt the fishing line. Nylon, for example, melts at 220°F (water boils at 212°F. If you use boiling water for this method, your fishing line will definitely melt.
Once the fishing line is completely relaxed, you can use the board method to store the fishing line, so it will always be straight for your next use.
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