Gillie said:
Juro,
When you pass the braid over the exposed core are you passing it over the intact line also ? If I'm reading it right you are and you are tying the whole nail knot over intact line with the braid and core section doubled over the intact line ?
Gille
Yes, this is very important. Tying a nail knot over the exposed core won't pass the snag test. The compression of the nail knot is achieved by pulling on alternate ends, the opposite end bites the far end of the nail knot and vice-versa.
To prepare the coating, I whittle the coating with a fresh razor. I've tried both flattening the side I make the loop with and tapering, both work. This keeps the folded side from protruding out and simplifies the passing of the braid over the coating.
Don't worry about frayed ends on the line side of the braid, that will be clipped flush with a nail clipper after the nail knot is done and the aquaseal covers it. Just push it down further so you get enough to nail knot. The best of both worlds might be to wrap the colored tying thread over the clipped ends further smoothing it out.
The total glued area is barely larger than the nail knot in size, which is typically 8-9 turns. It's a tiny loop overall.
You can make the loop less than 1/2" without degrading performance. The biggest advantage of the braid is that even after the worst snag you can still uncompress the loop and change to a lighter tip. The integral core ensures strength and this loop does not hinge at all. Core to core loops hinge and do not uncompress easily.
By far the best nail knot tool for this job is a large needle eye. Just wrap the mono around the shank of the needle, pass the tag end thru the eye of the needle, and pull the needle out. Instant nail knot. Choose a needle without a lot of flare for easiest pullout. Should cost you less than a dollar at a craft store. I pop them in my foam flybox too for the fastest nail knots in the field ever.
When snagged I have cut tips in half on volcanic rock without popping the loop. This compression over the coating, the proper tightening of the nail knot from opposite ends, and aquaseal (without substitution) are key to making permanent bullet proof loops.