Tauten Fishing Line Welder Independent Review [Strength Test vs. Fishing Knots] 

I believe this would be very good for elderly people who have the shakes or bad eyesight or anybody who has same damaged hands and can't tie a knot

I just want to thank you guys on these videos and how much effort you guys put in testing and making it simple for all of us Anglers to reduce our mistakes, a big thanks and keep up you great content!

What a great test and thanks for being so informative and transparent.

I don't have a dog in this fight, but I saw a demo of this thing recently and the guy that did it said/did a couple of things differently that I wonder, had you done, how it might have affected the outcome of your tests. For starters, instead of connecting the line directly to the hook and welding, he used the welder to make a fair sized loop in the line and connected the hook after-the-fact with a cow hitch-similar to the way you would connect an eyed hook to a dropper loop or snell a hook with wire leader and a crimp. Later, when he demoed it with braid, someone asked about slippage (maybe they saw your video?). He said it *can* happen if the braid has a coating on it like Teflon. Someone in the audience suggested tying a small double overhand knot in the tag end before trimming it but he didn't really acknowledge them. His suggestion was to experiment with different braids and/or try crossing the tag end of braid over the main line when looping it around one of the posts. The very last thing he showed was a braid-to-mono connection. However, rather than placing them side-by-side like you had, he did it by looping the lines together and pulling them taught. Adding that, they sell some accessory to make it even easier to do. Also, regardless of the line type, he was pretty adamant that the optimal line diameter was no more than .014". Which made me think that was why the 10lb line you tested did the best. I agree this is a lot of money to spend on a "gadget" but I'm curious if any of these differences would give you better results.

If you search knot wars on RU-vid they have very detailed instruction on how to tie dozens of knots and test the break strength of each knot on some fancy knot breaking machine but the highly detailed animations of the knot ties makes it easy for anyone to see how they are tied ....love your channel keep up the good work ....tight lines

Great job testing this equipment.

Pretty cool. Great if you're missing a few fingers.

well...i guess the positive side of this video is the fact that he saved a bunch of people quite a but of money, lol.

Glad you made this saved me a lot of money from being wasted 😁👍🏻

Back to the drawing board for version 2. I was hoping that it would have worked.

Great to see you using the Orvis knot - my go-to knot for most terminal tackle.

nice thanks for the review, you guys are the best!

This is an awesome product for some people think about it, older people having trouble with knots, maybe missing some fingers, maybe they cant see the line cause of bad eyesight, ive seen some people cant tie knots because their hand shaking, maybe if you have a guide service you can try this, but for most of us doing a 10 sec knot is better

I've had other braids be brittle, but this has never let me down

Great video, keep them coming nice informative in home technical evaluation.

I got so excited at the premise for this product at the beginning of the video. I was always such a fish/tech sucker for new gadgets/gear as well as a recovering knot junkie. lol. Overall, it's great in theory in my opinion, but I'd wait a few dozen generations before buying using one myself... and I only have one usable hand lol. Speaking of which, I hope someone comes out with an effective, durable, and decent electric system for motorizing reels. I've got a few ideas, but that's about it, and everything on the market I've seen just seems like it's overpriced and very poorly made considering the tech available today. And I desperately miss fishing.... I miss it more than my arm and leg many days. All in all, great video. I'd love to see more like this. Thanks for the effort!

Thank you for the tests. At the start of the video, I have to admit I had high hopes on the welder, but based on your test results, they basically say it sucks. I see a lot of issues with it, can't handle 60 lbs mono, the knot is bulky and yet lacks strength, so what's the point?

AFTER WATCHING YOU TEST THE LINE AND CREATING THE KNOTS WITH THE APPARATUS, I'LL STICK WITH TIEING MY OWN.

Thanks for the video you saved me some money 👍

Luke I just looked at there website and for tying braid to leader or any knot for that matter it says to tie the 2 lines together first by a simple over hand knot then put it in the welder if you just lay them side by side the weld will not fully hold but with a simple over hand knot it gives the weld a little more strength and yes it says to always clean the lines first before insertion into the welder but yes it does seem to be a little time consuming anyways I always say whatever works if your good at knot tying then don't bother but if your knot it is an option thanks for the reciew

Would love to see a test between the FG knot and a PR Bobbin knot

on the line to line knot what if you wrap the lines together like you would normally or tie a knot on each tag end. would that make it a stronger knot. but then again it'll take more time than just tying then by hand. great job on testing that product.

as always top notch video, thanks. I agree with the other comment,I wouldnt pay $19.99 for it either.. can you imagine the horrible sound that would make going through the guides what were they thinking.

this would be awesome for us that put out trotlines and bush hooks all day. tying hundreds of knots at a time gets very tiring. even if it takes a little longer it be worth it.

I use a uni knot for line to leader or backing to main line but use a knot that I have never been able to identify that my Dad taught me as a kid for attaching hooks, lures and swivels. I have never had a knot fail. Line might break but never the knot. So I search knot videos and websites looking for what I was taught and have found close examples but never the exact knot I was taught.

If you read the specs on the product it says up to 12 pound mono line. And again it says .013 diameter braid. They are planning on making one for higher test line but for now you need to read the directions before you judge.

Might want to test weld vs perfection loop or rapala knot.

I didn't know such a device existed. Glad to see your results, I know now that I would not waste any money on the line welder. From my perspective, the "weld" is way too big. It may be OK if you were using 60# or 80# line with the huge hooks for large fish/baits. The one line that beat the Orvis knot was 10# line and that size "weld" would scare away any fish in a 3 county radius where I fished up north for Salmon, Trout and Steelhead. Incidentally it may actually work pretty well for a line to line connection for braid to mono or flouro. Try tying a small half hitch or two on the braid before welding and place the knots within the weld (close to the tag end of the braid). In theory the knot/s may help keep the braid from being pulled through. Of course knot strength is important but more important than the strength of a knot is the size of the knot when fishing for line-shy fish. More important than the size of the knot is knowing how to use your drag to accommodate your equipment to include the strength (or weakness) of your knots. For those who can't master the tricky, fancy or best-of-the-best knots, learn one or two simple knots and learn them well. Plenty of easy ones out there like the surgeons knot, the Orvis knot and the uni knot. Good enough. So, to conclude, thanks for taking the hit and sacrificing $190 so the rest of us could see what it is all about. I think your video was a success. I think the device was a fail on multiple fronts such as; cost (initial and recurring), time it took to "weld" lines, strength of the welds, practicality (it is a bit bulky for the pocket and it is one more electronic device to have to constantly charge up). I will seriously be taking my $190 a spending it on other things that will hopefully put more fish on my stringer.

Hey I would love it if you make a striper strong shirt. Was looking for it on your website.

Great review, thanks. I will stick with the FG!

The only test you need to do is on the brain of those who buy this device

Thanks for this non-biased analysis. I was hopeful because I like gadgets, but this one appears not quite ready for primetime.

The weld looks like it messes up the presentation. I'd go with a standard, hand-tied knot any day over this.

Yea, doesn't seem very applicable for inshore fishing, or other fishing for that matter. Cost, performance, time and aesthetics seem prohibitive. BUT, it is good to see people thinking and trying to apply ideas. And independent reviews of such ideas. Thanks to both.

wow, I swear on my life I had an idea like this back in 3rd grade for an invention contest because I hated tying knots. Should have patented my "Not-a-Knot"

I wonder with the braid, if you can weld it and throw in a half-hitch or two to keep it from slipping

Good test!

I havent had much luck with the Seguar 100% fluoro. been breaking at 9 pounds on 12 pound line. I had to toss it. seguar red label and p line break over 100% with an improved clinch.

Question? Would it be different scenario if you used their line?

Wow those welds are huge

im wondering if weld line to line will mess up casts since it might get mest up in rings of rod

Would have been interesting if you had twisted the lines within the weld area and see if that strengthened the join?

I believe if you would have took the leader and looped it and run the braid through the loop, the two lines not being parallel but looped would have given you the strength to withstand the rating of the line. If that makes any sense.

The Tauten Line Welder does not work on 30 lbs. lines (fluoro or mono) the upper limit is 14lb. test. On the braid to mono/fluoro connection requires that you loop the lines. See the back page instructional video on the Tauten website. Nice work on the video.

Nice ,but would it matter if u use the liine that came in the box.

In theory this is a cool idea. Especislly for line to line connections. I HATE getting snagged and i HATE retying in the middle of fishing.

Actually with a bit of thought twisting or tying an fg knot with out tying it of then using the line welder to secure it I'd say for professional longliners net fishermen and lure heads it's not a bad piece as a wall hanger could put it up there with my Pollock

If you after tying knot, put super glue on the knot then spray it with super glue excellerator. Would that make the knot stronger or weaker??

the other issue i see is the connection or weld is way to long and bulky....

how many tests involved clean line.. with the swabs that you were instructed to do.

Great video. Now folks can make a better decision whether to buy or not. As the saying goes, if you can't tie a knot, tie a lot!

The light line was also the only one you cleaned. I would clean some 30# mono and give it another quick test, just to see if the cleaning makes that much of a difference!

Why would you opt for smaller size line when the "knot" looks like well rope? Looks as though the "heating of the line helps cause failure in several cases. Maybe curing the weld longer would reduce slippage. But I've tied the knots for 65+ years...not interested in changing.

What part of Florida do u fish in?

I would rather save my $200 and buy a another rod, and probably some more gear.

Interesting I’d be using it more for finishing the knot not so much for the knot itself

So the braid to floro weld would of never been stronger that a Fg knot but as far as the machine goes they need to change the design to where the weld molds the hook to the line not just line to line that will take the loop out and make it nice and tight it would probably be a real contender for a comparison also they probably need to re adjust the melt times and heat used for better results that way the Don't weaken the tag ends

Great video and I’m not a fan of the welder.......however, the test wasn’t really fair. You were comparing a loop knot to a cinch knot. Be curious to see how it does against a hand tied loop knot. Also, they posted a video on braid to fluorocarbon lines and they tie a simple knot in the middle and double the ends back which I’m sure makes it much stronger. Still too bulky and WAY too expensive. Good for people with hand and sight issues for sure but very costly.

id hate to try and cast a leader with one of those welds ist massive

I could see that knot from the space station

Maybe good for making tapered leaders?

Thank you Nicholas Cage for enriching my life with this information.

My husband has Parkinson's and can no longer tie knots. This allows him to continue fishing on his own.

So what is your suggestion. I would like to know your personal opinion. Would you spend the $199 on it? Do you think it's good enough?? Yes I did see the review but I didn't get a feeling wether or not you would actually tell your members to buy it or not. Just curious.

Requires you to purchase cartridges endlessly, slow to heat up & overpriced. So it's a Keurig for fishing knots? :) Really well done, thorough review tho.

the best idiea for that is probibly ganna be anything like a drop shot rig in my opinion

Thanks for the video. For $199.00 The final product is definitely not worth that kind of money.

I wonder if that flourocarbon weld disappears underwater!

Neat

Wonder how much of a difference it would make to loop the line through the hook twice. Either way it's a really silly device.

Best invention in years. Have to get price down

199 is absolutely insane price! 19.99 would still be over priced!

Double up the loop, try it

several things wrong with this.. first try using line savers so that the loop isn't the weak point. Use 40lb+ line. Use san diego jam knot. Use at least 6x hooks. and test the weld in the middle of a line to see if the line breaks at the weld or mid stretch point of the line.

Great review, but I'll stick w/ my own knots. The price is too steep.

I have had some great success with this machine, and with knots. So to me it's 50/50. This machine to me for no more than what it does it's not worth the price. If you can just tie your own knots. Would I go out and buy another one? No, unless I'm giving it to my grandfather who really could use this because of his nerves. He shakes fairly bad. I think the same as other people on here. If you got hand, eye, and or nerve damaged this would be great for them.

The only place i see this possibly useful is for offshore fishing. Not like im going to be in the yak and pull out my welder. fg, and palomar knots are stong enough. But thanks for the review.

awesome review...saw this product a few days ago. Glad I did not invest..

Neat but weld is to big... never have had a problem with the good ole palomar knot. Seriously that is the easiest, fastest and strongest knot there is. Only gets tighter the hard the fish pulls

I'm sure heating the line is what weakened the loop

Awesome video. Crap product. Thanks for keeping it honest. Us fisherman need all the new toys 😂

knots all the way

I am so glad I didn't buy one of these. Thanks for the video.

I mean I can see uses, but... not many.

I could buy myself another salmon fly reel, at that price.

To think I've been tying knots this whole time like a god damn animal.

It appears to be a $200.00 fishing weight.

try 200lb mono

5 minutes in and I knew I wouldn't pay $20.00. Its like one of those As seen on TV items that look cool on commercial but once you get product in hand you realize its cheap and doesn't work as good on TV.

its not fair cuz the weld give more weight to the line

Most people clicked off after they saw the ridiculous size of that first knot. I know I did.

Unless you can't, learn to the knots. It's free for a lifetime

Hey im sorry but they posted a video detailing techniques for line to line connections and you didnt follow their examples. They recommend joining the lines with an overhand knot and melting that. Also making a loop between the 2 lines and melting that. No where did they recommend simply putting the lines side by side and melting. I dont think you did a fair test. Look up "braid to mono technique" by tauten here on youtube.

same concept as fiber optic splicing.

My hands were disabled in nam and now my eyes are getting old .. but 200+ bucks for a light line welder ensures I'll keep using my wife for tying. She's more expensive, but she cooks great, does the laundry and still says she loves me - things this overpriced tool can never do.

dont know how they can call it a welder when it is just hot melt glue not a weld

seems like an over priced gimmik. my luck the cartridge would run out just as i needed it.

polymer knot so easy this thing such a gimmick lol

I thought it was cool until I heard it was 200 bucks. Lol

Waste money.. I think tying knots to a hook or swivel is easy.. If it was made for braid to fc and was as good as fg knot then maybe i'll buy one but only if it was as thin as the fg knot cause that thickness looks like it will braid the line just going through the guides.