I did some extensive calling and research and here is what I conclude. I preface my following remarkes with the fact that I am not a scientist or engineer. Just an old retired guy who loves to spearfish. So this information is only my rational analysis of the information I gathered. Your opinions will vary.
My conclusions are based on my research, conversations with Primeline Industries, knowledgeable authorities, and my own humble ignorant opinion.
1. Basic Premise: Primeline makes the best and most consistent rubber tubing worldwide and is generally acknowledged as the leader in producing the best spear gun rubber available.
Some of my finding is kind of sac religious and contrary to the accepted company line of our own community members and dealers. Resellers hawk differences to differentiate their product as unique and superior. In other word s there is a lot of sales hype going on in my opinion. It’s a business no harm in that.
Myths and facts
Establishment axiom #1
Dealers tout the fact that they have fresh rubber as a selling point since they assert that it degenerates quickly.
Primeline Industries Says “Rubber stored correctly out of sunlight with no exposure to ozone at a temp between 50 and 80 degrees has a shelf life of say 30 years. In fact according to the experts it become stronger over the course of a year as it continues to cure. At which point it is at its strongest. It then remains stable for decades if stored properly at a fairly constant strength.
It is arguable that once a band is tied that pressure is stressing the band at the point of the ties. If that were the point when the degeneration clock starts ticking then bulk rubber untied would still be viable for years.
Establishment axiom #2
Dealers tout the fact that their rubber that has a thin black outer walls covering and an amber core as the best of both world because it prevents UV break down and still uses the unadulterated amber inside for purer rubber. Since amber has no dye the resin does not dilute it.
Resin is added to the rubber compound to produce the color. Rubber made without any resin is somewhat amber. Since amber is translucent they can make adjustments during production to produce a slightly better and more consistent rubber tube. If it has resin mixed in it’s a one shot deal and no adjustments are made.
According to Primeline Industries so little resin is added even in solid black tubing that the difference between it and pure amber is very marginal if in fact detectable. The force calculator doesn’t register a significance difference between color and non-colored latex tubing.
I believe it could still be argued that amber was purer and therefore however slightly superior. As for the break down of the rubber by UV rays it happens slowly and there is no data to show a black outer wall or pure black latex tube is a deterrent in the speed of deterioration of rubber tubing. I understand this is a commonly held belief I am just saying there is no data to support. It.
I understand that some divers advocate for storing their rubber bands in the freezer to prolong its life. Primeline experts suggest that actually storing it in the freezer could allow ice crystals to form inside it and actually do some possible harm. Better of in the refidigator if you subscribe to that belief system.
Establishment axiom #3
The most common ID in rubber latex tubes used in spear guns in the 1/8”. The ID is the inside diameter of the rubber tubing. (The little hole in the middle). In a typical 5/8” band the outside diameter would be 5/8” then the inside wall on the right side would be ¼”, the hole 1/8”, and the left side wall would be ¼” for a total of 5/8”. Some European are going to a 1/16” ID this makes the outer wall slightly thicker. The benefit suggested is two fold more rubber and a smaller inner hold to retain water. I plotted it out on the Primeline force calculator and it registers a 3% increase in power. About two pounds additional pull.
This 1/16 ID is not widely available in the USA but is becoming more of a standard in Europe. It is more costly and requires a special run from Primeline with larger minimum quantity order then the standard regular 5/8” x 1/8” ID rubber.
Is it worth it? Well I ordered some and have enough to make a set for my Wong 55” GR gun but no opinion since it untested. Still it is fun to experiment. However costly.
What about Rob Allen bands, or the Blue colored ones from Mako? Or the red ones from hammerhead. Well I called Mako they said there is no in performance difference between its Primeline black tubing (Currently 5/8” x 1/8” $2.70 a foot) and its Primeline Blue colored latex bands. (Currently 5/8” x 1/8” $4.38 a foot) That is a difference of $1.68 a foot. Do you think a fish cares what color band you shot him with? (They were out of Black and offered to see me the blue for the same price)
All bands made by Primeline use the exact same compound. It doesn’t matter what color resin they use. They may have different specs such as the thickness variance of the outer blue wall vs. the amber core wall size and the currently emerging ID 1/16 hole but in the end it is all the same materials just arranged in varying configurations and colors.
The placebo effect is exploited because we believe if it costs a lot more it has to be superior and functionally much better. The resin added is almost negligibly and as a result technically the cheapest Primeline rubber you can find no matter how it is packaged will be the best you can get. A rose by any other name is still a rose.
Many of you will be certain and just plain know for a fact that the rubber latex you are using is the best and better certainly the pure black. You experience and gut will just know it is. I ask that you step back and reflect no matter how successful you are with your current setup that maybe just maybe you are that good and could kill fish with a tire inner tube.
Some companies buy in such large quantities they get a seriously low price on the rubber (5000 ft. at a time). and can sell it to you almost or ever cheaper than if you purchased directly from Primline. Primeline will sell directly to you but you need a minimum order of 100 feet and the price at that level of bulk order would be $2.54 cents a foot for 5/8” x 1/8” ID (Amber, Black/Amber, and pure black) same price. If you wanted to try the new 1/16” ID hole that is 5/8” x 1/16 you would need to order a minimum of 100 feet at a cost of 2.97 per foot.
Well there you have what I discovered and love it or hate it I just sayin.
