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We
have partnerships with 2 different netting manufacturers,
who have a combined 150+ years experience in the netting
industry.
There
are 2 key factors that contribute to the quality of a
net.
1)
Qualify of raw materials
2)
Quality of craftsmanship
Without
high levels of both, you will not end up with a high quality
net. Plain and simple - all nets are NOT created
equal. Nets can be very deceiving, because on
the surface most all netting looks exactly the same, to
the untrained eye.
This
is where we come in.
We
researched the net industry for over 7 years, did independent
testing, interviewed customers & major players in
the net industry to locate the top sources.
Our
independent position enabled us to use an objective viewpoint
to select 2 of the top net shops to form partnerships
with.
We
then worked closely with each net shop to define our requirements,
ensuring they use both high grade raw materials, and produce
a top shelf finished product.
After
all, it's our reputation that's on the line, so we knew
it was critical to find reliable partners, because a good
reputation is paramount to being successful in the netting
industry. Why? Because all netting
eventually wears out, and if we don't impress customers
enough the 1st time, to create long-term customers, we
would soon be out of business.
Why
did you partner with multiple net shops?
To
put it simply - because each of them offers something
different. And not to be cliche, but this gives our customers
the "best of all worlds", enabling us to offer
high-quality products to every market -- from Amateur
to Pro-level netting -- all of which is the 'highest quality
for the dollar' you will find in the industry, guaranteed.
What
benefit do I get purchasing from you, instead of directly
from the manufacturer?
First
& foremost, we have an objective view on the net industry.
Although we have partnerships with the net shops, our
companies are still independent -- this creates
2 major benefits for customers:
1)
We did all the research so you don't have to.
Our independent position allowed us to select
from every net shop in the industry, to find the absolute
best. We took an objective approach, from a customer's
standpoint -- except we did it for over
7 years, with a high level of scrutiny, and did comprehensive
testing. This allows us to give customers an
honest assessment of which netting is best for their situation,
regardless of the origin. We don't care which of our shops
fabricate your nets -- our main concern is that you get
the best net for both your application & budget -
and most of all - you're satisfied.
2)
You receive lower pricing.
Because we purchase high volumes of nets from our manufacturers,
we receive bulk pricing discounts. This actually allows
us to keep our retail prices even lower than the manufacturers
themselves, who have more over-head and need to make higher
profit-margins to stay in business. Since we are a smaller
company, our over-head is lower - hence, our retail pricing
is lower.
These
reasons make our company a "super net shop"
of sorts, and one of the most versatile in the industry
- because we have combined the forces of the industry's
top netting shops. No other single shop or broker can
offer this type of service, because they all have an agenda
to fill - which is naturally biased towards their shop,
irrespective of your true needs. Our only agenda is that
your needs are met, you are completely satisfied, and
will give us a good reference.
Can
I contact your net shops directly?
Part
of the arrangement we have with our shops, is that we
manage all customer interaction. Their specialty is fabricating
nets, so request that we represent them with all of our
customers - this creates a more efficient work-shop, and
ensures you will receive your net much sooner. All
of the manufacturer warranties still apply, and we can
assist with every aspect of the order process -- before,
and after.
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Feel
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Facts
about our Net Shops: (top)
Shop
A (lower-cost option):
- Raw
materials imported from China
- Custom
nets crafted from start to finish in the U.S.
- Stock-sized
nets imported from China
- Nets
all use "Square Mesh"
- Latex
Dip available for extra coating
Rating
-- Materials: 8/10 Craftsmanship: 10/10
*Prices
currently listed on website utilize netting from Net Shop
A.
Shop
B (higher quality option):
- Raw
materials purchased in U.S. (DuPont)
- Only
use highest grade material in the industry - DuPont
Nylon Type 66-728
- All
nets crafted from start to finish in the U.S.
- All
nets have "Square Mesh"
- Varnish
Dip available for extra coating (best dip option)
Rating
--- Materials: 10/10 Craftsmanship: 10/10
*Please
Contact Us to obtain pricing
for this netting option. Prices are approximately 25%
higher than "Plain" Nylon.
Bottom-Line:(top)
Just
like most products, you get what you pay for. The higher
priced nets are more expensive for a reason - they will
last longer -- but don't over-buy. Get the net that is
right for both your application & budget. The higher
priced nets are more intended for College & Professional
level use, while the imports will work just fine for Little-Leagues,
High-Schools, Back-Yards, and even some Training Facilities
operating on a tight budget.
So
unless you have strong convictions towards U.S. based
products, don't be dissuaded from the China-based nets,
simply because they aren't DuPont netting. Our import
nets are still very high quality, and most likely more
than sufficient for your situation.
The
fact is, most items you use on a daily basis, and probably
the computer you're using was manufactured over-seas.
Imported products aren't inherently bad - products purchased
domestically can also be low quality - the key is that
the shop uses quality materials, and has quality craftsmen.
The net shop we use in China satisfies both of
these requirements.
If
the quality isn't that much lower, why are imports so
much cheaper?
This
is simply because there are more net builders in China
than the U.S. Because the fishing industry is more vibrant
in China, this creates a higher demand for netting, which
creates a higher number of net builders. Competition drives
pricing down.
See
Prices
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Need
more Tips or a Quote?
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free to contact us with
any other questions.
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Background
& Facts about Nylon & Poly:
What
is Nylon? (top)
Nylon
is a polyamide. It was invented by the DuPont Corporation
in the late 1930's.. It was intended to be a synthetic
replacement for silk and substituted for it in parachutes
and also making things like ropes, flak vests, vehicle
tires, combat uniforms and many other military uses after
the United States entered World War II in 1941, making
stockings hard to find until the war's end. Nylon fibers
are now used in fabrics, bridal veils, carpets and ropes,
and solid nylon is used for mechanical parts and as an
engineering material.
Nylon
is stronger than sisal, hemp or cotton. It is stronger
than most Polyethylene. It has tremendous shock absorption
properties and it is this elasticity that gives it its
tremendous strength. It just ....s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-s .......
so much before it breaks.
Nylon
FACTS
*FACT:
UV light is the worse enemy of any fiber (nylon or polyethylene)
Nylon in it's natural state is a white fiber. It must
be treated to keep out UV rays. That is why nylon is always
treated in some sort of net coating - most commonly a
black dye.
*FACT:
Nylon has a Specific Gravity of 1.14 which means it sinks
in water. It also means it absorbs water. In fact, when
nylon is soaked in water (or rained on) the H²O molecules
penetrate into the polyamide molecules and cause the fibers
to slip and slide (like they were greased ). This sliding
motion keeps the fibers from locking fully and wet nylon
becomes weaker by approximately 10% -- this is why it's
important to allow your net to sun-dry in between use.
If it's consistently used when water-logged, the lower
strength of the fibers when impacted will cause the net
to deteriorate quicker.
*FACT:
Nylon has very good abrasion characteristics. When coated
in an oil based net coating, it becomes very abrasive
resistant.
*FACT:
What does tensile strength have to do with a baseball
hitting a flexible net? Very little. The spinning ball
actually wears the netting down by abrasion and heat.
In years past, when hardballs were used exclusively, the
need for very abrasion resistant netting was a must. Nylon
was very prevalent as it was used extensively in the fishing
industry. Tar and oil based coatings were also very easily
obtainable. Now most teams are using PVC or dimpled balls.
These poly balls are ideal for 'sliding' across a slick
surface. Its a Poly type ball sliding across a Poly or
Nylon dipped net which proves to be the most effective
against abrasion.
As
a result, Break-Strength is not nearly as important as
Abrasion Resistance. Nylon netting is known for its high
break-strength -- in many cases this is excessive, and
you are paying for something you will never really use.
To be sure you are receiving a Nylon net with the highest
level of abrasion resistance, it will need to be coated
in a water-resistant dip. Another alternative and more
economical option is our Poly.
*FACT:
Most companies that manufacture nylon netting, get their
raw fibers from auto tire makers. They are able to purchase
these nylon filaments because the fibers fail to pass
the government's stringent tests for raw nylon required
by the DOT and other agencies. The "reject"
tire fibers are sold for twine , rope, and other nylon
products. The problem is, that there is no numbering or
criteria for determining exactly how much the fiber failed
by. A batch of nylon twine may be made with a fiber that
barely missed the cut off point or it may be constructed
with a batch of filament that was extremely far from acceptable......or
worse case, a batch could be made with a mix of filaments
both very good and very bad!
High
Density Polyethylene (HDPE) (top)
Poly
has received a bad reputation over the past several years,
much of which was warranted. However, when the right material
is used, it can also be a very effective application for
sports netting, by virtue of it's high abrasion resistance
and durability - as a result of it's anti-element properties.
Where
does Poly come from?
Polyethylene
starts out as pellets or chips. They are melted down,
extruded and then twisted and spun into fibers that make
twine. If the extrusion process is harsh enough so that
the tiny molecules of HDPE align themselves in a straight
line, like BB's inside of straw, then the HDPE is very
much stronger than any nylon fiber. This is called molecularly
aligned PE. You know it by the trade names of Spectra
and Dyneema (commonly used in bulletproof vests, and two
of the strongest materials ANYWHERE - even stronger than
KEVLAR and 15x stronger than STEEL). The more the molecules
are spread out, like BB's in a coffee cup , the weaker
the HDPE becomes. Semi-aligned PE construction makes the
in-between material called Sapphire. It's a unique HDPE
that has tremendous strength, tremendous abrasion resistance
and still does not require any net coating. Unfortunately
this form of Poly just isn't affordable an option for
sports netting use, which is why Nylon with a "dip"
treatment is still the most effective and cost-efficient
solution.
*At
the time of extruding these melted HDPE pellets into HDPE
twine, a 2-3% UV Inhibitor chemical is added into the
mix. That means that HDPE is protected from the inside
as well as the outside. With HDPE the UV Inhibitor is
evenly distributed at the very beginning of the creation
of the twine itself....not just 'bathed' in a coating
after the twine is knotted and set.
The
first FACT concerning High Density Polyethylene
(HDPE) is that it comes in many different degrees. A netting
may be made with 52% PE and the rest Polypropylene (which
is a much weaker and inferior fiber when it comes to strength
and UV degradation). Because it is mostly PE, a manufacturer
might call it PE.
In
other words, some of the warnings you heard about PE are
TRUE! However, our Poly sports netting uses only 100%
original (NOT re-cycled) Polyethylene.
*FACT:
Some PE is made from re-cycled poly. This creates problems
for the end user as the material is not stabilized, it
will not be consistent in strengthen and it shrinks at
uneven %'s. It is one of the reasons Poly netting gets
a bad name.
*FACT:
HDPE requires no coating to make it water proof.
It is approximately .94 specific gravity. This means it
floats, it absorbs no water and it never, ever requires
any coating.
*FACT:
HDPE, when processed as it should be, is an excellent
netting material and can be used in any application nylon
can, and some more at that. HDPE is extruded and processed
into filaments. It is then twisted into twine and the
twine is put onto netting machines for manufacture into
fish net. From here the netting is brought to an autoclave.
This is a giant steam cooker. The netting is stretched
out from selvage to selvage on rods and placed into the
autoclave. The autoclave is de-pressurized and a vacuum
is created. 190-220 degree steam is applied evenly as
the netting is stretched with several thousand pounds
of tension. The knots are now 'heat set'..
Bottom
Line: Nylon is still a superior material for
sports applications when used indoors, due to it's shock-absorption
properties - which extends the life-span. While it's true
that some forms of Poly are stronger than Nylon, this
material just isn't affordable for use as sports netting
(used for bullet-proof vests etc.) - which is why Nylon
with a "dip" treatment is still the most effective
and cost-efficient solution.
When
used outdoors in a very rainy climate with little opportunity
to sun-dry in between uses, the life-span of regular Nylon
will be reduced, when compared to a Nylon net which has
been water-proofed (dipped), or a Poly net.
So
in our professional opinion, the sports net with the absolute
longest life-span in any climate, is Nylon Type
66-728 with a Varnish / Oil-based dip. If you can't afford
this option, the regular Black Nylon Type 66-728 is still
a excellent option. If you will be in a very wet climate,
and can't afford the top-shelf option, the "regular"
Nylon with a Latex Dip is a great option -- and Polyethylene
is a good option, and the most economical.
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Need
more Tips or a Quote?
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Feel
free to contact us with
any other questions.
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