I sat down one day and made out my own chart to compare not only Tenkara/Japanese line numbers but also compare the pound test of a good quality fluorocarbon and also compare that to what Rio says it's tippets test out at. It left me skeptical of stated pound test for tippet materials.
Fluorocarbon Fishing Line Diameters
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Japan -- mm. -- inches - Tippet* - Lb. Test** - Rio Tippet***
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# 7? = .435mm = .017" ............... 30 lb
# 6 = .405mm = .0159" ............... 25 lb
# 5 = .370mm = .0146" ................20 lb
# 4 = .330mm = .013" ..................16 lb
# 3.5 = .310mm = .0122" ............ 14 lb
# 3 = .285mm = .011" -- 0X .........12 lb ........ 15 lb
# 2.5 = .260mm = .010" - 1X ........10 lb ........ 13 lb
# 2 = .235mm = .009" --- 2X ..........8 lb ..........12 lb
# 1.5 = .205mm = .008" - 3X ......... 6 lb .......... 8.5 lb
# ? = .190mm = .0075" -- 3.5X .........5 lb
# ? = .175mm = .0068" -- 4X .........4.5 lb .........7 lb
# 1 = .165mm = .0065" - 4.5X ........4 lb
# ? = .157mm = .0062" -- 5X ..........3.5 lb.........5 lb
# ? = .148mm = .0058" -- 5X ..........3 lb
# ? = .128mm = .005" --- 6X ...........2 lb .......... 3.6 lb
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* Tippet Size is approximation
** Lb. Test is that of Sunline Shooter Line.
*** Stated Lb. Test of Rio Fluoroflex Plus Tippet Material
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