So I bought a PL strop to use with my new harness and thought I would be able to switch it between all my kites, but I'm thinking about getting some
rope and making some for myself so as to have a strop ready on each of my 4 kites.
Do I need to go to a REI or some other sporting goods store that sells climbing equipment and buy a specific type of rope, or will any old Home Depot
type work?
What qualities of a rope make it good for strop material? I know what to do with it and how to do it, just not sure exactly what type of rope is best
to use.B-Roc - 26-4-2013 at 04:22 AM
go to EMS or a sailing store. The quality of the rope matters. You want something strong and slippery. Its been a while since I've bought rope for
strops but I believe I use to buy 5-6mm climbing rope with a spectra core. However, the best strop I ever had was made of "mule tape". I got it with
a kite from SecondWind. I don 't know where he got it. Its thicker like tape, super strong and wicked slippery. I loved it but haven't seen it in
stores. I would not use braided rope found in Home Depot. It will not be slippery enough and will stick and bind.bigE123 - 26-4-2013 at 04:25 AM
Hey Spence I have some flat line that seams very slippery you can try. It about 3/4 to 1 inch wide. Was some kinds of packing strap. Seam like it
would be heavy enough. I have about 12 feet of itsoliver - 26-4-2013 at 06:56 AM
Hey Spence I have some flat line that seams very slippery you can try. It about 3/4 to 1 inch wide. Was some kinds of packing strap. Seam like it
would be heavy enough. I have about 12 feet of it
Thanks Kevin, but I think 3/4 is a bit to big in dia,... I think they are typically closer to 3/8" at least that's what the PL one looks to be.
Thanks gang,... There are a few west marine branches around, I'll check what they have.
Keep the tips coming!BeamerBob - 26-4-2013 at 06:59 AM
Look into Amsteel. It's available in colors and sizes, is slippery, and is crazy strong. It's expensive if you are buying a hundred feet of it but
you can make the perfect strop for a couple dollars. I get mine at West Marine.soliver - 26-4-2013 at 09:10 AM
Look into Amsteel. It's available in colors and sizes, is slippery, and is crazy strong. It's expensive if you are buying a hundred feet of it but
you can make the perfect strop for a couple dollars. I get mine at West Marine.
Thanks Bob,... I saw someone say 5mm above,... What size diameter amsteel do you prefer?B-Roc - 26-4-2013 at 09:15 AM
Amsteel is really strong but its also hollow core so it should be replaced at the first sign of wear. That's why I like spectra core line for my
strop. Even if the sheathing wears, you know you are good so long as the core is in tact. Though amsteel is super strong you still want to get
something in the 5-6mm range in my opinion (OK, maybe 4mm amsteel). Thinner is not necessarily better. You want something to sit in your pulley or
hook and not knife its way through it like dental floss.BeamerBob - 26-4-2013 at 09:46 AM
What B-Roc says is true about amsteel being hollow core. A core strand rope will offer you the ability to get the last bit of use out of a strop and
still have the core to get back home with. But to put that in perspective, I still have every amsteel strop I've ever made. I have a few that show
some fraying, but thats from flying highly powered on a bare hook and working the kite hard enough to feel a burn from the strop when it touched my
forearm. None of my strops are approaching being worn out. I'm sure most any braided rope you could get at the hardware or marine store would do the
job. This is not like a product choice that is going to enhance or ruin a day of buggying.
I checked my stash and all the size tags are missing. I'd say 5-6mm (1/4" - 3/8") is about right though. Small enough that you can put a stopper
knot in the end and big enough to not cut through your roller wheel.soliver - 26-4-2013 at 10:01 AM
Cool, thanks
So Bob,... Coming to JIBE?BeamerBob - 26-4-2013 at 10:11 AM
I have family coming to visit that weekend, so can't make it this year. Next year might be my chance to once again be a JIBE attendee. It would be
fun to ride the hardpacked sand again and get to see all the East Coasters I miss out here.pbc - 26-4-2013 at 11:08 AM
I found this Spectra to be wonderfully slippery: http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/119/1406/=mhpdz5 It's not as soft and pliable as Amsteel, but it is cheap and McMaster Carr has very reasonable
shipping. I have extra in red and will bring it to JIBE if you want some.
If you are willing to pay a $10 shipping charge WestMarine has a very good selection and low everyday prices. Annapolis Performance Sailing (http://www.apsltd.com/) has the same minimum shipping charge, a very wide selection, slightly higher regular prices but offers good deals on spool
ends.
Spectra is your friend.
Philipheliboy50 - 26-4-2013 at 02:52 PM
Like Bobby and others said- 3/16 amsteel from a sailing store. Tie a figure 8 knot in each end. Put the bitter (cut) end in a vise and pull for all
you are worth (use gloves) Now pull a little tension and cut the bitter end off by cutting it with a sharp razor knife, being careful not to nick
your figure 8 knot. Do this on both ends and then saturate your knots with super glue and allow them to cure for at least 3-4 days. The knots will
now be like fat plastic beads. When cutting the amsteel to length remember you will loose almost 3 inches of finished length per knot. I cut mine at
31" and finished they come out at about 22". Just howI do it and they last for years.soliver - 26-4-2013 at 04:34 PM
Wifey is taking the kids out tomorrow afternoon, and I'm planning some JIBE related errands. There is a West Marine about 20 minutes south of me, that
will be my first stop for the day.
I was also planning to use whatever rope I got for whatever rigging I will need for the AQR spreader bar set-up I'll be picking up from Jeff there as
well.
Planning on a stop at REI for some quality carabiners and such as well.B-Roc - 26-4-2013 at 04:59 PM
West Marine sells carbiners and snap shackle. Might as well check them out while you're there and maybe save yourself a trip to REI.ChrisH - 26-4-2013 at 05:11 PM
3/16" Amsteel from ReddenMarine.com. Linky below...if you use the coupon code "hammockforum" you'll get a small discount. Click the link, scroll down
the the 3/16 Silver...you want silver because the colored stuff tends to fade rather quickly.
Knots and Amsteel don't get along very well so I use a locked brummel or "continuous loop". It is fairly easy to do for somebody who has never done
any rope splicing and is the best and most secure way to make a strop out of Amsteel.
As for the fid, just use a piece of wire, don't buy a commercially made one....just wasting money there. And a hanger won't due, it's too big. You'll
have to play with how much Amsteel you use to make the length you want. It is possible to pull the continuous loop out and try again.
I use Amsteel for a lot of stuff because I bought some in bulk a few years ago.
West Marine sells carbiners and snap shackle. Might as well check them out while you're there and maybe save yourself a trip to REI.
Duh! Thanks for the heads up, but I need a new mouthpiece for my camel back so I'll be headed to REI anyway... Plus it's just a cool place to look
aroundsoliver - 26-4-2013 at 05:43 PM
I remember a few months back someone posted a YouTube vid about splicing a loop into amsteel,... Can someone find it and repost...
Seems like a little bit of a hassle,... Is it worth the trouble?ChrisH - 26-4-2013 at 06:06 PM
Yes it is. Unless you do exactly as Josh says, I would not tie a knot in Amsteel....it will eventually slip. I have done it this way since I started
using a harness and have had no troubles at all. The Amsteel is frayed a tiny on the very outside but that's it. Btw, I use a standard hook.....not a
roller....for a few more days :D I'm sure the Amsteel will not fray for a very long time with the Bullet spreader bar. BeamerBob - 26-4-2013 at 06:31 PM
I will be the counterpoint on this one. I've never done a splice for a strop. Always a single figure 8 knot as a stopper knot on each end then larks
head your strop onto your leader or loop. Done. As a matter of fact, I've never had a figure 8knot untie itself. The stopper knot has very little
pressure on it anyway. My method makes it easier IMHO to remove the strop quickly if you have a line issue that its in the way of.
Splicing can be fun though. I used to make my own waterski and barefoot handles and ropes. It is rewarding when you get it complete and correct.B-Roc - 26-4-2013 at 06:36 PM
I figure 8 too and also have never had a knot come undone. I also super glue some of the knots and those definately don't come out. If you want to
prevent a knot from coming out but don't want to use glue then first tie a regular overhand knot at the bitter end and then tie the figure 8 to snug
up against that so it binds against the overhand knot - works like a stopper ball. I've also spliced and that's easy and fun and very clean.soliver - 26-4-2013 at 07:16 PM
Yeah,... I was just thinking "boy that splicing stuff looks cool, but if I decide that I don't like the length I've made the strop, I did a lot of
work for nothing."
I think I'll just do figure 8's with Bobby's method so I can change it more easily. Is it better not to use amsteel with knots then? I notice West
Marine has dyneema as well, would that be comparable to spectra?
WELDNGOD - 26-4-2013 at 07:41 PM
I use 3/16 amsteel open braid ,make a simple splice and stitch it. Never had one break. But,I also use a pulley.heliboy50 - 27-4-2013 at 12:08 AM
@ChrisH- You run pro link handles though don't you? Good loop splice is killer on those. I had a set like that for a while, they were pretty slick.B-Roc - 27-4-2013 at 05:37 AM
I notice West Marine has dyneema as well, would that be comparable to spectra?
Dyneema is the same as spectra - just a different braid pattern and trademark / patent.Chook - 27-4-2013 at 05:47 AM
Just go to your local lawn mower shop and buy the 5mm or 6mm starter rope, by the metre.
It is VERY wear resistant and flexible.
It out lasts everything else I’ve tried. soliver - 27-4-2013 at 07:41 AM
Interesting tip chook,... I'm off to west marine in a couple of hours though.BeamerBob - 27-4-2013 at 07:50 AM
knots are no problem for the strength you have with the Amsteel. The knot is not really under heavy tension either. It just bumps up against the
larkshead. If you have prolink handles, you will need loops. knots would be ugly with the slick strop interface those handles have.
Nice idea on the starter rope idea. bigkid - 27-4-2013 at 08:32 AM
I use the amsteal and at the end of the knot I use a lighter to melt the end of the rope and let it melt until it mushrooms a bit. nice end to the
rope and it will not untie with any knot used.
I can show you one at Jibe if you are interested, infact I have about 6 feet of the stuff I use on mine.
Spicing is nice also, one trick is to double insert the end to lock it in place. Never had one undo itself and never had to sew it either.
Also the diameter of the strop is determined by the size of pulley you are using, and the length is determined by the length of your reach. With one
handle at the pulley or hook, you need to be able to reach the other handle, thats the length of your strop, remember that to long is better than to
short. You can shorten a long strop, not add to a short one.soliver - 27-4-2013 at 04:08 PM
So I went to West Marine and unfortunately they did not carry any of the fancy ropes, no spectra, dyneema, or amsteel at that location. I bought some
3/16 dia rigging line. Then when I was at REI I bought a 20 ft length of 5mm dyneema they sold for $20. One way or another I'll have what I need.
What length do you guys recommend. The PL one I bought is only 16 in long,... Seems a little short to me.BeamerBob - 27-4-2013 at 04:12 PM
16 would be fine for a small kite that you will run fast with. The larger the kite and lighter the wind, the more strop you need up to your ability
to reach both handles at full pull.B-Roc - 27-4-2013 at 04:39 PM
The proper length is no longer than the length of your arm from shoulder to wrist. That allows the most control and will never put the handle out of
reach.soliver - 27-4-2013 at 06:08 PM
Also the diameter of the strop is determined by the size of pulley you are using,
So Jeff,... What sized pulley will I be using? Chook - 28-4-2013 at 02:47 AM
I have bad shoulders. Make that I'm OLD.
So I use a very short strop (380mm between the foam tops) on "xxtreme grips".
The tops of the handles don't get tangled at all as the knot is inside of both handles and right up the top. I use 35cm handles on small kites and
45cm on anything above 5.4 m2.
Once set up the constrictor knot won't budge, but allows the 6mm line to flex between the handle and the leader or strop so there is no wear at all.
All my handles have the same tops as they are hassle free.
The top line (on my converted handles) is all, one piece 6mm starter rope and I have yet to wear one out.
The nice thing about this set up is, all adjustments are done on the bottom leaders and this minimizes the loose leaders on the top so they can't get
tangled at the wrong time.
Check these out. A lot of thought has gone into their construction and they are very comfortable. http://www.xxtreme.nl/xxproducts/xxgrips/
......and no I don't work for them. But wished I could.:DTEDWESLEY - 28-4-2013 at 05:53 AM
I'll be at JIBE and splicing is what I do. If you want some help with the strop I'm always ready to help. Hollow core
line is easy to splice, and you can make your own tools. Yale Cordage has a line called PhD that is spectra with each strand sheathed that anyone can
splice in less than three minutes. Don't be shy, look me up and you'll be stropped!pbc - 28-4-2013 at 08:14 PM
I'll have my sewing machine at JIBE in case anyone needs to stitch a spliced line. That's why I'm bringing. I'm going to do some bar construction.
A 5mm line might be a bit much for it to chew on but I'm not averse to trying.
Chris, any chance we can sip some 120v AC from the kite fort?
