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.

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.

You need a "static" line one which will not stretch under load, I use this type http://www.cygnus-sails.com/item-English_Braids_Dinghy_And_K...

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

Quote: Originally posted by knkmannthey

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!

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.

Quote: Originally posted by BeamerBob

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?

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.

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.

Cool, thanks

So Bob,... Coming to JIBE?

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.

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.

Philip

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.

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.

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.

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.

http://www.reddenmarine.com/samson-rope-amsteel-blue-foot.ht...

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.

Detailed instructions on the locked brummel....

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php?t=13779&a...

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.

Enjoy

Quote: Originally posted by B-Roc

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 around

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?

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.

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.

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.

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?

I use 3/16 amsteel open braid ,make a simple splice and stitch it. Never had one break. But,I also use a pulley.

@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.

Quote: Originally posted by soliver

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.

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.

Interesting tip chook,... I'm off to west marine in a couple of hours though.

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.

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.

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.