Power Kite Forum

Pair of strops

Demoknight - 29-2-2016 at 03:27 PM

I am looking for two separate strops from anyone that has any they aren't using. I usually make my own, but I ran out of material and the original source doesn't have it anymore.

bigkid - 29-2-2016 at 03:57 PM

as cheep as it may sound, go to home depot and buy some 50lb nylon rope(the stuff that is braided around a white core). everyone in the world will say that isnt enough but you can do it or pay more for something not needed. I have been using this stuff for years and have never had a failure other than the power line off the handles to the kite. or you can order some amsteal online for 100% more and make everyone outside of your pocket happy

bigkid - 29-2-2016 at 03:59 PM

you pay me 6 bucks shipping and I will give you 20 feet of the stuff I use for free.

B-Roc - 29-2-2016 at 05:09 PM

What was your original source? I just buy 6mm cord from sailing or mountaineering stores. That stuff is fine, built to last and relatively inexpensive for the length you need.

Demoknight - 29-2-2016 at 10:19 PM

I bought some nylon stuff from a guy that worked great, but it wears down fast. Never had one snap on me yet, but I replace it when it starts to look worn.

volock - 29-2-2016 at 10:29 PM

Quote: Originally posted by B-Roc  
What was your original source? I just buy 6mm cord from sailing or mountaineering stores. That stuff is fine, built to last and relatively inexpensive for the length you need.


+1 to this, it's what I've used (minus the one pre-sewn loop strop I own). It's cheap, doesn't ravel, and is easy to replace/find.

Memopad - 1-3-2016 at 05:11 AM

What do you use the strops for? How long and what diameter are you looking for? I have a small rigging shop as a side job/hobby and have 35 spools of rope in my house :D I have polyester double braid in 6-12mm and will have a good stock of dyneema here in a few weeks, from 2-5mm.

I have lots of scrap cover material that's good for lashing as well. It's 8mm with the core removed, so a hollow tube basically. It's still pretty strong even without the core.

Any standard marine quality rope will be infinitely stronger, last longer, and be less stretchy than hardware junk. Just look at the breaking strengths. The cheap 10mm double braid I sell is almost 10k lb rope, same diameter at the hardware store is probably labeled 500lbs.

BeamerBob - 1-3-2016 at 12:05 PM

I never felt foolish for spending a few dollars on Amsteel strops I knot myself. But the nylon stuff at the hardware store is probably up to the task as well. It's just a matter of strength and resistance to abrasion. In real terms, you are totally screwed if you are getting more than 500 lbs pressure on your strop for more than an instant. At that point you have bigger problems than strop strength.

Windy Heap - 1-3-2016 at 12:12 PM

Ditto above on the Blue Amsteel line. super slippery too, unlike some coarse braided jacketed stuff.

Windy Heap - 1-3-2016 at 12:14 PM


Memopad, if you could slip a few meters of scrap ~6-8mm line in the mail to me, I would love to rig up new strops for my quiver.

U2U me

Memopad - 1-3-2016 at 04:28 PM

I'll send you a message Heap.

3shot - 9-3-2016 at 08:41 AM

Errol, I'm sure I have a couple ozone strops I could give you at Jibe if your interested. Or if needed earlier, I could drop em in the mail.

ssayre - 9-3-2016 at 06:16 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BeamerBob  
I never felt foolish for spending a few dollars on Amsteel strops I knot myself. But the nylon stuff at the hardware store is probably up to the task as well. It's just a matter of strength and resistance to abrasion. In real terms, you are totally screwed if you are getting more than 500 lbs pressure on your strop for more than an instant. At that point you have bigger problems than strop strength.


my local west marine carries polyester braided rope with braided core that I think is 1200 lb and is 1/4". Plenty strong but the problem with it is making loops. I've watched a couple videos and it's very involved and complicated when compared to making a loop with Amsteel using the brumel lock something or other.

Also, I've thought about removing the core and making loops out of the polyester rope but couldn't find information on how strong those are without the core?? I'm assuming it would still be plenty strong for my purposes but haven't tried it yet.

BeamerBob - 10-3-2016 at 09:30 AM

The core provides the strength. The sheath provides protection for the core. While braided loops are elegant, a knot on the end and attached with a larks head offers field adjustability and ready to go in minutes.

ssayre - 10-3-2016 at 10:26 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BeamerBob  
The core provides the strength. The sheath provides protection for the core. While braided loops are elegant, a knot on the end and attached with a larks head offers field adjustability and ready to go in minutes.


I 100% agree and that's exactly what i did when I had fixed bridle kites. But I would like to get some amsteel to tinker around with making depower line and chicken loop components to possibly make my own bars and accessories for my current quiver. Certain components require loops with no knots and amstee looks like it would be much simpler and better to work with for such things. I think that's what depower bars use isn't it?

ssayre - 10-3-2016 at 10:30 AM

In fact, if talking strictly fb strops, the polyester rope with core is what I used and no knots are required at all. I could larks head over a handle with knot or run through a handle with loop and not need any knot in the strop itself because the polyester rope compresses around the core and locks in. I never had one budge. Pe isn't as slick though but wouldn't matter if using a pulley.

Demoknight - 10-3-2016 at 08:20 PM

I typically do a no-loop strop so I can adjust their length if I want. I just tie a simple knot on each end and larS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s head through the strop loop on handles. It is so much more simple than having to unhook lines to remove or add your strop.I have never had one come loose on me doing that. The rabbit comes out his hole, around the tree, back in the hole.

ssayre - 10-3-2016 at 08:29 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Demoknight  
I typically do a no-loop strop so I can adjust their length if I want. I just tie a simple knot on each end and larS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s head through the strop loop on handles. It is so much more simple than having to unhook lines to remove or add your strop.I have never had one come loose on me doing that. The rabbit comes out his hole, around the tree, back in the hole.


Yep, I discovered that method on my own, then beamerbob pointed out that it's right in the pl directions which I had all along but didn't realize it. :rolleyes: