Where can I get a strop line from, or any suggestions on how to make my own?

go to a marine supplies store and ask for amsteel.... super strong dyneema rope... if they dont have it, ask them for something like it... make sure there is very little or no stretch to the rope...

it will likely be rated for very high weight load... anything over 600 lbs will be fine

... i usually get a section the length of my arm plus a few inches... too long and you will have trouble reaching the handles comfortably... too short and you wont have full range of motion...

... loop the line at the very end and tie your larks head...

*edit ... look for something in the 1/4" or smaller size

I personally like the heavier sizes because they are a little stiffer and less likely to wrap around a finger tip when things go wrong. 1/4" or above is good for me though. Weight rating will be WAY overqualified for the job.

I have some precut and ready to go. email me and ill ship it to you.

^^^ Just a heads up.... Jamie is in the UK.

ATB,
Sam

Amsteel is easy to splice to make your own eyes on the end. Instructions here....

http://www.samsonrope.com/site_files/12S_C2_EyeSpl.pdf

I made my own fid from a scrap of 1/4 aluminum tubing that works for 3/16" amsteel.

Something I always promise myself I am going to buckle down and practice.

Gosh, I miss summer camp.... if only you could make a decent living as a fletcher... sigh. :sniff:

ATB,
Sam

Thanks guys, also I live nowhere near a marine supply store? I'll find some online maybe?

Yes here in the colonies we have West Marine and Defender as big online marine merchants. I'm sure you have similar there.

FWIW: Ozone Strop - £ 7.99 at www.atbshop.co.uk or
Ozone Fixed Strop Harness Line: £4.95 + Free UK Shipping at www.powerkiteshop.com

ATB,
Sam

Quote:

Originally posted by acampbell Amsteel is easy to splice to make your own eyes on the end. Instructions here.... http://www.samsonrope.com/site_files/12S_C2_EyeSpl.pdf I made my own fid from a scrap of 1/4 aluminum tubing that works for 3/16" amsteel.

I bought a fid but other than that I did the same. works really well with FF prolinks. Other wise I just use a figure 8 and super glue it with regular handles.

--edit-- @jamie -I can post pics of the splice as I did it a little differently than per the Sampson directions (under direction from the guys at the sailing shop- over kill I think, but could 'prolly tow a car with it.) And you can get coils of amsteel on e-bay if you are unable to get to a sailing shop.

I jsut use a slip knot. Just make sure that the stop line between the handles is the slip part. Once it takes the weight of the kite there is no way no how it will come off wihtout intention. The slip knot is also night because you can easily adjust the length or more the strop to other handles easily.

I don't use the below line any more. I use 1/4" or 3/8" 2500lbs sheet line from west marine :D

Quote:

Originally posted by heliboy50 I can post pics of the splice as I did it a little differently than per the Sampson directions (under direction from the guys at the sailing shop- over kill I think, but could 'prolly tow a car with it.) And you can get coils of amsteel on e-bay if you are unable to get to a sailing shop.

I would love to see the pics.

Knots, my other hobby.

Similar to the Samson ropes guide, but pass through several times not just one and bury the end (You don't have to sew this one either, although you can.)

This is a twist on a larkshead knot I came up with that works great and won't come loose unless you want it to. It leaves smooth line all the way to your handle leaders as well.



Strop 2 by BMuse1, on Flickr


Strop 1 by BMuse1, on Flickr

@heliboy: Is the eyelet significantly stronger, if you pass the splice through multiple times?

ATB,
Sam

Oh wow, thanks for all the input guys really is something great about this site. I tried making my own before coming back to the site, just used blue nylon rope...won't be strong enough I don't think but was easy enough to just play around with making the eyes and so forth. In the end went for something a little like Arkay's slipknot fashion. Also thanks Indigowolf for the heads up on the uk sites, I'll go for the Ozone strop sooner or later on the second site. Wouldn't mind getting the pro link handles to just get the official ones with them too. Thanks again to everyone =]

Found the Amsteel I do need on the Western site...but for the price of it, it costs more to ship it?

Yeah amsteel isn't the cheepest option, I just don't like the pre-made strops (people's prefered strop length varies a lot.) I tried other types of sailing line but the knots seem to come out much larger and seem to me to take a lot out of the actual travel of the strop for a given length, and be bulkier near my hands.

@Bob- I have done them that way too- just most of my handles have loops rather than pig tails.

@Indigo- that's how the guys at the sailing shop recommended doing it over the one pass, bury the tail and sew method. I think really it just had to do with the fact that a strop is so short that they felt that it would not have enough buried to really grab. Then again, if they are using 5000lb test amsteel, they are pushing it to a lot higher load than we are.

There is this for the handle loops and stopper knot on strop too...

If you choose to use line that is too small in diameter and you have a roller on your harness it will cut a channel into the roller and cause it to break in half.

Susan (npw goddess)

Quote:

Originally posted by acampbell There is this for the handle loops and stopper knot on strop too...

I use this one on my handles with loops. Never failed.

Quote:

Originally posted by kitemaker4 If you choose to use line that is too small in diameter and you have a roller on your harness it will cut a channel into the roller and cause it to break in half. Susan (npw goddess)

Also small line can result in the pulley eating the strop line (bury in up at the axle, top side) and be quite difficult to remove. Makes it hard to park your kite when you are done riding (personal experience here.)