what length is good to start off with for a strop line. is about 40cm a good starting point? does anyone know where you can buy the thinner line used for the pigtails on the strop can be bought aswell?

I would say just long enough to still be able to keep control of your kite. I have never measured mine, but 40cm is probably a little short for me. I have a friend that uses very very short ones. I think a lot of it is personal preference. A larger kite will need a larger strop because you need the distance between the handles.

Scoop

Try a sporting goods shop that sells climbing gear. You can buy thin line for the pigtails and climbing rope for the strops as well.

i just had a big piece of sailing rope with high breaking strain and put loads of knots in it then cut it when it felt nice

Most of mine are about 26" with a pigtails at each end for easy attachment. The strop line itself is 3/16 Spectra and the pigtails are 2mm Spectra.

Howdy,
Just a brief note about appropriate line and applications.

I do not think spectra is a good choice for either harness strop or pig-tails.
Spectra has a 161 degree F melting point.
The friction of the line movement over the hook can easily cause abrasion.

The slippery nature of spectra could cause the knot on a pig-tail to simply slide right off the end of the spectra line.
I've had it happen.

Spectra does not like a sudden load at the knot either.
That load causes heat and the spectra can and will react by melting so fast it causes a bang when it goes.

At the very least I'd suggest at least sleeving any spectra pig-tails.
For harness strops, any good braided synthetic line should suffice.
I use a 7mm cored/braided utility climbing line for my harness strop.
I like about a 16" spread between my handles.
I prefer to make my pig-tails from 10 inches of 500# dacron.

Everybody has their favorites.


Safen Up! Buggy On!

"Often wrong... Never in doubt"

the coreylama

I use a roller, but I've never broken one on a hook either. To keep the knot from pulling out, burn the end then pull the knot right up to the burned end. Admitedly though, I don't fly handles hooked in all that often.

I have seen people groove and cut right through plastic rollers with thin line. Even seen aluminum rollers get grooved by thin line.

Most everyone uses something around 6mm perlon accessory cordage.

To rrc62:
You must not fly on handles much because you would have seen damage and failures of "your rigging technique" in a very short time.

I'm glad we could get that sorted out for you. I just hope that someone didn't emulate your rigging technique before they could see Corey's post.

///Saftey in numbers\\\

So you've seen 3/16 line cut through a roller? 3/16 is 5mm, not much smaller than 6mm. Seems to me if 5mm will cut a roller, 6mm won't be much better. I have also yet to see a melted strop line, even on a hook, and I know plenty of guys using heavy spectra for strops. But hey, if it doesn't work for you, don't do it.

You admittedly say that you don't fly on handles much and when you do you don't fly harnessed.

So where does any lengthy strop use and experince come from? That sounds to me like you are talking heresay.


///safety in numbers\\\

Hey Kids,

I've noticed that to the "lay people" (non-kiters) all black kite sticks are graphite.
Even when (and if) they're often fiberglass.
I've even see black painted wood dowels.

The Science of Marketing.

I wonder if, to some, all white line is refered to as "spectra"?
It is one of the buzz words in the marketplace.

It's not even a matter for opinion.
Spectra fiber has certain properties.
Not believing doesn't change them.

Having a failure because you don't believe, is stupid.
Stupid should hurt.
But it too rarely does.

Of course, if everyone else is doing it...


Safen Up! Buggy On!

"Often wrong... Never in doubt"

the coreylama