What does everybody use for handles. What are some plusses and minuses of the ones that you are using.

I really like the cleated PKD mediums (16 - 17 in length) but they are becoming a little difficult to find. They are the right diameter for my hands and the cleats allow you to adjust brake length when you switch kites.

PKD of course.
Everything else are just handles.

Thanks Jeff. I agree with you ;-). Just gotta find them first.

The profoil handles work great if you can find them. They have a post that screws out to accept power strop eyes. When I make the strop it has an eye in one end. I feed the line behind the post on one handle and capture the eye on the other. The strop length can be easily adjusted with one figure eight knot. Comfy too.

Tedwesley - do you mean the Flexifoil Prolink handles? Those look very nice and comfortable. So you use a strop with 1 loop, then figure 8 the other end and leave a little extra hanging?

pansh

Mostly homemade. Supplies from Home Depot , REI.

Pros:
1)Thicker foam padding than commercially made, for less pressure points on hands(fingers), and perhaps even... less heat loss from hands in winter. I fly unhooked half the time.

2)Inexpensive. Make several or more at a time.

3)Customize handle length( or even degree of bend).



Cons:
1)Not too pretty, especially when the duct tape wrap wears and needs a re-wrap....(find better covering..?).


2) Foam(pipe insulation) can sometimes compress with time, heat and pressure. So wont last as long as commercially made... but still may last a good while. Yet to replace whole handles after years of use.

I used the stock HQ handles that came with my Crossfire II for for all my 4 line kites. Every once oin a while ill use the Peter Lynn ones that came with my Pepper II, but only with that kite.

Quote: Originally posted by skimtwashington

Mostly homemade. Supplies from Home Depot , REI. Pros: 1)Thicker foam padding than commercially made, for less pressure points on hands(fingers), and perhaps even... less heat loss from hands in winter. I fly unhooked half the time. 2)Inexpensive. Make several or more at a time. 3)Customize handle length( or even degree of bend). Cons: 1)Not too pretty, especially when the duct tape wrap wears and needs a re-wrap....(find better covering..?). 2) Foam(pipe insulation) can sometimes compress with time, heat and pressure. So wont last as long as commercially made... but still may last a good while. Yet to replace whole handles after years of use.

could you please elaborate on what you use for the rigid core of the handle?
I made a set of the Rev Blast handles [double bend] out of PVC to put a set of variable pull strop cables onto [so as to not have to drill $60 carbon handles] and the 45 deg elbows broke with the first hot launch.

Quote: Originally posted by Cerebite

Quote: Originally posted by skimtwashington   Mostly homemade. Supplies from Home Depot , REI. Pros: 1)Thicker foam padding than commercially made, for less pressure points on hands(fingers), and perhaps even... less heat loss from hands in winter. I fly unhooked half the time. 2)Inexpensive. Make several or more at a time. 3)Customize handle length( or even degree of bend). Cons: 1)Not too pretty, especially when the duct tape wrap wears and needs a re-wrap....(find better covering..?). 2) Foam(pipe insulation) can sometimes compress with time, heat and pressure. So wont last as long as commercially made... but still may last a good while. Yet to replace whole handles after years of use. could you please elaborate on what you use for the rigid core of the handle? I made a set of the Rev Blast handles [double bend] out of PVC to put a set of variable pull strop cables onto [so as to not have to drill $60 carbon handles] and the 45 deg elbows broke with the first hot launch.

no need for elbows. I use 3/4" gray conduit. I heat them with a salamander and bend to desired angle. They are extremely strong. I think I use schedule 40 but you could also use schedule 80.

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre

I heat them with a salamander and bend to desired angle.

This cannot be auto correct.

I want to see a video of how to heat up a kite handle with a salamander.

you'd have to rub them really, really hard.

I use 1/2 inch gray conduit pipe-schedule 40. I add 1/2 pipe insulation...... so can't be too thick to grip.

a salamander is a propane heater

brian, by any chance have you ever tried bicycle handlebar foam/tape instead of pipe insulation by any chance? Wondering how well it might hold up.

Started experimenting today. Will see what comes out.
3/4" aluminum pipe
Turned a cap and a bottom from aluminum 3/4" rod
2 layers of heat shrink tube
At the bottoms will put ronstan closed cleats.

Only wandering if at the top i drill one hole to pass the line through or I install two u shapes for the strop and power ropes. Any thoughts?
Picture shows how far I have got experimenting.

Dean,
Yes, I thought about both the bicycle grips... and the 'tape'.

But they're too expensive- compared to other materials used in making the handles.


Also...tape is thinnest , foam slip-on thicker, but the pipe insulation is thickest- and less fatiguing when flying OFF-STROP, as I do 1/2 the time.


The benifit of the Bicycle foam and tape is it is more durable and needs no covering. The pipe insulation is 'finger nail malleable' and needs protective covering. The bicycle foam may need glue..the tape does not though.



GLX,
You should drill one hole straight through the top and smooth the hole edges. As most have their hand position of the top lead line going between the index and middle finger.... the pic I see shows the u shaped metal in the way...unless I am looking at this wrong?

Thanks Ski. I like the u shapes because it allowes for additional adjustements on strop and power lines but have the same concern as you about hand position. Short test of just holding the handles feels ok but im concerned that longer duration and load will make it uncomfortable.

jeffnyc : Been on the road from JIBE. You have it exactly. It is a very easy to adjust system that allows for the full play of the handles as there is nothing to hang in the pulley or hook when steering.

Thanks Ted! Looks like a very well thought out system.

I have a bunch of left over tennis grip tape (from archery of all things) that I plan on wrapping around some of my cheapo handles. Maybe insulation wrapped with tennis tape? Good experiment when I get a few free minutes.

Since we're on the handles topic... is there a definitive answer to what the loops on the back bottom of most handles are for? For a little while I thought they were killer attachments - which would be super convenient - but I read a bunch of posts that say don't do that, so never did. I've since added small pigtails to my leaders so I don't have to disconnect when attaching killers. So are they for staking?

Yes they are for staking the kite.

Thanks Jeff! Good to have a definitive answer. One of those things I always forget to ask about later. I just stake at the leaders, but I suppose the loops make it harder for the kite to accidentally power up or get loose.

(Yup. back bottom loop are for staking kite...newbies don't tie on strop line there.. it's the top ones!:P )

GLX,

There's a 'balance' point-or position- on the handles for best leverage position to rotate the handles(control/turn kite under resistance/pull) ...which having an index finger positioned past lead/powerline typically gives..You would be best served to have unimpeded 'walking' of the hands and finger across the full length of the handles. If all four lines lengths are not equal this might effect position slightly for best leverage( hand little more up or down handles).

So this is reason I suggest drill hole straight though.

Oops! accidental duplicate post!:D

I copied the tops of the "xxtreme handles" onto all my Peter Lynn handles and this eliminates all wear to the top leaders.

http://xxtremeozzy.blogspot.com.au/2011_02_01_archive.html

One bit of dyneema cord becomes the two leaders and strop combined by using 2 constrictor knots.


https://www.extremekites.com.au/topic/16052-handles/

The xxtreme grip is an awesome idea. That is exactly what I will go ahead and do.

Oh boy! Learned a new and useful knot today!:D

Thank god
I thought it was only me who looked at this and thought "right where's my rope till I try that" :D

You can take a Scout to the beach but you cant stop them tying knots

Quote: Originally posted by kteguru

a salamander is a propane heater

correct. Mine will run off kerosene or diesel. Basically a salamander is any forced air torpedo heater.