Kitebuilder.com

[Progcraft]

G'day.
I'm curious what people are using for light SLK flying line. 50 - 150 lb.
I myself have considered useing Spectra, but I'm afraid I'd cut myself on it. So, I've been using the braided dacron that Steve sells.

What do you use?

P.

[stevef]

SLK... always Dacron. Spectra's melting point is way to low, and would get cut as soon as another line crossed it's path. Especially with the company I KEEP on the flying field!

If you are flying alone with nothing or no one around, and nothing else on your line, you could of course use Spectra and you would have a better low wind flight.
_________________
Steve Ferrel
Go Build a Kite!
Measure once, buy twice!

[Progcraft]

See, now that's a point that I never consider when I fly. Melting point of string.
I don't feel guilty now flying fat string.


But, when flying multiple sport kites on Spectra line, the lines cross a lot and do some serious rubbing at times. Why do't they melt then?

[KiteSquid]

Because we are always crosing Spectra to Spectra, not Spectra to polysester, nylon, cotton, linen, or the dreaded (it might get you a punch in the nose for using it) Kevlar, or even worse yet, Manjha (ground glass glued to cotton line).

also our crossing angles are low and the speed of the lines across each other is low.

Spectra has the lowest melting point of all the other lines... It is also the most expesive.

To learn more go to Gomberg kites and read about Rokkaku battles... Cutting on purpose.

I prefer polyester line on my SLK's as it also has a little stretch so I can recover from gusts better.

On BIG kites like a 252 or bigger I like to use nylon line as it has more stretch than polyester, but it does weigh more for the same breaking strength, and has a larger diamater which equates to more drag on the line.

WOW that was a long response...
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA


P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

[kiteguy]

[KiteSquid]

What size of DaBond Bonded Polyester thread is it???

It should have a size on the sticker inside the cone

i.e. V-30, V-45, V-60.... or TEX-100... or just a letter AA, A, B, C, D....

They use some BIG thread to sew big sails and tarps etc... to big for kite building, IMHO.

I use V-30 for most of my kite building.
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA


P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

[kiteguy]

Well, I have a couple spools of polyester that is A. 6000 yards of each, one spool of brown, and one of green.

And I have two spools of white Dabond size T330. Some may call it heavy thread. I call it light kiteline. Or light cord. Both are 6 oz spools, which makes LONG kiteline. I fly my 6 ft delta on it as well as my 3 ft Roller.

I prefer V-30 or V-33.
Well, I do like Gutermann and Mettler, too, for certain applications. Usually when doing applique and I want a large varity of color. Just take in the Ripstop sample and get matching thread.

Lately I have enjoyed sewing with some Rayon (I think) embrodiary thread. The type used for making the patches for sports uniforms. Bright color, and shiny surface.
_________________


Dave Ellis
Kites + Kids = Education

[Progcraft]

Geez!!! How strong is this thread if you can fly a 6 foot delta on it??? Is it really thin thoug? I mean it's thread, so it's got to be. Don't you ever cut yourself with it???

P.

[kiteguy]

[Steve D]

I use mostly braided dacrons. Some from Steve, others I've had for a while.

For the blue sleds I used a 30 lb braided dacron thats spooled in bulk (2400 yards) and sold as flyline backing . It appears to be essentially the same material as 30 lb dacron sold as Kite Line. This particular spool was chartreuse but it also comes in fl orange and white...