Is there anywhere I can buy the larks head loops on my lines?
I wanna make some lines but I will only do it if I can make it properly.
Where can I get them separately??
Or should everybody just post me there old snapped lines?? Wink wink**
you can buy sleeving line kits online and make them yourself. Just need a sewing machine.
Assuming this is a serious question, if you are splicing lines then you can do a double splice. Mark out your splice then insert a section of line inside each loop. You can extend the end of the insert into the bury section of line so that it is locked into place. It's sort of an internal sleeve.
If you want external sleeving then buy some sheathed line and pull the sheath off it and use that for sleeving. You can buy whatever colours you want. It works fine for splices.
Apart from some lock stitching don't make sewn loops. They're weaker and much harder to get right. You need the right thread and it takes a fair bit of practice and confidence to do the sewing correctly. You can make a holder to keep the lines together in the sewing machine.
Google line splicing and think it all through until you've worked it out. There are a few threads on Seabreeze that cover it thoroughly and have links to videos. There's a guy in Holland who makes line sets at a reasonable price.
If you're talking about pigtails, buy some 2-3mm spectra, fold it in half, tie a knot in it.
Google, Brummel lock splice. Get yourself a D splicer and it will make the job far easier.
ckl said..
I can help you getting the lines you want.Please check customkitelines.com
I think this is the guy Gorgo is talking about...
Thanks for your help.
I'm planning to make up some custom bridles.
I figure its going to take lots of line and f#@king about to get it perfect.
I think if I could get it perfect I would then get some properly made custom lines, but until then I can do it myself
I've got an old industrial sewing machine.
Its pretty badass!!
So making them is no problem, just didn't know where the F#@ to get the sleeves from.
I really don't wanna be making the sleeves. That's too much work and too fiddly. I don't mind playing with the Libes to make up a new bridle, but I really CBF sewing up 40 something sleeves.
You need to better describe what you are trying to do to get some meaningful help. Making sleeves is trivial, but you only need them on the end of lines. Bridles don't need sleeves. Why do you need 40 sleeves? Why do you refer to sleeves and loops as something separate from the lines?
I have trouble verbalising things at times.
Its really hard getting through every day as a moron!!
What I'm trying to do is re-make my bridle.
I know the R&D team put a lot of time & effort into it, but I think its poop.
My rear lines are connected through the bridle via pulleys. What I wanna do is change that, and have them go straight to the wingtip. Thus making the rear lines completely separate from the centre lines. Obviously doing this will not keep any tension in the bridles.
So......
I'm going to have to rebuild the bridles.
I've got all the bridle specs from the maker, so I know it can be done. I've bought 2 reels of dyneema. (In black of course).... And I have drawn up exactly how I want it.
I just need to cut and try various things to get it perfect.
I'm accepting that I probably won't get it right the first go. So I'm going to need extra line and extra sleeves.
I'm going to rebuild the 11m first coz its my main go-to kite, but ultimately I wanna do the same thing to my 15m & 7m.
I'm looking at 4 lines per bridle.
2 sleeves per line
3 kites in total
Equals 48 sleeves. (Give or take a few for mistakes)
I'm thinking I might just make up temporary bridles with whipping line to make the loops whilst fine tuning, and once perfected doing a final job with the sleeves.
So.... Where can I buy the sleeves??
*** any body got a box of broken lines with the sleeves still on them???****
Nope. Still confused.
If you want to make bridles, go ahead. You don't need sleeving on bridle lines.
You're talking about making line sets for your three kites? 4 lines x 3 kites x 2 ends per line = 28 sleeves. How would getting the loops off broken kite lines help you? Are you going to tie them onto the ends of your lines? Really?
If you want sleeving, do as I said earlier. Buy some 2 or 3mm sheathed line in two colours (red and black or blue or whatever). Pull the sheathing off and use that as sleeving. I used to cut it to length then put a nail in the end then melt the ends to get a neat end and stop it fraying. Don't melt it too much or you'll get a thick, hard end that will catch in the sewing machine.
It's easy to sleeve line. A guitar string will do to pull stuff through. A D-splicer is better. Even more useful is the D 16 scissors for cutting Dyneema. d-splicer.com/
You can sleeve spliced line and that's still easier and stronger than sewing loops.
For making bridles I used to use a length of timber as a measuring jig. Hammer a nail into one end. Make your first loop. Hook it over the nail and your steel tape also over the nail. Apply tension. Measure. Mark. Check a few times. Cut, sew, trim. Check again.
