Date: Fri, 28 Oct 1994 20:58:05 -1000 From: Colin_Douthwaite@equinox.gen.nz (Colin Douthwaite) Message-Id: <38srpt$s0@southern.co.nz> Organization: Southern InterNet Services Subject: Lines for Fighters Carl Crowell (crowell@teleport.com) wrote: : : I use waxed linnen.. : or : Kevlar thread (10 lb text twisted pair monomer) on a Korean reel. : The best thing is try try everything, and to stick with what you enjoy. On OSOW day someone flew a Delta Fishing Kite (not a fighter) on a Kevlar line. It cut through two thirds of one of the sheathed cables holding the large Octopus in just a few seconds. Only some hasty emergency action stopped the Octopus from breaking loose. The delta flier had previously been unpopular because he used nylon monofilament fishing line. Kevlar was his attempt to pacify and gain popularity with other fliers :-) I don't think I will be flying my fighters on Kevlar ! Waxed linen and waxed carpet thread is not readily available here - and certainly not offered by the kite stores in NZ. Best I have found is some very fine folded polyester line made >From 3 singles components of continuous multi-filament polyester, at a Ships Chandlers. I will have to buy a large cone for NZ$42. I have also been offered ANEFIL Bonded Polyester Thread, used by the shoe trade, at NZ$32 on 1 lb cones. Thread size ranges from 6000 yards/lb to 1188 yards/lb. I have had numerous breakages with spun polyester (staple fibre) Bag Closing Thread, 20/6 cotton counts. ( resultant count 3.3s cc ). Nice thread to handle but breaking load very low, especially if knotted. I lost a 10 gram Indian Fighter using that thread :-( Bye, = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 31 Oct 1994 04:25:35 -1000 From: zpmobley@TRIDENT.TEC.SC.US (CHAMP) Message-Id: <392uov$amk@ns.sunbelt.net> Organization: Trident Technical College Subject: Re: Lines for Fighters >Carl Crowell (crowell@teleport.com) wrote: >: > >: I use waxed linnen.. > >: or > >: Kevlar thread (10 lb text twisted pair monomer) on a Korean reel. > >: The best thing is try try everything, and to stick with what you enjoy. > So do you use your fingers to control the line or are you one of those artists who have mastered the korean reel? I haven't given it a shot yet, as I've never really had a terrible time with unwound line on the ground, but it sounds like a neat idea. I did read (I believe in Gombergs book on fighters) that some folk use a basket which hangs from the neck or a belt on the waist. That sounds even more likely than laying it on the ground to end up in a tangle or get in my way....probably just when that line would have saved your favorite kite from the embarresment of a defeat! Anyone out there use the basket? ________________________________________________________________________________ Thomas C. Mobley "The above well reasoned and insightful opinion Trident Technical College is my own, and is not the opinion of Trident POB 118067 Technical College. Anyone who says different is Charleston SC 2943-8067 itching for a fight." ZPMOBLEY@TRIDENT.TEC.SC.US = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 2 Nov 1994 02:32:03 -1000 From: SJB@sbrorens.equinox.gen.nz (Steve Brorens) Message-Id: <783779523snx@sbrorens.equinox.gen.nz> Organization: CommArc Consulting Ltd Subject: Lines for Fighters Hi, 1 - Regarding fighter line, I've sucessfully used waxed dental floss! - very fine and saves waxing yourself. No problems with breakages. A wee bit prone to knots - but I think all fine lines are. 2 - Personally I can't see any problems with the line-on-the ground technique apart from aesthetics. Now I've got the hang of it I've rarely had problems with tangles, standing on it etc. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sat, 5 Nov 1994 15:19:24 -1000 From: Thom Shanken Message-Id: <548W7Hc.thomshanken@delphi.com> Organization: Delphi (info@delphi.com email, 800-695-4005 voice) Subject: Re: Lines for Fighters CHAMP writes: >I did read (I believe in Gombergs book on fighters) that some folk use a basket >which hangs from the neck or a belt on the waist. That sounds even more likely >than laying it on the ground to end up in a tangle or get in my way....probably >just when that line would have saved your favorite kite from the embarresment My two cents (for what it's worth): I must admit that I have never tried using a basket around my neck. Besides my thought that it would look quite silly, I have enough of a time keeping my line free from shoe laces, buttons, and its anoying habit of somehow always managing to find that tiny little opening on the tongue of my jacket's zipper. When I am too lazy to use a reel, I just drop my excess line on the ground. The trick here (in my experience) is to stay in one place. If you tend to move around alot you invite tangles. The second trick is to *never* try to wind your line back onto the spool as it sits on the ground, if you do this, you are working from the BOTTOM of your pile of line and this is not good. Either flip the pile over (if this is possible), or (and this is usually the easier method) gather your line back toward the kite, as if you are collecting an electrical extention cord. In this way you are reversing the pile of line and what was the bottom of the pile will now be the top. Thom :) (thomshanken@delphi.com) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =