Posted 27 July 2011 - 03:49 AM
if you're rolling the kite into the lines on the ground or significantly piling up slack lines on the ground while flailing EVERY tangle point is a concern. If it only catches one time on the extra knot of the commercial version, maybe that one time is during your demonstration or at a competition. Using the three line method you make each set of sticks specifically for one kite and you shouldn't change anything. The commercially ones are great, I use those, but my very best kites (all Bazzer Pros) have 'em custom fitted to each kite. The SUL B-series Pro even has the (cut-down one inch) shortening of the down-spars so the stick ends at the bottom of the sail. This also forces weight more forward towards the leading edge, altering the glide (favorably in my opinion).
I can still catch a flying line, but not very often and only when pushing the envelope with some extreme jerkin' and slack line movements.
The best way to learn is to buy a commercial one, see how it goes and then if you want to try it your self re-use those parts or source some of your own. Most folks are lazy (myself included) I'd rather go fly then spend time building. Sometimes you have to fiddle with it yourself when you know how you want it to feel and it doesn't. I started off not knowing which end of the cable wire plugs in for electricity to come thru,... I'm certainly not handy!
You can do this kind of junk, but practice first, particularly if your tying knots into spectra. There's no second chance here. You CAN add small overhead knots, to make it shorter, a little at a time. So if you make big loops you can change the overall length gradually if necessary. Big loops are going to "suspend snag points" which can potentially catch a flying line when rolled up though. If you practice you'll know EXACTLY how much length is taken up in the knot you're proposing to use, so you can position these snag points to your liking. I recommend the figure of eight knot, but it it tightens in both directions. You need to force all the tightening out thru one of the loops, only a visual demonstation will explain how this is accomplished, afterwards it will seem as easy as exhaling. If you don't want to do all of this work, pick-up the phone, pull out your Visa Card and wait a couple of days by the mail-box. It's commercially available and darn effective right out of the package.
