ilh

I wonder how much a 19-mile length of spectra costs!

I'm not familiar with the kites in question, but it sounds a bit like what can happen when a bridle is set too high. It might be worth bumping it down a bit to see if that makes a difference. --Lee

You will want to start with the two control straps. Flying a dual-line kite with one hand is much more difficult than with two hands and is generally used by folks flying multiple kites by themselves. --Lee

Adjustable "pigtails" on the handles will really help adjust the balance of forward and reverse and the feel on the handles. Do a forum search here and on the Rev forums and you should find plenty of info. In general, you'll probably find you prefer a much shorter bottom line connection compared to how the handles come stock. --Lee

Yes, vertical spars go on back, and, yes, those bungies can get a bit jammed. I don't think it really matters as long as the bridle comes off cleanly. I do try to make both sides symmetric (e.g., both end caps inside/outside the washers). I think things loosen up a bit with use.

I just bought a new Speedtech SM-18 on eBay for $30 + $5 shipping. I had lost an auction, but I got a "second chance" from the seller through eBay. Good deal I think as they are going for more like $50. I really didn't want to spend that much. This model has a cover, in which the meter folds into. It looks like it should keep most dirt out, but who knows what the fine sand will do over time. Keep it in a zip-loc bag when not in use? Apparently the impeller is replaceable. I got the meter mostly to calibrate the back of my neck. I was reasonably good at estimating low speeds, but I tended to overestimate winds above 10mph or so. The only other feature it has over wind speed is temperature. For wind, you can get instantaneous wind speed, average over the past 5/10/13 seconds, and maximum speed since the unit was last powered on. I have seen some glitches in readings in about 5mph winds where it momentarily got a reading of 77mph, which of course screws up the maximum until you reset. This unit has to be aimed into the wind unlike some units (e.g., Kaindl Windtronic). Anyways, I'm happy with my purchase, especially for the low price. --Lee

At least during the initial stretch out phase, switch lines around from side to side (and top to bottom on quad). It can help the stretch even out. Sleeving is optional. Some people like it, some not. Some think it is extra work, some not. I prefer sleeving for its ease in handling, in particular loosening larksheads. Was this a used set of lines? If so, it sounds like someone cut them down and went without sleeving on the cut end. Strange.

Stupid question: how do kite makers use tempered glass? --Lee

Wen, it was nice seeing you fly at BASKC this weekend. I managed to spend a little time on Scott Weider's standard Silver Fox the end of Saturday. Interesting kite, but then I am "old school" and don't know all these new tricks. New kites really want to jump on their back at the slightest provocation. --Lee Hetherington (flew a SUL rainbow Rev and an old-school yellow/white/blue homemade SUL all weekend--well I did briefly get the Katana in my avatar up a little on Saturday)

Wow, that is a GREAT shot Penny!

Couldn't you just have a sub-forum on here devoted to articles? When you make a new article, have a link to a new forum thread about it down at the bottom. I've seen sites done this way without needing any fancy dynamic HTML. Then, lively discussions generally ensue in the forums about each article. --Lee

I started with an SLE. Once I got a 3-wrap leading edge (EXP leading edge), I never used the SLE. In fact, I haven't used it in a year now. Next I got a 2-wrap frame, then a custom vented sail, then a 4-wrap frame, then a custom SUL, and I now have new "Race" frame on the way. Since getting the SUL, I haven't used the SLE sail. Be careful. Getting a Rev puts you on a slippery slope! Anybody want to buy my original 1.5 SLE (red/black/white) in good condition, kite only? PM me. --Lee

Yes. To my knowledge, the 1/4-inch come in 2-, 3-, and 4-wrap, and the 7/16-inch SLE come in 3- and 4-wrap. 2-wrap are labeled "Professional Only", 3-wrap labeled "Ultralight", and 4-wrap "Revolution Equipped". EXP sticks are 3-wrap and might not be labeled at all. I think there are 5-wrap "Stiff" sticks out there, but they don't seem to be commonly used with 1.5s from what I can tell. Now that I have 2-, 3-, and 4-wrap sticks, I haven't used my 3-wrap SLE sticks in about a year now. I, like many others here, prefer the more flexible 1/4-inch sticks. --Lee

I use Tedlar tape. I have heard there is a way to repair small tears/holes with superglue (cyanoacrylate), but I haven't tried this myself.

In contrast, here is my recent experience with GWTW. I ordered a quad line set of 50# x 100ft, and when it arrived, that is what Laser Pro's external packaging said. Upon opening the shrink wrap, I noticed that the winder itself was labelled 50# x 50ft. Presumably this was a problem with the way Laser Pro packaged the lineset. I emailed GWTW, and early the next day I received an email saying to keep the short set, and that a verified 100ft set was on its way. Now that is customer service. --Lee

John, I think your change worked. Coming home this evening, I did not have to log in again. Thanks! --Lee

I normally keep myself logged in in forums, and access them from multiple computers. On most forums this works fine. Here, when I switch computers I have to log in again every time. (The same is true of Rev's forums, which seem to be running the same software and/or on the same servers.) Any idea why? Is this a setting in the forum software that can be adjusted? It is a minor hassle. --Lee

Rev will do custom sails (at least custom panel colors) at reasonable prices. I had them make a custom vented 1.5 (no mylar). They can be a bit unresponsive in email at times. This took about 3 weeks from order to delivery at my door. You can also specify what exact sticks you want (I went with 4-wrap non-SLE). The problem is, I want a matching SUL now...trying to resist... --Lee

Speaking of kite cleaning, my 1.5 needs its first bath after playing in the ocean on a very gorgeous September day at Crane Beach, MA.

To stiffen up an EXP leading edge, you could put in an SLE leading edge. You would need to replace your leading edge end caps with the ones from the SLE. That is C this page. Then again, you could just fly your SLE as the first kite. I am assuming an SLE leading edge fits in your EXP leading edge pocket. Since you have both, you can check. You can still use your EXP leading edge with the SLE end caps. I often use an EXP leading edge with my SLE. --Lee

My first was a cheap paper and bamboo diamond kite probably from the 5&10. I had a number of those as a kid, with many spending the rest of their lives in neighborhood trees. My first stunt kite was a Fire Dart. I sold that for the Katana in my avatar.

It might be worth staking out your lines and seeing if they really are all equal length (if you haven't done this already). You might have had the bridle wrapped around the end of a spar. That can make it fly very poorly, although that is usually asymmetric since a typical wrap is on one side or the other. It really ought to fly with the handles roughly perpendicular to the ground, if there is enough wind.

Wow, very nice.

Can't you just switch your lines top to bottom and they will now be even with your new pigtails?

I did something similar on this rainy morning. I had some unused SUL Rev II handles (kite was lost/stolen years ago). I extended them with some old SkyShark VIIp scraps to 15 inches. I glued 1-inch long 2400 and 1580 carbon tubes in the end so that I could hide the leader's knot inside the tube (leader fits through 1580 but not the knot). A vinyl endcap with the leader coming through completes it very cleanly with no snag points. Altogether, each handle is approximately 1/2oz lighter than my 12-inch handles that came with my 1.5 SLE, but should give me 3 inches more throw for lower wind conditions. I could produce photos if anyone is interested. --Lee