Guru4tru Posted December 18, 2009 Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 Yes...My most beautiful "Black Rainbow Rev." is still locked in my wife's trunk till Christmas. When I saw "Hedgewarden" Howard's Rev. it was love at first sight!!! (That's with his "Black Rainbow Rev."...not Howard...on offence Howard) So, my Black Rainbow is locked up and it is raining today (and I'm recently retired)...So I decided to make a Christmas present for my Black Rainbow, although she isn't really part of my kite harem yet. I decided to make a set of "Padded Leather Quad Handles" for her. I also decided to go with solid stainless steel to put a little more weight in my hands (might slow down my over reacting a bit). So, I started by copying the ones that came with (my wife's) Rev. They are called 13' handles. But, before I get to padding and sewing the leather in place I thought it best to check things out a bit just to be sure of what I'm doing. The 13" seems to be around the entire length of the handles and the distance between the holes is 11", give or take a thirth-second... ...Is That Correct?...AND ...What they call 13" is what comes with the Black Rainbow...right? Keep It Up! Duane Note the tape measure starts a 1" and goes to 12" for 11"s between holes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedgewarden Posted December 18, 2009 Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 Duane , Duane , Duane The only offense was that you thought you needed to explain. I have an equally lovely dog, but I have no idea where to get another one like him (unknown mix breed stray rescue). And my wife is - ALL MINE!!! My Black Rainbow 1.5 mid-vent (not a "B") came unaccompanied by handles and such. Your B will have a different panel layout, but the same color progression - I'm sure you know. I have two sets of Rev handles: Obtained with my EXP, one set measures 11" hole to hole. I think these are "standard" handles. Obtained with my Spirit Quad, the other measures 9.75" hole to hole. These were provided by GWTW to sweeten a deal on a close-out. I don't know if these correspond to the 13" and 11" handles respectively or not. The metal core might measure 13" and 11" end-to-end before being bent. So, like Duane, I'm curious blue Fair winds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guru4tru Posted December 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 After posting the last post I realized even when I get the answers (I need) to those questions I will still have a question... ------- So to those engineering minded people out there, like Howard and Tom, let me elaborate on my quandary. I've read about some quad handles being of, like say, 15" instead of 13", but if the "inch" measurement that is being refered is describing the total rod lenght (throughout it's bend)...then the entire show is based on the angle of the rods bend and not the distance between the holes...(which would be the distance between top and bottom lines). That means I could have a 13" rod and make a hair pin bend in it and have like 2" between holes (top and bottom lines) and it would still be called a 13" handle (or 15" handle with the same bend). That doesn't make any sense to me. I would think the distince between lines would be the critical dimension that everything, including terminology, should be based on. The bend angle should be immaterial, because that doesn't even determine the line lengths. The knot one fixes to determines that. ------------- So...someone please explain this to me or we can have the manufactures change their standard & terminology to agree with common sense!! Keep It Up! Duane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeepster Posted December 18, 2009 Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 You are retired now ... don't let the small things upset you. I answered on another thread, but the quick answer is that Rev started calling their handles by the length of raw stock that was initially cut. Thus, 13 inch handles start with a 13 inch blank. Most handles have a 30 degree bend ... thus, a 13 inches blank bent at a 30 degree angle with the same bend radius will always yield the same results. However, I have three Rev handles and they originally varied from 30 to 35 degrees. I've sense tweaked them so that they are all the same distance between D-rings. The interesting thing is that the grips on my favorite Rev handles differ by 1/16 inch in diameter. I flew with them for a year before discovering the difference. I think most of us worry over the small things that don't really affect our flying. Rod stiffness varies slightly, bridling is not exactly balanced, the fabric on my McKite is different between the colors (the colors are asymmetrical from side-to-side), line sets are not exact, handles differ in bend angle, grips differ in diameter and hardness, the damn wind keeps gusting and changing direction, etc. etc. But, still, most of us have a blast and fly reasonably well. Nothing says you have to fly a 1.5 kite with 13 inch handles ... several east coast guys fly with 15, 17 and one even uses 19 inch handles. Show us what you make ... and enjoy!!! Cheers, Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baloo Posted December 18, 2009 Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 Duane, Looks like one is a different bend to the other. And if only you had drilled the holes at 90 degrees from the ones in your picture!! Just funnin you mate. They look good. Dont worry about what anyone else does. You make YOUR handles the way YOU want them. Handle length can also be a personal preference. Some like long, some like short. Myself, as long as it connects the 4 lines to the kite, it means I can have fun, whatever the length. I have heard it said, length is not an issue, it is what you do with that length that is important. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Barresi Posted December 18, 2009 Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 I know a bunch of the European folks bend their stock Rev handles out a bit wider for more throw (length and shallower bend), a bit like using Rev's longer handles but perhaps a bit more sudden with the inputs. That's why I like my 13" for everything, 1.5 or Zen, it has a curve that fits and leverages in my hand quite well, and doesn't provide too much input on the kite... Less chance of over control, so I can be more aggressive and commanding with it. Totally a matter of taste though, I'm eager to read your findings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guru4tru Posted December 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 Well, thanks for your input. And I suppose it doesn't matter. But, if I talk to anyone about quad handles "I" am going to refer to the distance between end holes and so state it that way. If I take a 24" piece of stock material and bend it in circles and snake it around my hand like a glove (which I might try if it keep on raining) and come up with 11" between holes...I will be calling it an 11" handle, not a 24" handle. Keep It Up! Duane Oh...and thanks "Baloo" that reminded me to get my viagra perscription filled soon or I won't be doing anything with it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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