How to Cut Down your Kite Lines

[@0bm31770]

I was thinking of paying a shop to do this, but now that I see how it's done, I'll do it myself. Thanks.

[@matt-0teachings952]

Glad to help. Just make sure you don't cut the wrong lines, I've done that myself once or twice lol

[@bctt6376]

I agree. I had been doubling my lines for a while now and when they tangle they really get messed up.

[@m007mm]

Could you show us how you would make a Pigtail yourself?

[@matt-0teachings952]

Good idea, I should make that video :) I don't usually make pigtails myself, as we tend to have enough lying around from used and broken kites. But the ones I have made were pretty much the same thing as knot/loop adaptors we make for attaching different brands of kites to bars: Take 4 equal lengths of bridle or 2/3mm line, about 30-35 cm and put a figure 8 knot in the middle of each. Then bend them in half and put the two loose ends in a figure 8 knot.

[@m007mm]

You can do this with a piece of normal kite lines? 0_0 @@matt-0teachings952

[@matt-0teachings952]

I wouldn't use normal kite lines to make pigtails. They would be much to difficult to take off, I think.

[@luukdeboer1974]

Don't you need to splice the lines instead of using a figure 8 knot? As knots are weaker than splices. And because knots on Spectra/Dyneema tend to slide. I'm afraid this is outright dangerous and I wouldn't put my life on those lines doing kiteloops

[@matt-0teachings952]

Thanks for the comment Luuk. Yes, splices are generally stronger than knots, if done right. I think that the key thing here is, the knot is on a doubled line so you're starting with 2X the breaking strength. And the figure 8 knot is one of the strongest knots. I would be curious to do some controlled tests with "8 knot in doubled line vs. splice." I have done it this way many times over the years, with many kites. I've seen splices break, and lines break, but not yet at the knots, with this arrangement. By the way, this is a cool video: acrossthe.blue/knots-with-dyneema/

[@luukdeboer1974]

@@matt-0teachings952 my son had his first kitemare with a trainer kite as a result of my mistake, knotting back together a broken steering line which slipped under load causing the kite to loop

[@matt-0teachings952]

@@luukdeboer1974 Please tell me about that, there is always lots to learn from kitemares and "mistakes." What size and type of kite was it, and what type of knot did you use on the steering line?

[@m007mm]

Could you tell us about the kite and knots you used? @@luukdeboer1974