Kite Tech Tips: Brummel Splice

[Gyre]

Splice experts, critics, pundits, and fans: what do you think of my splice here? I'm new to this but been applying the advice from this thread and others to make myself a new set of flying lines.

The line is Liros DC-201 (1.1mm diameter). My bury is 12cm, of which about 2cm is tapered. I went with simple splice plus stitches instead of a Brummel splice, to avoid the line twisting required by Brummel.

Are my stitches OK? I put about 10-12 of them (only for stability, not strength). I didn't break any of the Liros fibres but the stitches look ugly: are they really not weakening my line somehow? I used standard extra-strong nylon sewing thread.

Comments appreciated. I'm happy to describe my whole flying line-making procedure, if anyone is interested: I've come up with some preferred solutions for sourcing, stretching, measuring, etc.

[JakeFarley]

I am not proficient or an expert at splicing lines so take this with a grain of salt. On a pdf for stitch locking from Samson rope the lock stitching went from starting just below the eye, sewing at least 3 complete stitches toward the taper then rotating 90 degrees stitching back to the eye, bringing both ends of the twine through the same opening, tying the two ends of the stitching twine together then reinserting the knot back into the braid. However this might be for larger diameter lines. I'd like to know from the experts if this is acceptable.

[jakemoore]

Looks functional to me. A finer thread might help the lock stitch look more elegant.

[iriejohn]

I agree. And a neater stitch has less chance of coming loose.

[edt]

The only purpose of the stitch is to keep the splice from getting loose when it's not under load. literally one pass with a thread is plenty, the reason you do 3 or 4 passes through the splice is to keep it from unraveling. Your lock stitch is plenty good enough! Also you don't need that thick of a thread.

[Gyre]

Thanks for all the feeback guys.

[live2play]

Just wondering how line lengths are measured? Is a 15m line set the distance from the bar to the end including the leaders?
I don't have a set of lines to use as a reference. Any tips for making set of lines without a set to use as guide?

[iriejohn]

You might find this interesting.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2400971

[watercamper]

Wow! First splice took 30 minutes. Watching and re-watching his video to make sure of everything. I changed some things because of the tools I had. My 4th splice took minutes. Now the bury is the time consuming part. I am also changing how I will measure total length. Thanks so much for posting this video. It's so easy!

The only question I had was does the inversion (twist) do anything to weaken the lines? I think he says somewhere that he's been using this technique for 10 years with no problem so that is good enough for me but I am curious.

Oh, while watching this, YT linked to his post on near death experience. Damn! A lot of water under the bridge but happy you survived. I am always kiting over to someone when I think something's up. I've brought in people, surf boards, twin tips and foil boards. And people have done the same for me! Keep that stoke going!

[sarc]

I brummel splice all my frankenbars, both flying line and depower line, never stitched and never had a problem in years. But tapering the bury is really important to maintain strength.