Sullivan Tufstrand

Stuka Stunt Main Forum · 16 of 16 known posts recovered

catdaddy · Jan 27, 2003 12:21 PM

Has anyone used Sullivans Tufstrand 2/6 (kevlar blend) lines?
They claim less drag than steel. Does anyone recommend them?
I noticed that they only come in 60' lengths premade at about half the cost of premade steel. Is it wise to cut these down and redo the eyelets?

regards
catdaddy

regards,
Rick "catdaddy" Blankenship

Floyd C · Jan 27, 2003 12:39 PM

#1 source

Tell me more. The only tuffstrands I know of are the big yellow nasty things. Are you saying they have some that are different?

Randy · Jan 27, 2003 12:46 PM

#2 source

Hmm, if the same as previous kevlar lines, it's an interesting experience. Sorta like flying a plane attached to a slinky.

Randy

catdaddy · Jan 27, 2003 12:50 PM

#4 source

Is this the stuff you guys are thinking of?
<http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFU22&P=7>

I ran a search here to see if this has been discussed before but no hits were obtained

catdaddy

regards,
Rick "catdaddy" Blankenship

Floyd C · Jan 27, 2003 12:58 PM

#7 source

LAST EDITED ON Jan-27-03 AT 01:04 PM (CDT)

If that is what you are asking about, then RUN AWAY. VERY FAST.

That stuff is junk. I used them about 8 years ago. Awful. I don't remember them being "flat," though. They were just really big. Bigger around than what you'd use for a 60 size ship, and these were for 35 size planes.

Mine were only 35' long and that was plenty for a 40 size viking plane. Flew fairly normally on that length. Drag can be worse than weight.

They don't seem trustworthy anyway. Steel lines might show a kink or whatever when weakened. With those thing, who can tell?

I do wish somebody would come up with a better kind of line. The steel ones are too fragile. I did fly a fair amount on the tuffstrands but that was sport flying only. You couldn't give those lines to me.

I_FLY_CL · Jan 27, 2003 01:09 PM

#8 source

>Has anyone used Sullivans Tufstrand 2/6
>(kevlar blend) lines?
>They claim less drag than steel.
>Does anyone recommend them?
>I noticed that they only come
>in 60' lengths premade at
>about half the cost of
>premade steel. Is it wise
>to cut these down and
>redo the eyelets?
>
>regards
>catdaddy

Most fliers that have used kevlar have given up kevlar in favor of Spectra, which is a long-fiber
high-density polyethylene. Much more slippery, nearly the same low stretch,
don't need to sleeve it, and holds up well in UV. It's sold as Speedline,
Spiderline, Spiderwire, Tuff line and others.

Randy · Jan 27, 2003 05:11 PM

#10 source

RE: SpiderWire.

What weight do you use and what about drag? Looks like you'd need 80lb plus test and it would be pretty large diameter with a lot of drag. No?

Randy

I_FLY_CL · Jan 27, 2003 08:14 PM

#12 source

LAST EDITED ON Jan-27-03 AT 08:17 PM (CDT)

>RE: SpiderWire.
>
>What weight do you use and
>what about drag? Looks like
>you'd need 80lb plus test
>and it would be pretty
>large diameter with a lot
>of drag. No?
>
>Randy

If you pull test to 30 Lbs. and you have 2 lines each one rated at 30 Lbs each that should give you a combined strength of 60 Lbs. each line is about the same size as 6 Lb. Mono. If you want a little more margin you could use 50 Lb. test line.

Line Test 12 18 30 50 65 80 100 130 200
Diameter .005" .007" .009" .012" .017" .020" .021" .027" .030"

I have not used this line so you should do your own test.

The columns lined up before I posted this message?

Iskandar Taib · Jan 27, 2003 11:29 PM

#13 source

A not-so-well-known fact:

What is the test weight of .018" 7 strand stainless CL wire? (It's all 302 alloy, incidentally.)

45 pounds.

Surprised?

builditright · Jan 28, 2003 12:37 AM

#15 source

Gives a new meaning to "VIBRATION" and makes an old Fox sound & feel smooth, longest flight I ever flew and Damm near killed the plane too!
wouldn't reccommend them to my worst enemy.

If you need a set of lines let me know heck I don't want to see the plane suffer. LOL !

Thank You and God Bless
Walter Umland
aka / builditright
please visit my web
http://www.builtrightflyright.net

Currell · Jan 27, 2003 12:51 PM

#5 source

The flat Tuffstand lines are draggy, but I never had any vibration problems, in the (brief) period that I used them.

Damning with faint praise...they do last forever", don't kink, you can walk on them, and they show up really well on grass.

Yes, they make a great stooge line, and I don't mean something that Moe Howard would come up with.

Currell

barenekd · Jan 27, 2003 04:53 PM

#9 source

>
>Yes, they make a great stooge
>line, and I don't mean
>something that Moe Howard would
>come up with.
>
>Currell

I thought Moe Howard did come up with them! Or, may be it was Lou Costello. I saw him in a movie flying C/L by swinging the handle over his head while he stood still.

Barry Baxter

gcb · Jan 28, 2003 05:02 AM

#17 source

Or, may be it was Lou Costello. I saw him in a movie flying C/L by swinging the handle over his head while he stood still.

"Abbot and Costello Go to Mars"? I think the plane was a WenMac Aeromite. I saw it when I was a youngster.

Check this:
http://sfstation.members.easyspace.com/rabbot.htm

George

Currell · Jan 27, 2003 12:52 PM

#6 source

The flat Tuffstand lines are draggy, but I never had any vibration problems, in the (brief) period that I used them.

Damning with faint praise...they do last forever", don't kink, you can walk on them, and they show up really well on grass.

Yes, they make a great stooge line, and I don't mean something that Moe Howard would come up with.

Currell

Steve Scott · Jan 27, 2003 07:24 PM

#11 source

>Point: Yellow Sullivan flat-line is terrific
>as a stooge-pull line.

I used my set to mark off property lines on my lot.

Iskandar Taib · Jan 28, 2003 12:48 AM

RE: Firewire#16 source

According to Phil Cartier, it slides very well indeed. He's used it on 1/2-A combat models, and you can wrap lines with your opponent up pretty well, and it still slides. Better than steel. The stunt kite fliers use it, too (though their lines are a lot heavier - 80-200 pound test).

Try it on 1/2-As first..