line reels Dumb question

How do you secure the free end of your line on the reel? No matter what I do I always end up 1/2 a turn from the slot in the reel. The clip helps but there is always a free end flopping the in the breeze.

I always thought there must be a better way.

I feed a small rubber band through the loops on the ends of the lines and hook that over the little metal clip. Puts a little tension on the lines and keeps them from getting unruly. I don't like hooking the lines through the slots in the reel because it makes a kink. Just remember to change the rubber bands occasionally so they don't get all rotten.

There are 2 common types of reels. Thick ones and thin ones. You can get a metal clip for either of them from Brodak. Clip the free ends of the lines on the metal clip and install it on the reel, and your lines will be securely held.

If you have a handle with a line adjustment,( not a hard point handle) you can leave the handle connected to the lines and just reel the handle cable up on the reel. Then place the metal clip on the handle cables to secure your lines.

I used to use the line clip with the little slider that ended up in the center to connect the lines to the plane/handle.

When I wrap the lines around the reel, I'd take the little metal u-shaped line reel clip and slip it through the clips on the lines and then press-snap the reel-clip onto the reel.

Then take the reel clip and slide it around the rim until the lines are in a bit of tension.

That kept the lines ends from flopping around.

Cy,

It looks like me and the cat whisperer struck simultaneously!

This is easy:

Roll your lines onto reel.

Install "U-"shaped clip.

Notice empty space between clip and lines.

Fill this space with something compressible.

I use cheap thongs (flip-flops) hacked to size with a band saw.

The "better way" is to toss those little plastic reels and make yourself a real "RAMBO" type reel.

Get some 3/8" birch ply and band-saw a circle about 12" dia. With the drill press set at about a 15 deg angle, drill about 12 holes around and near the perimeter of the ply disc.

Epoxy short 1/4" dowels in the holes. Add a center dowell and one other to crank on (use 1/2" dowell). Add a couple more 1/4" dowells somewhere on the disc to anchor the "start" end of your lines, using a rubber band.

Finish with a couple of hand-rubbed coats of Urathene varnish and add your "killer" decals.

No charge for my idea.

That's how Rambo got such big muscles. Carrying a flight box with half a dozen sets of lines on Rambo custom reels, a Rambo sized handle or three, some super-Rambo line clips (plus spares in case they break), a Rambo 82 engine, a Rambo starter, a Rambo 12v 60Amp hr battery to power the Rambo starter and Rambo fuel pump.....

No Rambo Stunt! Ever try combat...?

Dave
LA_Flyer

PS-On the other hand, mebbe if your lines are on giant, brightly colored reels, they wouldn't get left/lost at the field...?

I rolled up and compressed a small piece of paper towel. 'sounds flimsy, but the same piece I put in two summers ago still fills that space under the clip.

SK

LAST EDITED ON Jun-28-04 AT 09:21 PM (CDT)
 
I saw, I thought on this forum, a picture of a homemade reel winding device that had a round stick to hold while a sullivan or red reel was placed on one end with a piece of (aluminum) crank with a piece of wood going through the usual "finger" hole and a handle on the other side for cranking the lines up after a flying session. I have searched the site for two days now trying to find it again. No luck. It seemed like a simple idea at the time, but can't remember how the parts fitted together - - - -any help finding the picture again would be appreciated,
Thanks,

Don,

While I do not have a picture, I did make one of those line-winder dealies. Think I saw it in Model Aviation, but it was years ago.

You need an axle, line reel rotating on it. To one end of axle add a crank of some sort, mine is bent up from aluminum sheet. On the reel side of crank, add a drive to rotate line reel. On the one I built this driver is a piece of dowel same size as axle. In fact, crank handle made from same piece of dowel.

If you assemble the parts in the order presented it will quickly become obvious how it goes together. Very handy for the regular and double-wide SIG line reels.

Carl Shoup made a reel driver attachment for a hand-held and nicad-powered drill motor of some sort. Pretty cool, especially for someone (temporarily) confined to and getting around in a chair.

Thanks Dan, I finally got the picture in my head from your description. I'll go to Home Depot for the dowel sizes I need, I already have the sheet aluminum. Again,
Thanks,

>Thanks Dan, I finally got the picture in my head from your
>description. I'll go to Home Depot for the dowel sizes I
>need, I already have the sheet aluminum. Again,
>Thanks,

Don,

You're good. I have repeatedly shown this device to friends who come back several times before making their own. And you didn't even need a picture...

The only other advice I have is for you to get the unit chromed. Show-biz still works...

It's not built yet! I did see the picture once, your description brought the picture back to the (OLD) head.

This method works quite well. The bigger reels from Brodak work better than the small.

I use the large Brodak reels & a rubber band to keep the lines on the reel.

LAST EDITED ON Jun-28-04 AT 11:20 PM (CDT)
 
Combat fliers usually use the small red reels from Russia. These have four little holes on one side and one hole on the other side. The line ends simply go through the holes.

Those who use eyelets (a few in Combat still do) or those nifty Czech-style ends (I'll have to take a photo of one of these some day) cut slits from the edge of the spool to the hole so the lines can be slipped through.

Nice thing about these reels - they're some sort of polyolefin, so they don't become brittle with age and fall apart like the usual ones do.

As far as reel wind-up gizmos go - you HAVE to see the one the Minors use. They have this toolbox. Open the lid, and you'll find 24 line reels fixed to 3 rotating axles. The axles themselves can be rotated about a center, so any bank of 8 reels can be brought to the top of the box. Now, there's a switch just inside the box's lid. Press the button, and all 24 reels start spinning. Neat. I published a picture of this in MACA NL some years ago.

For solids, how about small bicycle wheel rims? I've seen speed fliers use larger sizes of these as line reels for their thick monoline.

Here is how I do my lines I have hooks on the inside of the reel to hook my lines to so the end do not get kinked and I leave the handle hooked up, and this is my line winder if you are intersted I can make the ends to sell.