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Stupid Question about String- I’m desperate!


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Viewing 17 posts - 1 through 17 (of 17 total)
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  • #1298851
    Max Dilthey
    Spectator

    @mdilthey

    Locale: MaxTheCyclist.com

    I feel really dense for asking, but I really don't want to order the wrong thing four times.

    I want to make zipper pulls about 3 inches long for all my jackets and gear. I know a great way to tie string to make them.

    Can someone reccommend a thin string (for small and large zippers) that won't fray, won't snap when tugged, will keep a knot forever, and won't retain moisture? Assume I know nothing about string; I'll need to know how to look it up on Amazon.

    Thank you!

    Edit: by "retain moisture" I only think of a piece of string collecting perspiration, freezing, and then snapping in cold weather.

    #1950846
    Colin Krusor
    BPL Member

    @ckrusor

    Locale: Northwest US

    braided polyester (ie. Dacron) kite or fishing line absorbs very little water, is strong and relatively abrasion resistant, and holds knots well. It will hold a knot forever if you let a drop or two of superglue soak into the knot, and it won't fray if you melt the ends a little.

    There are many sellers of this on Ebay:

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Troll-Queen-Braided-Dacron-Fish-Line-50-Yd-45-Test-/120523538087?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c0fc33ea7

    And on Amazon:

    http://www.amazon.com/30lb-500ft-Braided-Dacron-Kite/dp/B003WWS208/ref=sr_1_12?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1360031213&sr=1-12&keywords=braided+dacron+line

    Most of it tends to be black or white, but you can find other colors if you do some searching.

    #1950852
    Max Dilthey
    Spectator

    @mdilthey

    Locale: MaxTheCyclist.com

    Thank you Colin! MYOG forum never disappoints the amateurs!

    #1950854
    Max Dilthey
    Spectator

    @mdilthey

    Locale: MaxTheCyclist.com

    Still a little lost. Since this is going on jackets that I wear around town as well as on the mountain, I really want black string. The link provided above goes to white string.

    I found this product on Amazon:

    http://www.amazon.com/Woodstock-Dacron-Fishing-Yards-Black/dp/B0084ONITY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360032612&sr=8-1&keywords=black+dacron

    I can choose Black as a color. However, what do the "# lb. test" numbers mean as far as diameter? I don't want to buy 12lb test string and find out it's as thin as thread, but I don't want to buy 30lb test string and find out I can't fit it through the hole in the zipper. What's a good number here for zipper pulls?

    #1950857
    James Marco
    BPL Member

    @jamesdmarco

    Locale: Finger Lakes

    Yeah, try ice fishing line. I think thats what he was talking about.

    The also make some fairly expensive stuff in spectra. Try this:
    http://www.flyfishusa.com/lines/fly-line-backing.html

    #1950858
    Nico .
    BPL Member

    @nickb

    Locale: Los Padres National Forest

    How about something like this?

    Comes in bright orange (if that's your thing) or a stealth gray…

    http://litetrail.com/shop/litetrail-gline-polyester-dyneema-guyline-cord-50-feet

    #1950880
    Daryl and Daryl
    BPL Member

    @lyrad1

    Locale: Pacific Northwest, USA, Earth

    Kite line is a great suggestion but I've had poor luck finding it in black.

    The cord in the link below, however, comes in black and is more than adequate for what you are doing. I have multiple rolls of it and use it for everything.

    Here

    #1950885
    Colin Krusor
    BPL Member

    @ckrusor

    Locale: Northwest US

    Max, for pure dacron, I think any strength between 50lbs and 250lbs will be just fine for zipper pulls. These weights are roughly the thickness of the spectrum of commonplace twines (like jute or sisal utility twines from the hardware store). Dacron line in 10lb test will be pretty thin (like heavy thread), and 350lb test will be closer to the thickness of round bootlaces.

    #1950891
    Max Dilthey
    Spectator

    @mdilthey

    Locale: MaxTheCyclist.com

    Thanks! I edged under the 30lb mark because weight matters on some stuff like the down jacket, but I did not go down to 12lb per your suggestion. Hope 20lb isn't too-too light!

    #1950893
    Gregory Allen
    BPL Member

    @gallen1119

    Locale: Golden, CO

    It may not be the cheapest, but quality and service can't be beat with the accessories section area of zpacks, http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/spectra_cord.shtml. The small z-line or 80 lb. polyester wound be good, both available in black.

    #1950917
    Steve B
    BPL Member

    @geokite

    Locale: Southern California

    Been flying kites for 20+ years now, I have lots of different kinds of "string". Boxes of it. Everything from kitesurfing line to manja for fighters kites.

    And I LOVE the thin line (1.25mm) that Z-packs has. Use it for everything. Great size, stiffness, and strength (yikes, did I just say that??).

    And it comes in black.

    Steve

    #1950926
    Nick Gatel
    BPL Member

    @ngatel

    Locale: Southern California

    Any light guy line. I like Tripease because it is thick enough to grab with gloves and not slippery. At night I can see it in my headlight without my glasses. Make sure it is long enough.

    #1950930
    Roger Caffin
    BPL Member

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    Lateral, lateral …

    Go to a standard fabric store and ask for satin ribbon. It comes in a huge range of widths. Look for something 1/4" or 3/16" wide, in YOUR colour.

    Cut off a suitable length, melt the ends lightly with a Bic lighter, then thread through the zipper pull and tie a very basic thumb knot at the END. I say at the end because that makes a lump at the end of the loop which you can hold even with mitts on.

    Works very well for us, and something similar (but usually with MUCH heavier webbing) is done by many, many gear manufacturers.

    Cheers

    #1950947
    Tad Englund
    BPL Member

    @bestbuilder

    Locale: Pacific Northwest

    +1 for Roger and the Satin ribbon, works great and weighs nothing. The North Face used that stuff for years.

    #1950970
    Andy Anderson
    BPL Member

    @ianders

    Locale: Southeast

    Sterline Mini Cord. This stuff is great. Lightweight and strong. I always have a roll in my pack.

    http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3667628

    #1951089
    Mark Fowler
    BPL Member

    @kramrelwof

    Locale: Namadgi

    For night time use – tent zippers especially – I use a short length of 1/16 glow in the dark cord I got on eBay. With that thickness I don't make a loop but just put a thumb knot or figure of 8 at each end. The tent looks like a glowworm tunnel at night.

    #1953864
    David Miles
    Spectator

    @davidmiles

    Locale: Eastern Sierra

    Two of my favorite small cords. They hold knots better that a lot of the slippery stuff.

    http://rwrope.com/outdoors-sporting-goods/sportsmans-utility-cord/sportsman-utility-cord.html

    This one glows for a very long time:
    http://coolglowstuff.com/id12.html

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