jmach wrote: ↑Sat Nov 27, 2021 12:40 amI've put together a few bars and agree with EDT, it's not really about saving money, it's about getting exactly what you want. I've had excellent results with the Ozone trimmer bracket, wish it didn't have a bead but the setup is very proven and quite solid. I want to give a shout-out to Kiteboarding.com for being a great source for many of the odds and ends needed when putting together a bar or tweaking one. Also, Kite Attitude in France is great too, especially for the hard to source quick release assembly, their 'Aka Chicken Loop' is an excellent QR. Shipping to the U.S. is a bit pricey these days but there's not too many options available for QRs here. I recommend springing for DHL shipping, it's unbelievably fast and reliable.edt wrote: ↑Thu Nov 25, 2021 12:32 amI'm not so sure it's cheaper. You still have to buy lines and the QR itself is really expensive now. So for instance, the QR will run anywhere from $100 to $200, then the lines, which I like to make myself run me about 33 cents a foot so that's over $100 for the lines but typically it will cost more because you end up buying more than you need and can't use the rest, so about $150 for lines, then the chicken leaders run about $1 a foot, you want again more than you need to build a bar because if you get less and it turns out your splice adds more requirement for length than you thought, then it's a disaster, so count on $20 for the chicken line, then $20 for the leaders another $100 for assorted o-rings, cleats, tape to regrip the bar and it totals out to about $440.Kite Dependent wrote: ↑Wed Nov 24, 2021 11:44 pmYou do highlight how much cheaper we could all be kiting with home made bars.
It's best just to buy a control bar with a QR you like, then later mod the bar as you like. If you can get the control bar used you also can part it up and that's nice. The best thing about a home made bar is that you get rid of these incredibly annoying problems like that wear you that have described, so you know your control bar works 100% of the time every time.
I think most of us who build bars end up doing it because we get to pick and choose exactly which components we like and usually we don't skimp on the quality of the components because then what's the point?
Another real benefit of building your own bar is how it makes you more aware of how everything works, especially the flag out/safety system. It's definitely not rocket science but I'm amazed how little attention most give it. And one more suggestion, learn to splice, it's easy and opens a world of options.
Hi jmach & EDT
True, none of get into kiting as its a cheap hobby after all, hey.
Yes I'm also prepared to spend extra on the Reedin bar so it suits my requirements.
Agree, splicing is a must, have made my own custom depower and some 6m line extensions too, love how smooth you can get the bury to taper when it is done yourself.
