So Darters...
I want to build a dart, after years of slinging single and double chains, and I was wondering how to best configure it? It appears that a long skinny knot is better than a big round monkeyfist, so I was wondering...
A 4-strand braid out of rope wick, (snakes style)?
or a catherdral fold out of a flat wick?
Does anyone know any knots to make a long skinny fuel-holding object of mayhem?
What kind or rope is best, length, thickness etc.. for the rope part?
Any input would be appreciated folks!
I want to build a dart, after years of slinging single and double chains, and I was wondering how to best configure it? It appears that a long skinny knot is better than a big round monkeyfist, so I was wondering...
A 4-strand braid out of rope wick, (snakes style)?
or a catherdral fold out of a flat wick?
Does anyone know any knots to make a long skinny fuel-holding object of mayhem?
What kind or rope is best, length, thickness etc.. for the rope part?
Any input would be appreciated folks!
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SF Bay Area
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Re: So...how do I build a dart?
Thu, July 26, 2007 - 8:12 PMCathedral wick is fine.
Monkey-fist is heavy (and hard), but works well too.
My main wick is a barrel-knot with a fold-over. Photos are in the Dart Gallery. I would recommend slightly shorter length than the one shown.
How big a flame do you want? Big flame limits close-to-body work until the fuel is almost gone.
Do you want large-area ground circles? The barrel-knot and cathedral stack are clumsy rolling on the ground.
-Scott
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Re: So...how do I build a dart?
Thu, July 26, 2007 - 9:45 PMIan or Jared put some pretty good description up here about two years ago, it's probably gone.
you'll need about 8-12 feet of 8mm climbing "utility cord", 6-18 inches of chain or ball chain with appropriate connectors, and a big wick.
6inches is the useable minimum for the chain. I use about 18 inches, because I'd rather never have my tool fly into the audience, but it is overkill, and extra weight sucks and causes a sort of spin when you shoot the dart.
I have a cathedral wick that is about 7" long now, it started 9" long, and is made from 8' of 1/8th inch by 2" cotton kevlar wick, and I welded the nut onto the bottom of the bolt, because I didn't trust the nut by itself. -
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Re: So...how do I build a dart?
Fri, July 27, 2007 - 3:33 AMI've heard 'bondage rope' is really good for high strength and no rope-burn. I haven't tried any.
-Scott -
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Re: So...how do I build a dart?
Fri, July 27, 2007 - 8:22 AMwww.twistedmonk.com
it's hemp and does take a little while to break in but thats what I am using at the moment.
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Re: So...how do I build a dart?
Fri, July 27, 2007 - 6:55 AMI don't know how you can handle a 7" long wick, the weight distribution must be awful.
For a new person building their own wick I highly recommend a 4 or 5 bite monkey fist (4" diameter or so) or a 4" to a side cathedral-stack-esque cube. If you can't get your hands on materials to make your own www.copperheadfire.com has some of the best gear out there. In my opinion, of course. -
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Re: So...how do I build a dart?
Fri, July 27, 2007 - 9:17 AMlikewise, I don't know how you can handle a ball that big as your wick, plus monkeyfists don't have a long life. The rope dart community here in the bay area is pretty big (I can think of 15 pretty serious dart-ers offhand), and no one uses a monkeyfist anymore, there was one, but I believe it disintegrated at Golden Gate Park one nite. -
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Re: So...how do I build a dart?
Fri, July 27, 2007 - 3:41 PMI'm biased because I've only known a cathedral-folded wick, but it has treated me well. I've subscribed to the 8mm climbing rope (around 12' since I'm 6' tall), about 6-8 inches of dog chain, and a cathedral folde wick with an eye bolt and welded nuts. My wick (gong from memory) is about 6-7". I recently bought some 7mm rope to give it a try, as I like the smaller rope on my non-fire rope dart. Haven't had a chance to spin with it yet and don't know if I'm going to go smaller or not. And yes, I'm part of the bay area rope dart community too. I think this time I may have gotten a color of rope that noone else has! -
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Re: So...how do I build a dart?
Fri, July 27, 2007 - 7:02 PMI have made some darts out of rail road spikes and they are not bad
but they are really not that great compared to what you can make if you start out with motor shaft and turn it down on a lathe.
I got one of those mini lathes a while back and they are perfect for turning darts.
These are going to be for combat so they have to be perfect :)
Need to post some pics and then get all crazy.
Party on!
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Re: So...how do I build a dart?
Sat, July 28, 2007 - 4:59 AMTo each there own, I guess. I've been very happy with my monkey fist amd its held up fairly long given the abuse I've put it through. Then again, I know the guy who makes my gear (what I don't do myself), and if its shoddy work, it could be his lap it lands it :-p
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Re: So...how do I build a dart?
Thu, March 6, 2008 - 2:59 PMIs there somewhere that sells rope dart wicks? I can tie a monkey fist but I would rather have something more dart shaped. Can I use a poi head on a chain attached to a rope? -
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Re: So...how do I build a dart?
Thu, March 6, 2008 - 4:51 PM -
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Re: So...how do I build a dart?
Sun, June 15, 2008 - 6:06 PMIs there anywhere else on the web that a so called "fire phallus" is available? I tried to get one from copperheadfire.com a couple weeks back and the. no longer seems to be in operation.
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Re: So...how do I build a dart?
Thu, August 23, 2007 - 10:41 AMOne thing that wasn't mentioned:
I'm a big fan of the overhand loop knot for the hand end, since it doesn't have to be real secure as it's in your hand and you check it every time you look at the dart. A small knot is nice here since it takes up space in your left hand. For the dart end, I use a figure eight followthrough knot so it's nice and secure, and I don't have to think about it.
Loop knots are nice because you can loop the knot through the ring on the end of your chain, and it doesn't bend the rope as tight, thereby stressing it. Also, the loop becomes a handy place to start a daisychain.
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Re: So...how do I build a dart?
Sat, January 26, 2008 - 2:39 PMi built mine out of a boxing hand wrap, three keychain caribiners, a snap hook and an eye screw. it works well so far, but then again i have not yet learned to do much!
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Re: So...how do I build a dart?
Fri, March 7, 2008 - 11:06 PMWell thank you all for all your input and experience...I've been playing with a smaller monkeyfist, but I'm wondering about making something more dart-shaped. It seems the physics of yr swing is determined by the width and length (and weight)of yr wick, so I'm thinking of something less short and squat. And how about the rope width: is 1/2 too thick, does one want to cut down on wind resistance and go with something thinner?
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Re: So...how do I build a dart?
Sun, March 9, 2008 - 8:27 AMFor my rope I always use 3/8 cotton three strand rope and braid on a 1/4 quick link. Then I use a nice ball bearing swivel and about 8-18" of chain.
Chain length and wick design have alot to do with how you want the whip to snap.
A cathedral gives you one point of weight with a crisp snap
Snakes are completely different depending on how they're made. If they are light with no end weight the chain may be come the center of gravity and whip the snake around making it cool looking if done right but VERY hard to predict and control. If you can find the right balance with the end weight of the snake and the weight of the chain then you can do some really fun stuff with it. -
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How about the rope?
Mon, April 14, 2008 - 9:36 AMWhat do you all use for rope?
I've used a 3/8" cotton cord before - cheap stuff from a local hardware store, one step thicker than clothesline - but even after a lot of use I'm still not sure I trust its strength. I've been hesitating to use synthetics, not sure how they'd hold up if they brushed against the fire... Any thoughts from those of you using climbing rope and the like? -
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Re: How about the rope?
Mon, April 14, 2008 - 1:56 PMHomeDepot nylon cord works well for me. As it gets dirty, it builds-up more friction in the hand. It is cheap to replace.
I've never feared for it burning/melting.
I want to try hemp.
-Scott
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Re: How about the rope?
Tue, April 15, 2008 - 9:03 AMspend the extra dollar or so and get 7 or 8 mil climbing utility cord from an outdoors/climbing/mountaineering store. It's static (no stretch = way better pops), and it is quite strong. It also is smooth on the outside and more resistant to becoming rough with heat. -
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Re: How about the rope?
Sat, June 7, 2008 - 8:52 PMno no no no no....you need PORN ROPE! you know, for BDSM practices! i'm not kidding, the kind of braided cotton rope they sell in novelty stores is absolutley the best! tough, braided(no twisting/kinking-well sometimes kinky), cotton so it won't melt like poly blends, and it comes in fun colors like PURPLE! you can get it also at www.rainbowropes.com .... warning, however, don't poke aroud on this site if you are squeamish about what some people do for kicks! -
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Re: How about the rope?
Tue, June 10, 2008 - 10:46 AM>cotton so it won't melt like poly blends
Yeah, but cotton burns.
So climbing type rope is of a type called "Kern Mantel" where the outside of the rope that you see and feel is just a sheath that protects the strength fibers inside. unless you have seriously burned through the rope, it is not weakened by surface heating. It is also quite easy to test for failures, squeeze it between fingers and pull it through, feeling for thin or hard spots on the core.
I was hesitant at first, and used cotton for a while, but I've had my current rope on my dart for over two years, and it is still way stronger than I need. The big thing is don't soak your rope in fuel and don't let your rope sit in fire. -
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Re: How about the rope?
Tue, June 10, 2008 - 11:39 AMCHEAP cotton burns. if you can show me a climbing rope, staic or not, that is softer than bondage rope, i'll be amazed!
tenstile strength is a good point, though. i'm sure that the rope gets put under a helluva strain when throwing out/snapping back a heavy wet wick! -
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Re: How about the rope?
Tue, June 10, 2008 - 12:09 PMOh, just toughen up and use clothsline!
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