Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin Sevcik
I like spectra for a lot of things because it's so light, flexible, and relatively cheap, but we've discovered that it's pretty annoying for telescoping lifts and such. Spectra has pretty severe creep, which means that it slowly, permanently stretches when it's under load, especially a high load. So any lines that you pretension are inevitably going to get loose as the season progresses. I've since come to appreciate Vectran. It has a lower modulus than spectra, so it will stretch more under load, but it's approximately a heck of a lot more flexible and lighter than steel cable of similar breaking strength, and it has zero creep. Spectra is best purchased from kite shops:
A Wind of Change
Windstar Kites
Vectran lines are available at sailing shops:
Mauri Pro Sailing
EDIT:
Art, you're being taken advantage of if you're paying $1 a foot for spectra if you like it that much. See my links above. Buying in bulk should get you spectra for half that much. |
Thanks for those links.
I was never the person directly in charge of purchasing spectra cable when we've worked with it, and that's the price I was told. Maybe because we only bought enough for our elevator and a spare, or maybe because we should have shopped around some more. Whatever the case was, I'll be sure to keep my eyes open in the future when 190/228 purchase some.