What kind of deployment handle do you have?

[peacefuljeffrey 0]

Hi everyone.

I was just curious about what kind of deployment handles are most popular.

Regardless of what kind you have, do you have it because you picked that kind, or was it just what came with your rig?

I'm interested in this because well before I ever knew that Monkey's Fists were used in skydiving (a fact I find really really cool!), I just knew them as a knot that I had learned from a book.

I've been making simple ones since 1993, and when I found out that they could be used as handles, I just had to make one for my rig, from royal blue paracord. And just a few days ago I made one with two colors, for the first time. (Never seen any done that way, either.)

Pic attached of my new Blue-Green Monkey's Fist. What do you think?
-Jeffrey

-Jeffrey
"With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!"

[Tonto 1]

What few people understand is that weight seriously affects a pilot chute's performance. The old PVC pipe never had these issues. Most freefly handles are light, but I struggle to find them under a wing on my S3. My next PC's I'll have done with a practice golf ball.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[gordy 0]

Thats really cool.....
I want one now....instead of my hackey

[peacefuljeffrey 0]

Quote

What few people understand is that weight seriously affects a pilot chute's performance. The old PVC pipe never had these issues. Most freefly handles are light, but I struggle to find them under a wing on my S3. My next PC's I'll have done with a practice golf ball.

t

Heh, that's exactly what's in mine! I made it using a yellow foam practice golf ball.

When I made my first Monkey's Fist handle, I used a real golf ball (a "War Bird" by Callaway!) and once it was finished I realized it was too large, too heavy, and too hard. That's when I made my current handle, the all-blue Monkey's Fist with the yellow foam core.

They come out the perfect hand-size, very lightweight, and just a little bit "squeezy."

By the way, these things are very difficult to make! That one in the picture is the result of at least 2-3 hours' work!

But worth the effort, in the end.
-Jeffrey

-Jeffrey
"With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!"

[piisfish 140]

on my small PC I have a hackey, and on my large PC I have a PVC pipe which is very easy to grab with the wingsuit or with gloves

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[Dumpster 0]

My current rig has a hackey, but the Wings I'll be ordering in a few days will have the "freestyle" handle option with BOC.

Easy Does It

[DaGimp 0]

its a freefly pud, i have that on one of my rigs....never had a problem with it in gloves, winter gloves or my S3.....just gotta get used to it, its wierd at first.

"Professor of Pimpology"~~~Bolas

[kelel01 1]

I have a hackey, but I miss my monkey fist. Not sure why it's so different, but it is.

[sunshine 2]

I have the most awesome monkeyfist ever. It's pink, purple, and yellow.

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[dropdeded 0]

Hackey, came with it.

dropdeded

------------------------------------------
The Dude Abides.
-

[Clownburner 0]

Vector 3M with a freefly handle - light, and it makes sure there is NO bridle or pilot chute exposed, I really like it. Ordered it that way based on recommendations from DZ.commers.

7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez
"I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

[JohnMitchell 16]

I got a pull out that looks like a cutaway handle. I guess that's an "other"?

[flyingferret 0]

Looks nice, bro. I made one like that in school, when my current rig had a PVC handle. I dragged a bunch of utility cord in my backpack and made it in the back row of my Info. Systems class.
I loved it, and it had great feel. But my new Wings has a freefly handle and I love it too.
I used a foam fishing bob for the center of mine.

--
All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

[ManBird 0]

Hackey on my 28" ZP PC with 6' kill line bridle.
Practice gold ball on my 32" F111 PC with 10' kill line bridle
PVC on my 36" ZP PC with 9' bridle
Cap on my 42" F111 PC with 9' bridle

"¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯"

Click

[crutch 0]

You left off puds.

blue skies,

art

[SkydiveNFlorida 0]

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You left off puds.

I thought ff handle = pud, no?
--
I voted ff handle because my new rig that will be here in 2 wks will be pullout.

But, my current rig has a hackey, bought it used, came with the system.

Angela.

[Deuce 1]

Freefly pud. Love it, wouldn't have anything else.

[peacefuljeffrey 0]

Quote

You left off puds.

But I included "other"

Is a PUD a pull-out pilot chute system? I know only one person who has that, personally. But it's not all she has.

-Jeffrey

-Jeffrey
"With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!"

[peacefuljeffrey 0]

Quote

I have a hackey, but I miss my monkey fist. Not sure why it's so different, but it is.

That's 'cause you know that Monkey's Fists have a mystique. I don't know if you've seen how they're made, but it's really cool.

There are some craaaaazy variants of them (actually they're not much related at all) called "globe knots" that, like the Monkey's Fist, can be used as covers for round objects... Some of them would look mighty cool as a throwout handle... but I haven't developed the expertise at making them, yet. Perhaps someday. You will know me by the trail of people behind me asking, "What is that?!" and pointing at my deployment handle!

Until then, though, I'm gonna try to start making more of these two-color Monkey's Fists. Maybe if I sell a few of 'em around the DZ, I can begin to pretend that I'm making back the money I invested in all that 550 cord!

-Jeffrey

-Jeffrey
"With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!"

[flyingferret 0]

DUDE! how about a pineapple knot? http://knotical-arts.com/W065.jpg that must be wicked hard to tie. But very cool.

--
All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

[Viking 0]

i have that little piece of plastic tubing.

I swear you must have footprints on the back of your helmet - chicagoskydiver
My God has a bigger dick than your god -George Carlin

[Sabre2th 0]

someone have a website on how to make these different kind of knots? I need something to do here at work

Oh yeah, I have a hackey

Nick.

Those who dance, are cosidered insane by those who can't hear the music.

[peacefuljeffrey 0]

Quote

DUDE! how about a pineapple knot? http://knotical-arts.com/W065.jpg that must be wicked hard to tie. But very cool.

Heh, no doubt!!

I tied a knot called "Planet Earth" once, straight from the diagram in a book. It's a little more complex than the Monkey's Fist, but not as bad as those Pineapples. Trust me, even with a diagram in a book, some complex knots are not at all easy to make. It takes a lot of practice and experience, even to just get used to following the diagrams!

-Jeffrey

-Jeffrey
"With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!"

[smooth 0]

Quote

someone have a website on how to make these different kind of knots? I need something to do here at work

Oh yeah, I have a hackey

For creating the monkey fist knot take a look at these web pages:

http://www.cooperativeadventures.com/mf.htm

and

http://www.angelfire.com/pa4/t173/monkeyfist.html

[peacefuljeffrey 0]

Quote

For creating the monkey fist knot take a look at these web pages:

http://www.cooperativeadventures.com/mf.htm

and

http://www.angelfire.com/pa4/t173/monkeyfist.html

Those are good, succinct directions, especially the second link with the color-coded turns!

When I learned the Monkey's Fist, it was from The Morrow Guide to Knots. I had nothing but problems with it at first: I was new to following knot directions; the directions and photos themselves seemed to be pretty vague. I was given the book as a Christmas gift in 1993, and all Christmas Day I tried to make a Monkey's Fist. I eventually gave up in frustration. I learned other knots from the book, but I did not re-attempt the Monkey's Fist until a full year later, once again on Christmas Day, and this time I was able to make one! (Some time later I figured out that there was something I was doing incorrectly, though, and my knots had three turns on four sides, and four turns on two sides.)

Let me tell you, it is one thing to make a Monkey's Fist like that shown on the links you made, and making one with 8 or 9 turns to use as a throwout handle! They are worlds apart in complexity, just from the standpoint of keeping the turns organized as you form and tighten them. It takes hard work.

-Jeffrey

-Jeffrey
"With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!"