I think I have found some good material for 1/4 A flying lines.

Ray lead me in the right direction when he said that he used 14 lb.test, 8 lb size Spider Wire which was braided.

I went to Wal-Mart today but they only had braided Spider Wire in 30 and 50 lb test.  Looked like rope.   Went to Dick's Sporting Goods store next and looked over their selection.  No 14 lb test 8 lb size Spider Wire but the salesman recommended I try 20 lb test 8 lb size Berkley Gorilla line.  It says on the box "Virtually no streach".  Bought it, took it home, and tested it the same as my previous test. 

Test setup:  Secure one end of a 15 ft piece of line and hang 3 oz weight on the  other end of the line.  Then add 12 oz additional weight and measure the additional stretch in the 15 ft length.

Lines tested:
Capt. Mick's 6 lb test .009 dia. $2.50 for 400 yds at Meijar Inc.  Monofil
Spider Wire 6 lb test .009 dia. $3.84 for 220 yds at Wal-Mart  Monofil
Berkley Gorilla 20 lb test 8 lb size (.011 dia.) 125 yds at Dick's Sporting Goods Braided

Results:
Captin Mick's stretched an additional 5 inches
Spider Wire stretched an additional 4 inches
Berkley Gorilla stretched an additional 1/2 inch

Conclusion: braided line is the way to go and the higher test range is better as long as the line is phisically small.

The braided line is specified in size as equivalent size of monofil line.  6lb is .009 dia. and 8 lb is .011 dia.
Clancy

Berkely Gorilla info did not come from me, Frank... I use Fusion Spiderwire as Clancy stated. 

Clancy, that's great research; I shall hie me down to the Sporting Goods store and get me some Gorilla Line! Sounds better than Spiderwire...what about durability?  I've wrapped Spiderwire up in a prop flying combat, to the point of killing the engine, without cutting it (well, just a reed valve, but still...).  Not a test I'd recommend, but that is the next question: How well will it hold up to wear-and-tear?  Being fishing line, I'd expect it to handle it well.  Trying it through a season of flying is the only way to really know.  Guess I'll cut me a few sets of line and see next Spring. 

Only question left then:  How much does it cost?  You posted the price of all except Gorilla line.  Thanks again for the work, I'm gonna check local sources for the stuff.

--Ray

To go along with the 1/4 A flying lines I have found a source of good, reasonable priced, metal clips.

At Wal-Mart I found Renegrade Pro Series Snaps.  Package is marked SNAPS  Assorted sizes, contains 8-#1 & 8-#3. Price was $1.87 per package. (Under 12 cents each.)

The # 1 measure .460 overall length and are formed from .019 dia. wire. (Steel I Think?)
The # 3 measure .640 overall length and are formed from .023 dia. wire.

I took a sample of each size and performed a load test on them. 
Test # 1  Filled a 1/2 gallon jug with water. tied a cord to the handle and picked up the jug supported by a Snap.  Weight over 4 lbs.  Both passed.
Test # 2.  Filled a 1 gallon jug with water. tied a cord to the handle and picked up the jug supported by a Snap.  Weight over 8lbs.  Both passed. 
Test # 3.  Tied a cord to the handles of both jugs  and picked up the jugs supported by a Snap.  Weight over 12 lbs.  Both passed.

I think when you see the way they are formed, you will agree they are safer than the clips that are available with a sliding sheet metal retainer. 

Clancy

Clancy, I have always preferred the sliding metal retainer for simplicity reasons. However if what you say is true (I have no reason to believe otherwise) for safety reasons it sounds like just the ticket. Do you have a picture of these snaps and the package to reduce hunting time in the store?

Robert

Here's what I found...another brand (Rosco), same style.  I'm showing it with  a Sig "medium" sliding clip to give an idea of size.  The fishing clips are #3, rated at 40#--'way more than our 1/2A lines--and the hook looks very positive.  There are 2 sizes under this, rated at IIRC 20# and 12#.  They just looked a little small for my clumsy fingers.  Also note I paid $1.15 for 4 Sig clips; the fishing clips cost $1.50 for 8.  Good find, Clancy!

--Ray

Small plane fliers
This thread Has been quiet for a year but I thought it better to bring it back rather than start a new one and loose all of this good information.

Today I went to Dick's Sporting Goods and looked at their fishing gear.  Earlier in this thread I mentioned the Snaps that were available from Wally World and showed a picture of them.  Here is todays find.  Eagle Claw brand Snaps, #1 size 10 each for $0.58 + tax. They are red in color.  If you got any from Wally World use them on one line and the Eagle Claw ones on the other line for perminate line identification.

These measure 1/2 inch long inside to inside.

Clancy

I have never had one of the Sig style (I believe mine were all perfect Brand but exactly the same in apppearance) fail in use and I like the ease of use but I have bent them out of shape doing pull tests ( I

Robert

I have had the "sliding collar" style fail in flight - not normal flight mind you, but back in the early '70's
I was flying a lil Jumpin' Bean/Golden Bee.  The thing got out of shape and crossed the circle at about  15 feet and hit the end of the lines  - straightened out two LARGE size  clips and didn't break the dacron lines. 
It didn't straighten them all the way - it was more like to about 90 degrees, and it didn't physically come loose.  It popped the little collars though - they were long gone.

I've almost never used them since - well except that they make pretty good push rod braces on profiles.

So maybe, Clancy would want to do a "shock" test also, although I bet the clips he showed will pass it.  Personally, I like the "pinch" style clips and I don't find them any harder to use than the other styles anyway, so I stick pretty much with those.

Mike A

Doc
Check my post of March 4, 07 on this subject above.  I have just finished the same tests with the Eagle Claw brand with the same conclusions.  The #1 size, the smallest they make, held 12 lbs.  To further test them for shock loads I started jerking the support up and down, stopping on the down stroke to get a feel for shock load problems.  I  did it 5 times each one more violent than the previous one.  at the 5th shock it popped open.  I would estimate that shock equaled the 12 lbs being dropped at least 6 inches straight down.  It felt like a 35 size stunter that had gotten loose on the lines and had just came tight on the end of the lines. 

As for using them on larger models.  I have contacted the manufacturer for the pull test ratings on all 6 sizes they make.  If they meet AMA pull test spec's then we could use them.  Will post the ratings if I get them.

One difference between the Wal*Mart and Eagle Claw parts.  The Eagle Claw is about .110 inch longer.  Also .001 larger wire diameter but that is the Red coloring.

Clancy

Good work Clancy, thanks.