Kitebuilder Tech Sheets

These sheets are what started kitebuilder.com. All I wanted to do was share some info... Look what it turned into!

For kitebuilders in pursuit of more information. Please contact us if you have more info to share, we will gladly post it here.

NOTE: MANY OF THESE LINKS ARE DEAD. THEY REMAIN HERE FOR ARCHIVE PURPOSES.

For more TECH information, please visit our FORUMS and KNOWLEDGE BASE

"Information to be shared"

	ARTICLE	SOURCE	AUTHOR	NOTE
79	MSDS for Tyvek	Web		Material Data Safety Sheet for all types of Tyvek.
78	SKY SHARK™ TUBE APPLICATION GUIDE	Web	SkyBurner Kites	The Information on the website is provided to give kite builders a better understanding of how to pick the best tube for the kite you are building.
77	Painting on Ripstop	Web	Mike Eason	Mike's article originally appeared in the SJKF newsletter. In this essay, Mike discusses airbrush painting on white or colored nylon or polyester Ripstop with clear, solvent acrylic lacquers, the type used for automotive finishes, colored with transparent dyes. The article link takes you to the kitebuilder.com forums where this essay is discussed further.
76	Painting on Tyvek	Web	Mike Eason	Mike's article originally appeared in the SJKF newsletter. In this essay, Mike discusses his technique of painting Tyvek using artist's acrylic tube colors. The article link takes you to the kitebuilder.com forums where this essay is discussed further.
75	Kite Tube Tail Calculator	Free Download	Tom White	"Have you ever wondered how best to make use of a width of material to cut into strips to make an inflatable tube tail? Just adjust the desired tube diameter and width of material and the program will show you how many strips you can cut and how much waste will be left over. You can also use it to determine how to cut strips to be utilized for any kite project. This program does not give any directions on how to make a tail." -tw
74	Kite Bag/Sleeve	Free Download	Tom White	"Have you wanted to make your own drawstring kite bag? This program allows you to scale the bag from the size of a small cup, to a bag large enough to hold a 5 person tent. Full instructions on how to build the bag are included." -tw
73	Painting on Ripstop with Markers	Web Page	Ralf and Eva Dietrich	A really cool plan/article on creating kites using fabric paint markers. They use a clever technique of mixing colors through the fabric by painting one side of the fabric one color and the other another color.
72	How to Paint on Ripstop	Web Page, sportkite.com	Anne Slobada	"How to Paint on Ripstop" - First published in KiteLines Winter 91-92
71	Errata List for Jim Rowlands book: Soft Kites and Windsocks	Web Site	Philip Le Riche	Phillip collected all (hopefully) the discussion on the rec.kites newsgroup regarding Jim Rowlands' "Soft Kites and Windsocks".
70	How to repair a tear in ripstop	Web Site	David Gomberg	David describes this quick and easy method of "tear repair"
69	Molding your own Plastic Parts	Web File	Ray Bordelon	Ray was an invited guest to an early 90' Maryland Kite retreat. "Molding Your Own Parts" was one of his seminars. This is a copy of the notes.
68	Effects of different design elements on the Stunt Kite	Web PAge	Ian Newman	A good essay on the different variables of stunt kite design.
67	Low Cost Kite Aerial Photography	Web Page	Ben Theuerkauf, Evan Wile, Pete Simpson, and Sean Pentz	Three engineering students share their experience designing the best low cost rig for aerial photography.
66	Converting a Prizm 2.8 Stylus from dual to quad	Web File	Dorsal	Denis demonstrates how to convert this kites bridle.
65	Converting a Prizm 1.8 Stylus from dual to quad	Web File	Dorsal	Denis demonstrates how to convert this kites bridle.
64	Painting on silk	PDF Document	Diane Butler	This is the supporting document for Diane's seminar at Ft Worden in 2002. It is excellent coverage of the "Serti" painting technique.
63	Bridle Board	Web Page	Tom White	Need to make a lot of bridles exactly the same? This bridle board is a great jig for marking and cutting bridle lines. Easily made from materials you probably have laying around in your garage.
62	Interactive Kite Modeler	Web Page	NASA	With this software you can study the physics and math which describe the flight of a kite. You can choose from several types of kites and change the shape, size, and materials to produce your own design. You can change the values of different variables which affect the design and immediately see the new flight characteristics. The program tells you if your design is stable or not and also computes a prediction of how high your kite will fly
61	Poly Shareware	Web Page	peda.com	With Poly (shareware), you can manipulate polyhedral solids on the computer in a variety of ways. Flattened versions (nets) of polyhedra may be printed and then cut out, folded, and taped, to produce three-dimensional models.
61	Sewing Machine Adjustments	Web Page	Sailrite	A Helpful Guide to Sewing Machine Troubleshooting, Adjustment & Timing
60	Gary's Kite Knots Page	Web Page	Gary Engvall	Great presentation of the all important knots that kiters use... or should use!
59	Kite Sewing 101	Web Page	Gary Engvall	An excellent discussion on "Everything you need to know to sew kites from ripstop nylon"
58	The Roloplan Archive	Web Page	HansSnoek	An excellent (German) archive of the Roloplan Kite.
57	Ten Applique Techniques and More	Web Page	Kathy Goodwind	Kathy shares her wealth of kite building knowledge on appliqué methods, techniques, and incentives. Great Info!
56	Stiffness & Weight of Kite Spars	Web Page	Simo Salanne	A comprehensive article on the relative stiffness and weight of many popular kite spars. The article was updated in 1998.
55	The Flexifoil Patent	Web Page	Crowell/Jones	A large file download (150+) but worth it if your looking for information this historic ram air inflated, controllable kite. Invented in 1977 by Andrew Jones.
54	The Jalbert Parafoil	Web Page	Crowell/Jalbert	If you are considering a parafoil project, this is a must read. Jalbert is the "father" of the parafoil and all his patent information is here.
53	How to stack kites	Web Page	Gary Engvall	One of the most frequent questions asked about kites of all kinds are: "How do I stack these?" The focus in this article will be how to stack stunt kites, but the same principles apply to making trains of single line kites.
52	Lift Doesnt Suck	Web Page	Roger Long	Why does an airplane wing produce lift? Roger Long demystifies lift, and even explains such arcane notions as ground effect and the boundary layer.
51	High Altitude Kite Flying	Web Page	Richard Synergy	Everything you wanted to know about high altitude kite flying, and more.
50	Errata for the book: "Stunt Kites II"	Web Page	Peter Peters	A great book on making stunt kites, but there are a few errors. Here's the errata list of the book "Stunt Kites II" by Nop Velthuizen and Servaas van der Horst. This list is valid for the 1st print.
49	Wind Speed Profiles	Web Page	Peter Gostelow	An essay that explains how wind speed increases with height
48	Kite Lift	Web Page	Peter Gostelow	A very good essay on lift. How much weight a kite can lift, How to determine lift, and how to determine line pull.
47	How much weight can my kite lift?	Web Page	KAPer Magazine	An in depth article that explains answers to the subject
46	Some of the more commonly used lifting engines	Web Page	KAPer Magazine	A great discussion on different kites, the potential they have for lift, and how stable they fly.
45	How to prepare your Spectra flylines	Vendor Information	Innovative Textiles	Many feel sleeving Spectra before knots are tied will help the knot hold better and increase its strength. This is one way to do it.
44	To Sleeve, or Not to Sleeve 1.0	newsgroup: rec.kites	Andrew Beatie	The ongoing debate continues
43	To Sleeve, or Not to Sleeve 2.0	newsgroup: rec.kites	Assorted Authors	The ongoing debate continues
42	What affects the performance of a flyline?	Kite Studio Files	UnKnown	Single page discussion on Material, Construction, and Termination... and how they all affect performance.
41	Paper Pieced Pink Flamingo	Arnold's Homepage	Arnold Stellema	Paper piece patterns are a great way to get into representational kites (as opposed to graphic) without doing appliqué.
40	The Old "Segment a Non-Even Line" Trick	Kite Builder's Int'l Journal Volume 2 #2 1994	Pete Rondeau	"If you ever have a line that you need to divide into any number of equal segments there is a simple drafting technique...."
39	How to build a light table	Kite Builder's Int'l Journal Volume 1 #1 1993	Tony Ferrel	"Believe this Old Man, once you have a light table you will not know how you ever built a kite without one"
38	What is a kite?	Encyclopedia Britannica	Eden Maxwell	... as by the Encyclopedia Britannica. Very good information on kite aerodynamics, history, flight, and structure.
37	Kites in the Classroom	The Australian Kite Association	Peter Batchelor	Originally written as part of Peter's masters thesis during 1992 and 1993. "Kites can be used as educational tools. They could be used in many subjects, but would be of greatest benefit if used in a way which allowed students to synthesize knowledge from a number of subjects... "
36	Kites and Color	Reach up and touch the sky	Reach up and touch the sky	Form, balance and color are fundamental to the success of a kite design. Yet few people work with color instinctively. This web page can help you with the basics.
35	Stunt Kite Template	Kite Flying Fool's Kite Site	Jim Campbell	Jim provides us with a mathematical method for taking a conceptual design for a stunt kite and converting it into a master template
34	Lights for your Kite	Mike's Kite Site	Mike	How to make lights to illuminate the entire sail of your kite... for about $10.00
33	Fittings and How They Work	KiteBuilder.com	Tony Ferrel	Originally created by Tony Ferrel as a part of his AKA presentation in Muncie, Indiana
32	A Sky Reel	Kite Builder's Int'l Journal Volume 1 #2 1993	Denis Denning	An "economical" plan/design for a line reel. The main feature being interchangeable spools to quickly change line to match wind conditions
31	"The Keeper" - an applique demonstration.	www.sportkite.com	Peter Betancourt	Peter discusses the thought process that goes into making a custom kite. He then demonstrates his appliqué skills and shows us "how he does it"
30	Appliqué Workshop	Kai's Kite Site	Kai Griebenow	In this workshop I will use two Fighter kites to explain the appliqué technique
29	Kite Appliqué	Carol Duvall Show	Jose Sainz	Jose was on TV! Here he demonstrates his popular appliqué technique. Good step by step instruction with pictures.
28	Sewing Workshop - The Patchwork Technique	Kai's Kite Site	Kai Griebenow	Patch working can be quite simple, or very complex…..it just depends what you would like to do. For a workshop it is always good to start with something simple. Thus I decided that the Log-Cabin would be a nice start for the newcomers under the patch workers
27	So you want to make a kite but you don't know where to start?	www.akg.cwc.net	Charlie Charlton	Charlie discusses basic kitebuilding techniques and materials while constructing an Eddy kite.
26	Adding "sound" to your kite	Kite Musical Instruments & Aeolian Musical instruments	Uli Wahl	This site concerns with traditional sound producing devices i.e.aeolian musical instruments for kites or other purposes and their manufacturing. All instruments are sounded & powered by the natural wind itself.
25	Bridle Jig	Mike's Kite Site	Mike	This jig will allow you to make knots at precise lengths every time. Great for bridles and stack lines. Also good for measuring and cutting spars.
24	How to make a "Turbo-Bridle" for a stunt kite	Art & Flywork	Art & Flywork	This bridle will tilt the kite backwards in turns and has several advantages; it tracks better in sharp turns and gives a better start and faster flying and therefore more power.
23	Turbo Bridle Adjustment & Tuning Tips	San Diego Kite Club	Allen Stroh	What I DO understand and have a pretty good handle on is the adjustment procedures required to set up a kite for a variety of wind conditions and flying styles. In reality, all we need to do is fool around with the bridle and figure out how it works ... set up our kites the way we want them ... and FLY! And THAT is what we'll discuss in this article.
22	The dynamic stunt kite bridle and how to convert from static to dynamic	Andy Wardley	Andy Wardley	The key feature of the dynamic bridle: depending on the pressure applied to one or both flying lines, the tow point automatically shifts up or down whilst still maintaining tension on all lines in the bridle. On an equivalent static bridle, one leg or more will go slack if the tow point moves from its "home" position.
21	Working with bamboo	Bamboo, the All-Rounder in the Kingdom of Plants	Uli Wahl	in this article, the author tries to answer questions concerning the processing and working with bamboo
20	CA Super Glues and how to use them	KiteBuilder.com	Vendor Info	Short page on the various cyanoacrylate super glues held in stock and the proper way to store and use them.
19	Rokkaku Spar Recomendations	KiteBuilder.com	Steve Ferrel	So often we are asked, "What framework should I use for "x" size of Rokkaku?" Here is what we suggest.
18	Rokkaku Bridle	Kite Flying Fool's Kite Site	Michael Graves	How to make a Rokkaku Bridle... "the easy way"
17	Sanjo Rokkaku Information	Rec.kites archive	Assorted	What is a Sanjo Rokkaku? rec.kites responds...
16	Converting a Quad line kite to a Dual line kite.	FREE SKY Kite Creation	Didier FERMENT	Revolution and other "4 liners" flying with 2 lines: Bridling 4-2
15	Converting a Dual line stunt kite to Quad line	AKA Kiting Vol. 13, #2 1989	Al Hargus	An article explaining Al's method of converting a dual-line kite to a quad-line kite.
14	Kite FliersKnot Gallery	Kite FliersKnot Gallery	Simo	"These four knots are all a kite flier needs."
13	Animated Knots	42nd BRIGHTON	Cub Scouts	Various knots with animation showing how to tie them.
12	Tyvek Tech Sheet	KiteBuilder.com	Kitebuilder.com & Felix Cartagena	Info on Tyvek with an eye towards what might be of interest to the kitemaker. Tech sheet includes the essay by Felix Cartagena: "Funny you should ask about Tyvek"
11	Kite Cloth	AKA Kiting Vol. 11, #3 1991	H.B. Alexander	An interesting essay on the merits of using other "non-ripstop" fabrics for kitebuilding.
10	Kites, Fabrics, and Airfoils	Kite Builder's Int'l Journal Volume 1 #2 1993	Brian Doyle	An in depth analysis of the construction & characteristics of ripstop nylon.
9	How Airplanes Fly	All Star Network	Sport Aviation	"what makes an airplane fly"? The answer one frequently gets is misleading and often just plain wrong. We hope that the answers provided here will clarify many misconceptions about lift.
8	Bridle Calculator	Aiken's kite page	Aiken Drum	A free downloadable "calculator" that will do the calculations for solving several triangles given the size of your stunt kite, and help you design a bridle
7	How To Train a Cody	Drachen kombinieren und verketten	Werner Backes	Yes, there is a way to train Cody Kites. This method also applies to other types of kites.
6	Stunt Kite Aerodynamics	David Lord	David Lord	A very good essay discussing basic kite aerodynamics and terms such as aspect ratio, wing loading, washout, camber, billow, center of gravity, and stunt kite design.
5	Kite Aerodynamics	AKA Kiting Vol. 9, #3 1987	H.B. Alexander	Understanding the basic elements of what makes the kite fly...
4	Modified Bobby Stanfield Applique Method	KiteBuilder.com	Tony Ferrel	Tony shows how he combines the techniques learned from Bobby Stanfield to his own method of joining panels together.
3	Ways to add screening, mesh, and vents	www.kites.org	www.kites.org	Ways to add screening, mesh, and vents to your stunt kite for strong winds.
2	Air Brakes for Dual Line Sport Kites	Kite Builder's Int'l Journal Volume 1 #2 1993	Steve Millner	When the wind is really roaring, you might want to slow down your stunt kite... Add air brakes!
1	Sew, Your Looking for a Soing Machine...	Kite Builder's Int'l Journal Volume 1 #2 1993	Steve Ferrel	What to look for if your in the market to buy a new sewing machine.