Kitebuilder.com

Steve D · Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 820 Location: USA GA Newnan

Hi folks. I need a little educating this morning.

I've been reading the various threads about fabrics and slitting fabrics and such and I'm trying to get some of the fabric terms straight in my head. If I look at a piece of Ripstop I see lots of little rectangles whose long side is perpendicular to the long edge of the cloth. I need to get a handle on what the names of the threads perpendicular to the length of the cloth, and parallel to the length of the cloth.

What is the 'bias'?

Steve, is there a glossary of cloth terms in the Tech Sheets?

KiteSquid · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 12:27 pm Post subject:

IIRC, the fibers that run the length of the fabric on the roll are called the Warp (or Woof if you are in england) fibers

The fibers that run across the fabric on the roll are called the Weft fibers

if you go 45 degrees (Diagonaly) across the fabric, that is the bias (which is where you will find the most stretch as no fibers are under direct tension.

The fat fibers you see are the "Rip Stopping" fibers. the fabric we use is based on Parachute technolgy. To make the canopy of a parachute light you have to limit the amount of fibers in it. To make any cloth strong, you increase the diamater of the fibers (Compare a handkerchief to a pair of pants, to Denim, to a birlap sack) To make a parachute that could hold up to abuse (Getting a bullet hole, etc) they figured that you can make the cloth light and intersprse thicker fibers so if a rip started, the thicker fibers would stop the rip from spreadding, therefore the name Ripstop was invented.

Here is a link to one of the many fabric lexicons on the web:

http://www.fabriclink.com/dictionary.html

I have not found a complete dictionary on the web, but one can hope...

Your local library should have some books on fabrics... though I have not seen any that focus on kite fabrics, but look for something on boat sails.

Ther is a book from North U that has a lot of GREAT info on boat sail fabric technology, but I cannot remember the name right now..
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Shocked

Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

Steve D · Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 820 Location: USA GA Newnan

Thanks Harold!

KiteSquid · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2003 6:58 am Post subject:

No problem,

I love steping up onto the electronic soap box....
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Shocked

Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

Dennist3 · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 6:43 am Post subject:

all stand and clap....

Professor Squid will now demonstraite how to rip your Ripstop .....

(insert picture of harold jumping out of a plane with a parachute that looks like swiss cheese)

Hmmmmm......

Dennis

KiteSquid · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 8:40 am Post subject:

AAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH

all the way to the ground Shocked

_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Shocked

Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

stevef · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am Post subject: Re: Fabric Terms Help

smarties · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:33 pm Post subject: Re: Fabric Terms Help

KiteSquid · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 9:37 am Post subject: Re: Fabric Terms Help

stevef · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 12:55 pm Post subject:

Squid is right about humidity and it's "weighty" affect on various fabrics. But personally, i have NEVER been concerned with the weight of the fabric in the kites i have made. Heck, when I use .75 ounce nylon, most often i layer two or three colors to get a desired effect. I made this kite last year and it rolls up like a piece of cardboard - but it flys great, and in my opinion, looks good too. On that kite, there are places with four layers of cloth, plus some Design Master paint!

Actually, in my opinion, 1.5-ounce Ripstop nylon is one of the most under used fabrics. Sure it is heavier, and it probably needs to be hot cut if you have exposed edges, but in return you get great color -- deep reds, crisp whites, and the blackest black. Color effects are what i am most concerned with.

Weigh your sail, and then weigh your framework. Most of the weight is probably in the frame. Realize this is where you can usually make the biggest reduction. And depending on the kite you are creating, there are many ways to "strengthen" lighter weight spars.... think about bridling, fittings, cross supports, tensioning lines, tapered spars etc...

If your fabric weight is heavier than your framework, then you are probably using A LOT of fabric. If you are using a lot of fabric, then you probably have a lot of lift… If you have a lot of lift, then overall weight becomes less of a concern.

Hey Cliff and Doug, do you know the lift to weight ratios of the Double Star and B.A.D.?
_________________
Steve Ferrel
Measure once, buy twice!