Kitebuilder.com

[ndcmpc]

Having been to a couple workshops, I noticed a variety of weights folks had made to help hold the fabric in place. I have about 25 lbs of lead shot from my reloading days and plan to build some. What seems to be the common (or your) favorite weight? 1, 2, 3 lb?
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Doug
Norfolk, VA
Rams, Blues and Cardinals Fan from Missouri

Life is simpler when you plow around the stumps.

[kiteguy]

I was at a workshop yesterday and the presenter was using 5lb divers' belt weights. They were about 3.5 inches square and a couple inches thick with rounded edges and corners. She had 6 or 8 of them, and could hold down just about anything.
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Dave Ellis
Kites + Kids = Education

[Grant L]

I use dive weights and also lead shot filled bags. The bags I just made in convient sizes. Even the small ones have quite a bit of weight . I made one that is a tube just over a foot long. This one is great to put along the edge of a template when you cut to keep the edge from lifting up and the blade wandering. Some one in the past had mentioned filling old perscription bottles with lead shot and I find these handy too, ( and easier to make than the bags )

[Grant L]

Here is a shot of some that I use. Another handy shape for the weight bags is the triangle. Good for tight corners, ( like the pieces on my della porta,) just be careful with you knife around any of the bags. Several of mine are sporting insignia cloth patches

[woodpekr]

I use square lexan bottles from Nalgene in various sizes filled with shot. The don't mark the fabric and since they're square they'r not going to roll around. I often use them to hold a straight edge in place too.
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Rich Durant
Portland, Oregon

[RonG]

2.5 lb barbell weight discs from WalMart. Shawn Tinkham pointed me to these. They're cheap, can be easily stacked for storage, and cover a nice amount of surface area of the material or template I'm weighting down. They're about 5" or so in diameter. The only downside is they leave a real dent in a hardwood floor when dropped

Early on I used Mason jars filled with all those pennies that seem to accumulate around the house. Lead shot works work just as well, of course. Also seen the diving weights mentioned earlier used at some workshops.

[KiteSquid]

I use weights I made out of lead shot filled circles of leather. They weigh somewehre between 4 and 5 lbs each as IIRC, I made 6 out of 25# of shot...

I got the idea from Jim Cosca.

His were originaly sold as "Paper Weights"

I bought some SOFT leather.. I think it is marketed as "Chap/Moc Splits" leather from Tandy Leather... about $3.99 a squre foot. I bought a side when it was on sale...

I like the leather as it has a good feel, is flexable and does not slip. Also it does melt if I acdently tap it with a hot object...

I like to hold the weight about 4" above the work surface and plop them down, so the work does not shift by my placement of the weights. I have done this with solid weights.


Any shape would work and a square would give better yield of materials than circles did...

I have about 2 dozen of these weights as there is never enough weight when you want it.....
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VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA


P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Doesent he ever shut up???

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

[RonG]

[KiteSquid]

If you are working with bare lead weights... dont forget to wash your hands before eating, drinking or smoking.

Lead poisoning is not something you want to get!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA


P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Doesent he ever shut up???

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

[KiteSquid]