Kitebuilder.com

[airhead]

I don’t post very often (ethier I don't know the answer, or it has already been posted three times!), but at a workshop last weekend I got to try a couple of ideas out, and they worked so well I wanted to share them, even if you have heard of them before! Both are based on ideas that I have read here. I just don't get much time to dig through all the great ideas posted here!

At a recent workshop I needed to hot cut long lengths (transitional tails!) and I was trying to come up with something that would work, be lightweight, and transport easily. While I was walking through a lumberyard I saw a large sheet of formica. The sheets run around $35 and can bend, (but they will not fold!) so I thought I would be able to shape it into my van. I really like it! It stores flat against the garage wall, and can set up either on the floor, or on a folding table where ever you have room. It worked for hot cutting all my kits, and at the workshop. The hot cutter left a little bit of residue, so I may be only to use it for a year or so before replacing it. The ease that it can be moved is wonderful. While I was at the lumberyard, I also walked through lighting. They had a display up with rope lighting. Since it was a display, I figured it was on all the time, and what amazed me was how cool the tube of lights were! I do have a salvaged glass patio door in my sewing room, but have been hesitant to mount lights under it because of the storage that I would lose underneath. I am going to try to tape the light rope to the underside of the glass, and still use all of the storage below it. I also tried a portable idea at the workshop. The rope light is pretty solid, so I looped it a few times on a table, and set a piece of glass over the rope. The light rope held the glass steady to work on, and the whole set up didn’t get too hot all afternoon.

I really liked both ideas, as well as my 5 lb diver weights. You can buy them covered in rubber, but they are about twice as expensive. But I have thought about gluing cork to mine, or dipping them in that colored liquid rubber for tool handles.

Airhead

[Progcraft]

Excellent post Airhead.
Ya just gotta love the results you get from useing easy to find and inexpensive material. A little bit of creativity always leads to great ideas. I think you've just experienced what is turning out to be a very common path into kitebuilding. I bet your going to make some great kites in the months/years to come

Cheers,
P.
_________________
There is no box.

[CJQ]

Hi Airhead, two good ideas . I realy like the light rope trick. Using the rope as a light source is neat the best part is that it also becomes the base for your glass top,thus eliminating items to haul along when you go portable.
Thanks much

CLIFF

[knotronda]

The rope light is a great idea!! Thanks for sharing.

KR

[KiteSquid]

Two GREAT ideas!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOOOO HOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

I have some smaller scraps of Formica that I got from a cabinet shop. Ask them for scraps or go dumpster diving for some great stuff.

They said that they had just finshed doing some cash registers for Target and threw away full sheets of RED that was left over, but I missed them by a couple of days........

Oh well, that RED that Target uses is hard on my eyes!!!!!!!!

BTW the scraps of Formica makes GREAT pattern material!!!!!!!!!!!! FREE is good!!!!!!
_________________
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.

[airhead]

KiteSquid,

What is the best (read easiest) way to cut formica? I may need to slim down my sheet just a bit to fit on a standard folding table. But I really like the fact that I can lift the sheet by myself! And it bends around the stairs!

It may even open up new ideas that we can do for workshops! I tend to discourage projects that have more than 5 peices--'cause I have to cut out the kits!

We helped a friend cut out a 40 quad one weekend, and he was surprized by how long it took to cut all the items needed. Three of us took turns hot cutting, and it still took the good part of a day to do it. Then he started sewing and found out how long a quad REALLY took.

Airhead

[KiteSquid]

Look at the router bits that are for trimming it....

I have also used a table saw, with a sharp carbide blade.

I guess any cutting tool as long as it has resonalbly sharp and fine teeth,
but feed SLOW and use a HIGH tool speed.

Ask the guy at the cabinet shop or where you got your formica how they would cut it.



Kitepoor,

Can you answer this question for people who have diffrent tools. I as you because you own a cabinet shop
_________________
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]

[airhead]

Thanks for the positive feedback, guys (and gals!) I often think these ideas are like the old 3M commercial. I think the slogan was, "we don't make the products, we just make the products better." Each of us uses our personal experiences and viewpoints to see a different vision.

Those around me have often been challenged by my vision---and they thought they were describing something very different! In the easiest way they knew how! With the smallest words!

And Pogcraft, before anyone tells you and ruins your idea of me! It is ground display that I like! Quads and single lines for the guys, but I like to sit and dream while watching the wind play. Of course, if we can get EVERYONE to make kites, line laundry, or ground displays, I would have more to watch!

So keep sewing. For me.

Airhead

[airhead]

KiteSquid,

If it is a great kite, and you are pleased with the results, labor and cost never matter!

Airhead