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Sol · Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 2 Location: Massachusetts

I am going to build an arc kite, and in the instructions it always says to use chikara. Chikara is only a brand name right? But otherwise it is the same as other Ripstop nylons such as Bainbridge? I just wanted to clear this up before I went ahead and bought my cloth.

-Sol

kiteguy · Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 2:19 pm Post subject:

Any Ripstop nylon will do the job. Or you could use some Ripstop polyester.

My choice would be the Nylon (Challenge, Bainbridge, or Northcloth) material, for undisclosed reasons. Liar

(Cheaper!)
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Kitesquid · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 8:08 am Post subject:

Like kiteguy said, most any nylon of the same weight will do the job. Sertain builders like to use their favorite cloths. They might have selected that particular cloth for its streach or hand...

Between the brands there are slight varanaces in weight.

The big diffrence is in the coatings that are applied to them. This affects the hand of the fabric (or how crisp or limp it is) quite a bit......

I dont like to mix brands in a kite...

DO NOT mix fabirc TYPES (Nylon, Polyester...) in a kite as they have very diffrent streach charitics....

I have one kite that does not get much air time as it has a lot of 3/4 nylon and Norlam Gold (gold Polyester Film) and the kite looks weierd after about 20 minutes in humid air...... Live and learn, Please pass the band-aids....
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KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

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

Stan · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 12:07 pm Post subject:

If you mean an Arc type power kite the choice of fabric is very important. Using any old fabric would be a big mistake. Chikara's main advantage is water repellency, a big issue for a power kite, especially for water sports.
I've found half-ounce North Cloth to be very similar to Chikara, and doesn't pick up a ton of water and sand like some other fabrics.

Chikara can be ordered from the UK but is pricey even before shipping.
The Foildesign forum may have some sources.

Stan

Sol · Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 2 Location: Massachusetts

thanks for your help clearing this up guys. I don't know if I can find it anywhere at an affordable price. And I haven't seen anywhere... kitebuilder.com really is the best place I have found in my search for cloth. If you know of a good place to get chikara I would be grateful, but otherwise I think I'll stick with Steve's stuff.
Thanks
-Sol smoke

Kitesquid · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 3:32 pm Post subject:

I cant think if a store that caries chikara.

Sorry Crying or Very sad

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KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

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

stevef · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 3:50 pm Post subject:

I dont know of anyone in the USA that is selling it..... And it wouldnt be very economical for Kite Studio to stock it.... if you find some, let me know!

-Steve
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Kitesquid · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 4:15 pm Post subject:

I think that TC Powers used to use it as well as Dick Barnes...

You might contact them as to thier sources or if they have some to sell.

I would start with TC Powers as I think he has gotten out of kite building (mostly)
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

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