Kitebuilder.com

imagin · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 5:22 am Post subject:

Right on Kiteguy. Did you really guess that or has someone mentioned it already?
_________________
Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.

gduran · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 36 Location: Argentina

Doug LaRock · Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2004 12:23 am Post subject: Building your own fittings

Hi Gerry

I have some experience with machine tools and materials so I might
be able to suggest a few things. A drill press is about the most versatile
tool to start out with. You need a drill vise that can be set at an angle. Three sets of drill bits ( fractional, number,and letter) allow you to drill a whole range of holes only a few thousands apart. Also a good combi-
nation square set with a centering head and protracter head
lets you do accuate lay out of fittings.
With a scriber and the square you can scribe lines on the material to cut to or mark to drill holes. These tools are available from large hardware stores or industrial supply houses.
A web site you might check out is mscdirect.com. They have an on-line catalog and will sell to anyone.
A very useful material is ultra high molelcular weight polyethelene commonly known as UHMW. UH is soft and unbreakable. It can be worked with wood-working tools. One down side is that it cannot be glued. A word of caution, most plastics being soft will tend to grab in power tools, so clamp them securely. When drilling UH, sometimes it is necessary to dull the sharp edge of the bit to keep it from drilling too aggressively.
Good luck. I agree, building your own stuff is very satisfying.
Sincerely,
Doug

gduran · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 36 Location: Argentina

Doug LaRock · Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2004 12:50 am Post subject:

If your making round parts such as ferrels or couplings a lathe is the best. How ever for odd shape parts such as angle connetors or drilling holes in patterns a vetical mill work better. You can buy milling attachments for a lathe but they are cumbersome to use.

Doug

TradeWinds · Joined: 25 May 2004 Posts: 59 Location: USA HI AIEA

Like Stan and Doug Larock say.

The machining tasks I would think could be accomplished with a drill press that has the angle cut option with a degree marked table or tilting/pivoting drill. Most drill press's I've used had holes in the table portion and the table could be swung around the mast that has the drill on top. This allows bolting down work or another tool that is a little vise that could have degree marks on it's adjustments if not clamping to the table to keep the work steady. As funny as it might seem I could of sworn I have seen Dremel brand products that allow a Dremel tool to be rigged up in a press fashion. It's a high speed high speed I mean really high speed hand held tool with the widest assortment of attachments around. My present variable speed Dremel seems to run hotter when working at the high speed settings but it hasn't failed to turn back on yet. I don't know if there is any way to get drill bits of whatever size holes you would want for spars or whatever but the carving attachments would make quick work of any plastic you might be trying to form. Since you sound like you are only interested in kite parts the links to smaller hobby items would probably work the best. Finding the right material blocks is another task. That's one reason I started looking at molding. There is a lot of information on the internet for molding stuff. Like machining the materials are what you meed.

Good luck.