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Progcraft
Kitebuilder of the Year 2004
Joined: 29 Sep 2003
Posts: 2568
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
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 Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 9:00 pm Post subject: Hot cutting threads |
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I've seen this pop up a couple times now. People saying they hot cut the loose threads from sewing.
Why???
What benefit can hot cutting provide that is worth the risk of putting a hot cutter so close to a finished sail???
P.
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KiteSquid
Master Kite Builder
Joined: 29 Aug 2003
Posts: 3514
Location: USA Virginia King George
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| Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 8:25 am Post subject: |
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0.5 points.....
If it is a competition piece or a kite to trade I will do my best to make it look as good as I can.
If it is just for fun flying.... It might not look that good.
Somewhere on this forum I described how I do it useing a carterizer..
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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. |
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Progcraft
Kitebuilder of the Year 2004
Joined: 29 Sep 2003
Posts: 2568
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
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| Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 9:34 am Post subject: |
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Yeah but, why?? What does hot cutting, or cauterizing the thread do that just nipping it doesn't? How do you gain a 1/2 point? Is it possible to tell the difference between a scissor nipped thread and a hot cut thread? Why is the one worth that extra 1/2 point??? Why does hot cutting 'look better'??? Isn't the point to make sure there are no loose threads at all? Can't you get closer to the fabric, and hence cut the thread closer to the fabric if you use scissors??
Granted, I haven't tried hot cutting threads yet myself. Mostly because I can't bring myself to put a hot cutter that close to something I just completed. I fear that I might twitch and cause myself grief.
Cheers,
P.
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KiteSquid
Master Kite Builder
Joined: 29 Aug 2003
Posts: 3514
Location: USA Virginia King George
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| Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 9:45 am Post subject: |
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I pull the front thread to the back of hte kite.
Tye a Ligature knot using hte front and back thread
and carterize them toghether so the knot will not come untied.
Judges will knock off points for loose threads and a kite with 50 seams has 100 ends and 200 thread ends to come untied.....
Anyting to try to get that elusive 0.5 points on a competiion piece is worth it for me...
I need to take a photo of my kite sail protector that I use when carterizing the therads as I cannot explain in text how it works....
It makes it idiot resistant, as I have not messed it up yet.... but give me time as I have only used it on 2 kites so far, my Iris Edo and Thomas Jefferson Edo.
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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. |
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stevef
Administrator
Joined: 27 Aug 2003
Posts: 1428
Location: USA PA ALLENTOWN
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| Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 10:08 am Post subject: |
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some say the judges are crazy for looking at things like this while judging a kite. Well, we dont expect it, but when it is done and done well, it does play favorably into the craftsmanship score. It just takes one person to spend the extra time doing something like this to move the curve.
If you are going for that brass ring, look at everything on your kite and figure out a way to improve it.... and do it well.
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Steve Ferrel
Measure once, buy twice! 
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kiteguy
Kite Builder II
Joined: 15 Sep 2003
Posts: 1459
Location: USA - Kansas, Overland Park - Near Kansas City
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| Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 12:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Progcraft wrote: | | Yeah but, why?? What does hot cutting, or cauterizing the thread do that just nipping it doesn't? P. |
I use a cigarette lighter on my thread ends.
When I nip the threads with scissors they leave little sticky outty things that come out more as the kite is flown. If I cut them flush to the surface, then the ends pop out to tthe sticky outty stage. One can keep doing this until the area comes unsewn. Sort of a slow motion Seam Ripper.
So when I cut the thread ends there is about 1/16 or so end that sticks out. A lighted cigarette lighter causes that little end to melt down into a tiny knob. I quickly pinch it with a finger to flatten it out. The nob keeps the thread from pulling through the material. That way all the sticky outty tendencies go away.
I have yet to burn a kite skin using the techinque. The finger on the kite skin on the opposite side where the thread is being melted, along with the surface of the kite skin, absorb the tiny bit of heat needed to melt the thread. However, a hot iron has caused many holes in kite skins, but not from cutting threads.
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Dave Ellis
Kites + Kids = Education |
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