Kitebuilder Online

pawsable · Joined: 31 Mar 2004 Posts: 31 Location: Vancouver, WA

Hi All

,

I'm new to kite making and am trying to gather the necessary basic tools.

I have a good machine, good scissors, a rotary cutter and mat, a straight edge and just aquired a starter woodburning set for hot cutting.

Is there anything else I need (must have) to get started Question

mhartzel · Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 2:24 pm Post subject:

1 Lights
2 a large flat area to work on
3 lights
4 depending on what type of kites you're going to make, a few hand needles for bridle lines on some kites.
5 did i mention lights, can make all the difference is lining up seams with multiple layers of fabric.
_________________
If at first you don't succeed, use a bigger hammer.

Kitesquid · Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 3:54 pm Post subject:

Lots of high quality lighting!!!!!!!! (GE Chroma 50 bulbs are my favorite)

Fabric penicls and pens.

Rullers Metric and SAE

Hot tacker or spray glue or double sided tape or a combinatio of them

Lights

a comfortable chair

A sewing machine extenision table (Sew Steady is one brand name) that you build yourself!!!!!

Fabric weights

This list is getting long... Where is the "What should I bring to a workshop?" thread...
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another long winded post by the Squid..... Shocked

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

CJQ · Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 3:56 pm Post subject: SET up tools

Hi pawsable , Welcome , Just want to pass this info on , many of us work on glass top tables . Some have those cheap flourcent shop lights underneath with some opeque type screen to disperse the light and hide the fixtures . Absolutely necessary to have a light table ? no just good and handy. Some have big ones some have small ones . Glass is cheap. If you have the space Find a glass company in your area and check out thier dumpster . Quick story . My wife calls me a dumpster diver , Out shoping fri. nite next to our shoping center is a glass distributor and thier dumpster had several large thermo-glass windows leaning against it , I got all excited and wanted to take some home. My wife however talked me out of the find Cause I already have several back-ups . Bear in mind they are tempered and cant be cut, so bring home a size to fit your needs.

Regards

CLIFF

Gary · Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 10:46 pm Post subject:

I would add a couple of metal straightedges for hot cutting. Wide enough to accept whatever your preferred weights are. My early wieghts were empty fabric softener bottles filled with water.

Harold, I spent too many years working for a toolmaker to call any measuring device a 'ruler'. He would always retort with "A ruler is a king of a country!" Working with him, measuring tapes were 'flexible scales'.

Speaking of which, that's something that I use a lot, a regular steel measuring tape, marked, as Harold said, in Metric and Standard. That and the Calculator get a lot of work.

Another frequently overlooked 'tool' is a notebook. It is always helpful to be able to check a record of how you made something when you want to make another one. Even in the best sets of plans, there are things that are tough to understand. Writing notes to oneself on what probelms had to be solved really helps.

I couldn't find the 'workshop bring' thread either. But my Bring List is HERE.
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good heavens;
Gary E

Progcraft · Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 11:27 pm Post subject:

Kitesquid · Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 7:36 am Post subject:

BTW if you need compliant weights or weights for a workshop, use Ziploc® type bags.

Fill them at the workshop, test for watertight integrity before use, and save the weight. Especially if you are flying...

The "what to bring to a workshop" thread must have been over at GWTW forums... Sorry

I guess this should be that thread..
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another long winded post by the Squid..... Shocked

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

Progcraft · Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 8:00 am Post subject:

Retreat Essentials
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There is no box.

stevef · Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 8:08 am Post subject:

Kitesquid · Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 8:20 am Post subject:

I am such an information junkie that I go to two forums and review rec.kites every day....

Sometimes I get confused.... Sorry.....

It is hard to type while standing in the corner with my hands on my head....

OUCH my arms are starting to hurt....
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another long winded post by the Squid..... Shocked

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