Kitebuilder.com - An online community of kitebuilders

jamie11ms · Joined: 27 Jan 2005 Posts: 3

Hello, I am new here, and very happy to see this website.
I am a homeschooling mother and seamstress. I have always thought about making a kite, and it seems now the time is ripe.
My hope is to find a way to make a kite the traditional way, before all the synthetic plastics came around.
I do have access to bamboo and was thinking of patchwork with silk that I find here and there. These are my first thoughts.
But, I have also been wondering about making a frame from Kudzu vine. I live in the southeast of the U.S. where it has taken over... and my side yard is covered in it.
I guess to be simple, 1. I am looking for a traditional design that would suit a beginner and 2. Has anyone heard of making the traditional frame from anything but bamboo? i.e.vines... and oh yea 3. Is it possible to use lightweight cotton instead of silk?

Progcraft · Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 3:17 pm Post subject:

Hi Jamie. Nice to see you here Smile

Rice paper and bamboo are very traditional materials used for Japanese style flat kites.

I've no idea what Kudzu vine is, but I suppose it could likely be dried out. And, when dry, as long as it's not brittle is would likely be ok. You just might be onto something with that.
Go ahead and cut yourself a chunk of it. Find a way to hold it as straight as possible then let it dry for a while. Or, if you happen to know which kite your going to make, and if that kite requires a bent or curved spar, you could dry the vine in the proper shape beforehand.
I'd be quite interested in knowing it that worked.

As for useing lightweight cotton instead of slik. Yeah, go ahead. The only real concerns would be the porosity of the fabric (how much wind will blow through it instead of against it). I'm sure others will pop in here with advice on this. I myself have never tried.

I hope you keep us informed of what your doing. It sounds quite interesting to me. Smile

Cheers
Progcraft.
_________________
There is no box.

KiteSquid · Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 3:40 pm Post subject:

You sould also think about the wind you have in your area MOST of the time and then how heavy the kite can be for a given amout of lift that it will generate...

TRY to keep it light but strong. (that is one reason most of us use Sailmakers fabrics and Carbon fiber tubes for the spars)

But anything will make a kite, you just have to figure out how to keep it light enough to fly, and strong enough to be flown again and again.

Go to the tech sheet section HERE to learn more about kite fabrics.. Be sure to read #11 and #10

Oh, and I have flown kites made from leaves, postage stamps, paper napkins and some light weight wrapping tissue... the sky is the limit (pun intended)
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

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

Doesn’t he ever shut up???

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

P.P.P.S. All information provided is for hobby use. None may be used commercially.

jamie11ms · Joined: 27 Jan 2005 Posts: 3

Great! Thanks for the input. I have a lot of material I have gathered from, well, all over the place...so I will do some experiments. As for the Kutzu, I will wait for spring and summer to gather the vines.
And I'm sure ya'll will hear from me again soon. Jamie

kiteguy · Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 6:47 pm Post subject:

A lot of things have been used for spars other than bamboo or the modern fiberglass and Carbon rods.

Wood is used a lot. SOmetimes dowels, sometimes strips like orange crates. (Do they still exist?) Bamboo is a grass, I guess, so any grass stalks can be used. I have seen kite spars made from wheat stalks. Put them into bundles to make them stronger.

Plastic tubing (drinking straws) have been used in lots of kitebuilding. Do not overlook plastic material as a covering. Plastic trash bags make a fine covering, and tape a good adhesive. You do not need a string edging for most kites, as long as the spars are fixed to the skin with tape, or something.

My favorite is the 2 cent sled kite. You can find the plans for this kite on my website, which is posted at the bottom of this message.

Kites are excellent for homeschooling because of all the measuring, cutting, weighing, figuring area, etc. I get a lot of people from Canada, Australia, and England in homeschooling situations logging on to my web site looking for info.

Good luck, and have fun with it.
_________________

Dave Ellis
Kites + Kids = Education

skydino · Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 184 Location: TX

Try looking at the below and then come back and ask more questions .

http://www.akg.cwc.net/so%20you%20want%20to%20make%20a%20kite.htm

Progcraft · Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 8:18 pm Post subject: Re: Try

Dorsal · Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 11:29 pm Post subject:

CJQ · Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 8:09 am Post subject: Natural kite materials

Hi Jamie11ms, If you want to go with natural materials , look for a patch of dried Goldenrod . although not as strong as bamboo it is extreemly dense and stiff. Dont pick it in the fall months -- Bad pollen.

CLIFF

jamie11ms · Joined: 27 Jan 2005 Posts: 3

I'll try the goldenrod, Lord knows we need it to have a purpose outside of upsetting sinuses around here.
I am wondering how to get a dihedral piece inexpensively.
I have to be extremely resourceful these days.

My goal is to begin with a traditional kite made from nature and slowly progress into the kites made today... of course this would be a simple kite of today...

I am completely amazed at the kites I have seen on this website... my kids have been looking with me, it's been very educational and Fun!
Jamie