Kitebuilder.com

[Dennist3]

hey KR,
How do you connect long seams of tyvec? Tape? glue? other?
Dennis

[knotronda]

RS Hughes is a distributor of 3M products. Their Portland, Oregon location toll free number is 1-800-335-7744. I use 3M 950 doublestick tape on tyvek. It is what is recommended to use because it doesnot react on the tyvek. It is sold in a 1/4" x 60 yd roll for $6.50 plus shipping. It also comes in a 3/8"x 60 yd roll for $6.78 a roll. RS Hughes is a west coast company that anyone can order from. I don't know if Steve stocks this product but if he does, then you need to get it from him. I make my kites out of the hard version of tyvek and this tape has worked well for the applications I have needed it for. I am in the process of developing a large Tyvek No-sew Cody and I will let you know how well things work out.

An important part of the application of the double stick tape is that you do not stretch the tape as you put it down on the tyvek. You need to hold it just above where you are applying it and then with slight tension to keep it straight you will place it down. I use the rule of 'halves' when applying the tape. I tap the tape in the middle of the length to lightly stick it in place, then I tap the tape in the middle of each of the halves. Then, I do it again until I am ready to place my palm where I had lightly tapped the tape. Then, I lightly rub the tape in place along the entire length. This sounds like a long process but it goes quickly and I do not end up with lumps and bumps along my seams. Questions?

I am not fond of the soft tyvek. But, there are kitemakers that specialize in using it. I know of one that uses DUCCO (Duco?) Cement. It comes in a tube and is very stinky. You must make sure to be in a very well ventilated room if you use this stuff. He taught at Ft Worden a few years ago and the comments from people taking his class was that they wished they had brought fans to move the air out of the room. It was sometimes hard to stay focused on what they were doing. Perhaps someone out there knows more about this instructor.

There is also an older gentleman from California that has written at least two books on making interestingly shaped kites out of tyvek. But, I do not own these books and I can't remember his name. I chatted with him at Long Beach, Washington at the Washington State International Kite Festival (WSIKF) about 6 or 8 years ago. Thornburn??? Help. Is there anyone who knows the name of his books or his actual name??? He was a very interesting man and I wished I had ordered his books. I lost his address. Oh well.

I hope you find this interesting and helpful. But, if not, then maybe next time?!?!?!

Gotta go,
knot(tier)ronda

[Dennist3]

hard version?
Soft Version?....I never knew there were more than one type

how do you tell the difference? (any ideas for me to figure out what I have?)

Dennis

[Grant L]

Hi Dennis, I'm sure that KR will answer later, ( she is a late night poster.) The Hard tyvek is stiff like regular paper, ( copy paper.) The soft stuff is like material. It reminds me of tissue that has been through the washer. I have used both succesfully to make kites. Just depends on what you want to use it for.


These were made with soft tyvek. The heart was a family project tthat I made with my wife and then four year old daughter. The butterfly is painted with craft paint. Both fly with red multiple strip tails. One for the heart and one of each wingtip for the butterfly

[Dennist3]

Nice work! How did you color the tyvec?

....and I will be waiting for KR's reply

Thanks again,
Dennis

[Grant L]

Both of those were with ctaft paint. I'm not sure, (KR will let us know ) but I think that the soft stuff is more absorbant. the paint soaks in a bit compared to staying more on the surface with the harder tyvek, ( Help Knotronda )

[knotronda]

Hi guys,

I am glad you know me so well. Yes, I do post later at night because of my work schedule.

Grant nice job on the Butterfly and Heart kites.

I forget there are tyvek virgins out there who don't have a clue as to what I am talking about. I should have added a descriptive explanation in the context of the message. Thanks for making the clarification. Yes, the soft tyvek absorbs more of your paint and ink. It has been worked to have a softer 'hand' (feel and flexibility) and this makes more surface area for the paint to be taken in. When you talked about "Craft Paint" I am assuming you meant the acrylic type. The poster paint type will run the minute it gets wet. The acrylic type is dilutable with water but is permanent when dry. You can also get an inexpensive additive that will extend the drying time so you can play with the paints a little before they set up. Remember to dilute the paints so that you don't have thick layers. The flexing of the kite surface will flake off the paints if you apply them too thickly.

My first tyvek rokkaku was a kit I got from Leland Toy. It required sewing and I still have the kite and fly it whenever possible. It was built in 1989. The trick to sewing on tyvek is to make long stitches but not basting length. I don't know the technical stitch per inch number but you can figure it out. Just think of sewing tyvek as you would sew paper. If your stitches are too close together then you have weakened the fibers and have a stronger possibility of tear outs. (Think of it the same as if you had perforated paper forms.)

How do you know what kind of tyvek you have? Does it feel like fabric? Can you crumple it and not have it hold creases? Then it is the soft version. Or, does it feel like a sheet of paper and when you fold it, does it show the place where it was creased? This could be the hard tyvek. There is also Housewrap tyvek that is printed with Dupont's information. There is an older version that works for kites but the newer stuff tears easily. So, take a sample and work the heck out of it. If nothing else, you can strip it out and make kite tails or wind streamers. (sky writers from banner poles).

Hope this helps.

KR

[Dennist3]

KR when you send the kit to me is it hard tyvec?...I'll just compare it to mine....

mine does both of what you said and no writing


Dennis

[knotronda]

At this point in time, my preference is Hard Tyvek. That is what my kits are cut from. No sewing is required on the edges for the edges to hold up to most flight situations.

FYI. My Taz battle rok is a sewn version of my original Lee Toy rok. I was at my first Ft Worden Kitemaker's Conference in 1989 and I had not brought a sewing machine. (Conference Newbie!) Anyway, my traveling and kiting buddy, Sonny Hamner, had brought his new Pfaff and it had REVERSE! We were quite a sight (and sound) as we assembled my newly painted rokkaku skin into a kite. A crowd did not gather around us but rather avoided our particular part of the room. We did not realize how 'heated' our conversation was. Anyway, the kite got put together and it was the only kite out of his class to be flown that weekend. Lee Toy got to see it in the air and he signed it for me. Now, I realize how special it is for an instructor to see the classroom kites go into the air and be successfully flown.

Anyway, I have once again rambled on past the original question. Eventually, you will all get tired of my stories. So, I will get off for now while the getting is good.

Talk to you soon,
knot(tier)ronda

[kiteguy]