Date: Sun, 4 Feb 1996 07:12:01 -1000 From: bwg001@callisto.unm.edu (Brian W. Gordon) Message-Id: <4f2pd1$9oi@lynx.unm.edu> Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque Subject: Kite making tip: Wingtip Tensioning Dacron line and Velcro to tension wingtips. Yes I know, there's nothing new under the sun. I've never seen anyone else do this, but I'm sure I'm not the first. I want to pass along this tip to my fellow kitemakers in hopes that everyone will use it on their kites. In theory, the idea will become common knowledge thus making anyone who tries to patent the idea look like a total dork. The use of Velcro to tension tails/spines on stunt kites is common practice. The use of Kevlar line to tension wing tips has been around for awhile a la Dean Jordan et al. Why not sew a line of Dacron into the leading edge. This line will then terminate in a strip of Velcro which can be attached to coresponding strip of Velcro on the other side of the leading edge. Allow me to go into detail: Before sewing your leading edge strip, cut a 2 foot length of black Dacron (or Kevlar if you wish). Sew about 1 foot of this line into what will be the inside of your leading edge. Be sure that the line exits near the crease of the leading edge. I like to use a simple straight stitch on the dacron line. ------------------------------------------------------- leading edge strip (not folded yet) | | | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ sewn dacron line | dacron line ------------------------------------------------------- Remember that the right side must be a mirror opposite of the left side. Pictured above is the right wingtip. Next sew a 5-6 inch strip of Velcro to the leading edge strip. Before you do this, think about which is the inside and which is the outside of the strip. The Dacron line has been sewn on the inside. Flip the strip over (Dacron line down) and sew the Velcro along the edge of what will be the inner or ventral portion of the leading edge. I prefer to sew softer or loop half of the Velcro to the kite (less snags). ------------------------------------------------------ dacron line face down | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ __________________________________ | | Velcro (soft loops) | | |__________________________________| | ------------------------------------------------------ leading edge strip, outside view After you've framed the kite up, inspect how far the spars are going to extend from the leading edge tip. Grasp the Dacron line, run it through the nock, tension the leading edge, and hold the end of the line up to the leading edge Velcro and mark on the Dacron line where you want the other patch to be sewn to the line. I've found that a 3-4 inch strip of the hook Velcro sewn to the Dacron line provides more that adequate strength to tension most spars. Folded over and de-tensioned, your leading edge should look like this: --------------------------------- spar nock ------------- ------------------------- |============K ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | Velcro (loop) | | dacron ------------- |_________________________| | Velcro --------------------------------- (hook) So, to tension the leading edge, one simply pulls the dacron line through the nock and attaches the Velcros together. "TUG", PRESTO! Perfect tension! "RRRRIP", VIOLA! Instant de-tension. I tried drawing this and to looked terrible. Sounds simple. Sounds stupid. But in my humble opinion, it's the best way. Gone are big fat knots from the bungees that your lines get cought on. You can easily and quickly tension your leading edge as TIGHT or as loose as you wish. You can instantly de-tension your leading edge for storage. And your nock is not covered by a vinyl end cap. This leaves your knock exposed, which facilitates tip stands on hard grass as well as the attatchment of a bow line. Enjoy, Keith Kidder = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 7 Feb 1996 02:46:53 -1000 From: bluekites@inmind.com (BlueKites) Message-Id: <4faa82$kk2@mujibur.inmind.com> Organization: Blue Ridge Kites Subject: Re: Kite making tip: Wingtip Tensioning >Dacron line and Velcro to tension wingtips. > Actually I have seen this and it works very well. If you need a great deal of tension (to form a curve for example) it is not the attachment method of choice. Very easy to set up and take down. James Ervin/Blue Ridge Kites/Check out the new kite page at bluekites@inmind.com/ http://www.inmind.com/people/jervin/kites.html (540) 586-9590 And the new Benjamin Kite Cartoon at http://www.inmind.com/people/jervin/ben.html ____________________________________________________________________ Can I go home now? My brain is full. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Thu, 8 Feb 1996 17:34:27 -1000 From: bwg001@indus.unm.edu (Brian W. Gordon) Message-Id: <4fefc3$lje@lynx.unm.edu> Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque Subject: Re: Kite making tip: Wingtip Tensioning BlueKites (bluekites@inmind.com) wrote: : >Dacron line and Velcro to tension wingtips. : > Hey! Someone responded to my post! : Actually I have seen this and it works very well. If you need a great deal of : tension (to form a curve for example) it is not the attachment method of : choice. Hummm.... Why do you say that? I've used this method of wingtip tensioning with great success on a kite which has a *VERY* curved leading edge. This kite was built with fairly stiff wrapped carbon spars which added further to the leading edge tension. I will even go so far as to say that it's my preferred way of creating lots of needed tension for curved leading edges. If I had used some other method, like bungies through grommets, the grommets would have torn through the leading edge unless I had reinforced it heavily. By sewing a line along the leading edge, I can distribute the load over a greater area, thus eliminating any great stresses at any one point (like a hole for a bungee). This also eliminates the need to add reinforcements at the leading edge tips. And if you use 3 or 4 inches of Velcro, you won't ever have to worry about the Velcro slipping or coming loose. : Very easy to set up and take down. Works for me. Keith Kidder Albuquerque, NM : "Can I go home now, my brain is full" 1 million BC: "Hey Zog, look what Thag do, he sew Dacron and Velcro into wingtip." Sorry, it's a Far Side, Gary Larson kinda thing. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sat, 10 Feb 1996 17:09:59 -1000 From: Steve Bateman Message-Id: <4fjmm7$1t5@hole.sdsu.edu> Organization: San Diego State University Subject: Re: Kite making tip: Wingtip Tensioning bwg001@indus.unm.edu (Brian W. Gordon) wrote: > : "Can I go home now, my brain is full" > > 1 million BC: > "Hey Zog, look what Thag do, he sew Dacron and Velcro into wingtip." "Oh, look this get even better. Keith pass something that not happen yet (kite building 599)." Steve Bateman bateman@mail.sdsu.edu Flying along. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =