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DTill

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Posts posted by DTill

  1. New sewing machine.

    in Kite Making

    Posted

    Any machine that works is acceptable. The brothers seem to be reliable cheap machines. All the old Pfaff's are the Bentley's of machines, but finding someone to service them is impossible. The cheap Singers at Joann's have a horrible/ jumpy pedal feel. At this point I prefer to sew gear and not kites. Building gear bags, rope bags for my white water boats and fixing all my friends worn out float tubes, and curtains for campers. The machine I want my friend uses to  makes leather purses and wallets.       https://www.sailrite.com/Sailrite-Ultrafeed-LSZ-1-BASIC-Walking-Foot-Sewing-Machine

  3. Rev 1.5 SLE Newbie Questions on Parts

    in Quad Heads

    Posted

    The rods are definitely not stock. It should have caps that the rods fit into, not nocks. You obviously don't have another kite to check it against? The bridle is probably a homemade one, not necessarily bad but easy enough to replace with one of TK's from this website. Get Tk's leaders and bridles from here and can get caps and rods from Kites and fun things. They usually have blem rods for cheap. Not that you can't fly with that setup, but learning to fly quads is hard enough to not be sure your setup correctly.

  7. Virtual Rant

    in Open Topic

    Posted

    Cheer up man, we're all bummed that all the festivals are cancelled. I feel the same.  Most of the places where I fly locally are locked up. I try to make the most of it flying at the sports complexes when theyre not busy, but they've started soccer and softball back up so it's kinda a bust now.

    I'm glad I got to go to the South Padre Island Festival before all the shutdowns. I met up with my parents "that are winter Texans" for SPI and introduced them to Team kitelife. I'm glad they got to see how great the kite community is and why this is a thing we all love. I took the trip for granted at the time, but now I'm glad I got the chance to introduce more people to kites. In this time of isolation, I enjoy the virtual festivals and the positively they convey. I think many people need to connect.

    All of your builds and posts are an inspiration and positive motivation for all of the people on this forum. You've created your own virtual festival in the kite making thread. Your the man! 

    A little video from last weekend , flying under my super sled.

    • Like 2

  12. Spin vrs Bicycle Question

    in Trick Flying

    Posted

    With the bicycle or traveling bicycle, you need to have top hand in "archers stance' as a reflex not as a thought. The traveling bicycle is a dance, a combination of arms and legs to keep the kite powered up thru out the cycle. I akin it the breast stroke, just keeping the kite above the water level. Reverse spins with just enough brake to keep it level. As your upper trailing wing passes through the top of the window, scoop just enough wind to bump the wing over the level. Scoop, release , repeat.  Your paddling the kite on the threshold of rising or falling.The move is much more like a white water kayak stroke than anything in bicycling. To do them slow you need steady wind and brake the top hand through the rotation. Or you can jam through, flying the leading edge forward with sharp brake inputs which never ends up looking good. Longer lines help,my traveling on 120's is way better than on 30's.

  19. Single Line Suggestions Wanted

    in General Single Line

    Posted

    On 4/13/2020 at 8:04 AM, thebbqguy said:

    My local kite store has some nice affordable spinners that will work. 

    Question about kite line: 

    I have some 120# dacron line leftover from my fishing efforts. Will that work o.k. for kites? 

    I picked up a spool of 300#, but plan on some large  laundry and the penant tail.

    • Like 1

  23. Karma drawing Kite roll up bag 11-17-19

    in Karma Drawings

    Posted

    7 hours ago, riffclown said:

    That is also a valid point.. Perhaps set the drawing date out a month to mitigate the risks???

    Personally I'll now open boxes outside and only bring the contents in. The boxes will go straight to the refuse..

    I've been sketched out to pickup the mail and have postponed ordering things lately. I'm not ordering takeout or anything from Amazon. Trying to minimize any chance of exposure.I completely forgot about this drawing.  Now that I look back thru this thread, I don't even have that bag anymore. Traded a full vent and the bag for a Power blast 2-4. I do have 7 yards of HyperD 300 from rip stop by the roll. So I could build another one.

    • Like 1

  24. 3D flying video

    in Trick Flying

    Posted

    Once you get catch and throw dialed it's in your bag of tricks. I struggled with it for a while, start with 30ft. lines/ 10 meters. Bring the kite near the top, then tug the lines just enough to put it into a glide. You'll use less of a tug the better you get at it. In a light wind you only need a 1-2 in. tug. In no wind, just stand the kite up and give it a good tug' it will come right to you. If the wind sucks I'll  go out with my old B series and power up 20-30 catch and throws, then leave knowing the rust is knocked off.    

     

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