Andy Klie

I watched the video and looked at the articles you mentioned. I agree. The only problem is that I could not find the shrink tubing on their website. I will definitely give it a try if I can find it. I may make a vacuum bag set up, I have done it before. Sent from my iPhone using KiteLife mobile app

Any small batch of custom parts from a shop will be expensive. In the case of CNC work you are primarily paying for the time and expertise to write the program to make your part and of course time to mill the part. Making composites can be pretty DIY friendly. It gets expensive quickly if you are trying to produce quantity. Just fooling around here and there it is not bad at all. The heat shrink idea is interesting and I am going to look into it. Right now I plan on building a fixture out of some scrap wood that will enable me to lay up 10 sections/2 frames at a time and another fixture that allows me to use a standing drill press to turn/sand the spar. Then each one will be cut to length. Right now the only special tools I have that I am planning to use are the drill press and abrasive chop saw. When laying up a project I like to be able to see the whole thing to make sure it is evenly wet out so I am not sure about the shrink tube idea. If I can find carbon fiber fabric sleeve for a decent price that will also assist in uniformity Sent from my iPhone using KiteLife mobile app

I am not sure what your level of expertise is with carbon fiber or fiberglass but there is not much of an investment at all when hand laying. The majority of the cost is in the materials. A frame set for a Rev is $90. I could purchase all supplies for 4-6 frames at a minimum for that amount. When you are thinking of high cost you are probably thinking of vacuum bagging and a special mandrel set up. It does not have to be that complex. Using a rod with the outside diameter the same as want the inside diameter of the finished spars serves as a mandrel. Cover it with mold release and hand wrap the carbon fiber cloth or tape like a candy cane in one direction and the if desired in a different direction. The schedule/layup plan will determine the characteristics of the spars. No, they will not come out perfect but as long as the carbon fiber cloth is wound tightly and not over saturated in resin the some detail sanding will even out any sags or runs in the resin. Sections would then be weight matched. Benefits would include the fun of building (I love building stuff) the ability to make very stiff or flexible spars and the ability to add in Kevlar or other composite materials to gain positive characteristics. I over simplified the above a little but I am going to get some materials and give it a go. I will add pictures along the way. Sent from my iPhone using KiteLife mobile app

Crickets....no one Sent from my iPhone using KiteLife mobile app

Hi Y’all, I have extensive experience hand laying fiberglass and carbon fiber using epoxy resin. I was wondering if anyone has made their own spars? If so what weight cloth/tape, what weave and did you use epoxy or Phenolic resin? I am think about experimenting with different weaves, cloth and lay up schedules and making a one piece LE spar for local flying. Sent from my iPhone using KiteLife mobile app

1-NTK Volksquad 1-Rev NYM full sail 1-Flexifoil power kite Sent from my iPhone using KiteLife mobile app

Peter Powell Stunt Kite in 1987 or 88. It had a plastic sail. I bought in at Kitty Hawk Kites In Nags Head, NC. I think it was $35 big money for an 11 year old. Loved that kite. I flew it until it just disintegrated. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Peter Powell Stunt Kite in 1987 or 88. It had a plastic sail. I bought in at Kitty Hawk Kites In Nags Head, NC. I think it was $35 big money for an 11 year old. Loved that kite. I flew it until it just disintegrated. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Peter Powell Stunt Kite in 1987 or 88. It had a plastic sail. I bought in at Kitty Hawk Kites In Nags Head, NC. I think it was $35 big money for an 11 year old. Loved that kite. I flew it until it just disintegrated. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have had the Volksquad for 5 or 6 years. I also have a Rev New York Minute that I just purchased a month ago. I learned the basics of quad line flying on a Flexifoil Sting Power kite. Obviously very different than a quad line Rev style kite. When I first flew the Volksquad I used the Rev video tutorials to get started. I purchased the Volksquad for the same reasons you mentioned. It is a decent set up for the price. It is a heavy kite compared to the Rev, you need some decent wind. If the wind starts to die out the kite falls like a brick. It has an adjustable tensioner that changes the shape of the kite. I don’t remember getting any directions with the kite but basically if you tighten it up it is easier to fly and it is good to fly in strong wind. With the kite de-tensioned it is more difficult to fly but more maneuverable. The kite bag it comes with is nice. Overall the kite flys like a Mack truck but is fun. The Rev is a lot lighter, has an Icarex Sail (Purchased mine from Dave at the Kite Connection) Laser Pro Gold lines and the handles are lighter and have more of a curve. The kite flys like an F1 race car compared to the Volksquad. So much so that my first couple of times flying I had difficulty because I was used to putting in so much control input to maneuver the Volksquad that I was over steering the Rev. The Rev ready to fly was about $345 ish. If I could go back I probably would buy a Rev Exp instead of the Volksquad. That said I have had fun with the Volksquad and will keep it for high wind days when I want to rip around. I tried to use the Volksquad handles with the Rev and save some $. It was a mistake, they are heavy and lack a feel for the kite. I ended up buying Rev handles and the difference is amazing. All in all, Quads are a black hole that will swallow you, eat your money and leave one hell of a grin on your face! I am already modding and tuning my Rev looking forward to more flight time Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hello Everyone, I am a happy new subscriber! I love kites, building just about anything and the beach. I primarily fly in SC and RI. Looking forward to meeting others as kite crazy as I am.