Guru4tru

Hey Tucson Bill, Welcome on board!! But have you ever heard of the term, "A day late and a dollar short!"?? Well, you might not be a "dollar short" but you are a "day late"! "RAZOR" picked up my numbers and beat you out by a post or two! Sorry Bill, but now your odds are about the same as every one else! I do wish you the best of luck though! Well, the best of luck just behind the "best of luck" is wished RAZOR...heehee! "Lady LUCK"...is our master!! heehee! Keep It Up! Duane

Hi "kjm", I agree with what you are saying and I know that most of the things that have offended you probably came from me! I am sorry for that. But, don't run off!! You, and others like you, are the future of Kitelife and of Kiting as a Whole. As I have been here in this forum for awhile I seem to be running out of entertaining things to say and that I believe is somewhat the cause for MY degeneration. So, it's certainly not you who should leave, but me! I'll be with you all in Spirit! (My Spirit is much nicer then Duane anyway! heehee!) So...Good-Bye! Keep It Up! Duane EDIT: Photomom...Remember: "Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it." You know as well as I that you are here for a purpose! I was good for Kitelife...but "GOOD" is the enemy of the "BEST"! When the wind is just "hot air", you don't run away from it...you accept the responsibility to "Rise Higher" and change it...and as you also know...you are not alone! You have my deepest respect!

OK!! Way To Go RAZOR! heehee! Welcome aboard and you are now the owner of two other numbers, besides your own, ......let's see...I forgot what they were...heehee!...I'll be right back! EDIT: Your extra 2 numbers are 476 & 837! And I wish you the best of luck!! Keep It Up! Duane

That is Freaking AWESOME!!! I LOVE it!!! Guess I'll be breaking out my box fans!! You know what you need to do know right?? Find a way to market a fan setup, and make millions selling in home kite flying fan kits. Hey "Exile", That's a "GREAT IDEA"!!...(just don't forget the monofilament lines going to the ceiling!!) heehee!! Keep It Up! Duane EDIT: I know! I know! "It's NOT nice to fool Mother Nature!"

You Are Right!....This is "hurricane season"!! Keep It Up! Duane

Good Video Rob, Thanks for sharing it...I need all the inspiration I can to put in some dual line time...the Rev. seems to have taken over my mind! If that video was with the heavier spars...I see nothing wrong with that action. But, then like I said, I'm no expert here! I'd love to fly as well as you can! heehee! Keep It Up! Duane

Hi Razor, Check out the "CURRENT DRAWINGS" posts about the "Crossfire"...If you qualify, you can have my numbers for this next drawing! Keep It Up! Duane

Yes!! A new dimension in indoor kite flying!! Stick this up your nose Mother Nature...with your South Florida Summers!! You thought you had me beat!! HA!! Keep It Up! Duane

Ahhh Wow! That was my fault...I'm sorry...I forgot all about "imagining"! Keep It Up! Duane

The sand bag is coming along great! Here is a picture of all the webbed straps that I tacked in place. It’s ready for sewing. (I found that I had way too much webbing, so I went around the bag twice in the center instead of once.) As Nick mentioned, there is a far easier way to bag sand! heehee! And that’s really good to know for anyone that is just looking for a sand bag and doesn’t like the stuff sold at the kite shops, which I don’t care for any I’ve seen. But for those of you that are looking out your window right now, as I am, and are watching the lightening storm with temps in the mid nineties and no wind...OR...those of you that may find 3 feet of snow against you front door sometime and you can't escape...this is the bag for you (or something like it). And also when it is finished I can hang it on the wall over my beautifully crafted kite boxes and say, “What a beautiful sand bag that is!” and I can feel a sense of accomplishment for all the time and work that went into it! Seeing how the above picture will look about the same as the finished project...I’ll save you the final picture! heehee! Keep It Up! Duane

Nick...I agree with you, but it sure doesn't look like a 2200 lb. cap. bag. Are you sure about that...and if so where do you buy it? I'd have do "some" work on it, like cutting it in half and re sewing it. I can get 2 bags out of it. Keep It Up! Duane

Hey Baloo, That's sounds really GOOD! A nice quiet day of flying with others...Heaven on Earth! (I'll imagine Sunshine and Wind!) Keep It Up! Duane

OK!! I’m Ready!! What could be “soooo” hard about Sewing?!?! So, here’s my “Plan A”: (Just laying out what I plan on doing.) I’m going to have webbing strips (or whatever they call the stuff) running from about a foot above the top of the bag down and around the bottom of the bag and sewn to the bottom and sides at 4 places equal distance on the sides of the bag. With an extra strap sewn around the center of the bag (the center piece is because I bought too much webbing and felt I had to do something with the extra stuff.) The strapping will be of one piece (except for the center circle) with the 2 ends overlapping on the bottom and all sewn in place everywhere. That will leave 2 loops coming off the top which will have 2 rings (wielded-400# combined cap.) that the webbing straps will go through. Make sure not to forget to put the rings on before sewing...(this note I added so “I” remember). This way the strapping will be able to slide through the rings to equalize the tension on the straps and bag. Then the rings will go on this “gismo” (750# cap.) I could skip this “gizmo” thing, but I think it’s sort of neat and it will help to keep things orderly when not attached to the carabiner. And then the “gizmo” goes on a carabiner (5000#cap. from “Into The Wind”...overkill for sure, but it’s light and very easy to handle) which I will then attach the kite line to the carabiner. “What’s the best knot to use to attach the kite line to the carabiner???” So, the overall capacity is the weakest link, which is the 400# cap. rings (200# cap. each)...which is plenty for my "Sundancer" SKYFORM60. I usually fly with 300# line and 500# for heavy wind, but the pull doesn’t get any where near 500#, it’s just easier to handle the heaver line in a strong wind. The needles, thread, webbing stuff, rings and “gizmo” thing cost more then the bag itself, but then what’s another 20 bucks in this game! heehee! ============= So there it is! If anyone “sees or thinks” anything that might need “re-thinking” or added... Please, tell me about it!! (And the kite line to carabiner “knot” is needed.) Thanks! And don’t suggest using a “sewing machine”! With a sewing machine I’d finish this in an hour or 2 and then I’d just be back starring at that damn wall again waiting to this lousy So. Fla. summer to pass! Keep It Up! Duane PS “A Helpful Hint To Remember”: You may have wondered “Why?” the needle and thread are hanging out of my nose and the carabiner is in my left ear! Well, for some strange reason, as I grow older, my nose and ears seem to keep growing larger...(which is beyond me, because I still can’t hear anything and, according to my wife, I don’t smell any better either)...but I have found that they have become really great for hold things in! heehee!

No...I can't remember...but my wife says she's happy about it! Keep It Up! Duane (My "Plan A" bag reinforcing stuff is coming up in a few hours.)

"A half dozen of these and you can anchor the World!" Thanks Pete! OK...I'm good at 2' with "Sundancer"! Now...I'm off to "Jo-Ann's" (yeah, I'm seeing another woman! heehee!) I'll post again before I do anything. One thing that I've learned..."Post It Before Doing It!" because someone has already made all the mistakes possible and I don't have to make them all over again! heehee! Keep It Up! Duane BTW...There is one good thing about age effecting one's mind. I'm "GUILT FREE", because I can't remember all the stupid things I've done in my life! It only adds to my fun here! heehee!

Way To Go Pete!! You never fail! heehee! You are not only very dependable, but you are very accurate too! heehee! The diameter of the bag I used, I think, was 18" because that was the actual measurement when it had some sand in it. As I mentioned "(Note that with sand in the bag you gain a couple inches on the Dia.)" So, the original dimensions I gave you were maybe a bit misleading. (That still doesn't mean 384# is correct---I was surprised at how stupid I've become! It's good that stupidity doesn't interfere with my fun!) But even at your calculated weight, things should still be plenty fine. But...what do you get with 18"" as Dia.? The bag sure looks strong enough and I can hang from it, but then I'm only about 160 lbs. But, that's a good point. It doesn't matter how heavy the bag is, if it's going to rip apart under stress! heehee! Seeing how it's summer in South Florida and I need all the projects I can find to maintain my remaining sanity, I'll sew some 1' nylon strapping around the bag and then take them to a center point above the bag (maybe to a large steel ring) and attach the kite line to the straps. That should remove almost all the stress from the bag to the straps. Thanks Pete! Keep It Up! Duane

Hey Jeepster!! (I clicked off my last reply before getting yours.) You're right!!! That "IS" you in the picture! I never noticed that before! heehee! And you are sure right about trying to dig a hole for sand in that beach!! heehee! But, it was Great for pulling my cart over...like a macadam road! Keep It Up! Duane

Thanks Rob...That's good to hear! I knew I was on the right path, but haven't heard of the duffel bag type anchor before and do to the weather, I haven't been able to try it out yet! It sure seemed more practical then steel rods in dry loose sand and easier to carry too. That's a great looking kite...great colors! My SKYFORM60 isn't a powerful lifter by any means, so I haven't gotten into any real laundry yet, but in a good wind, 15 mph or so, it probably has enough lift to get some stuff in the air. I suppose the guy hanging from your line is "laundry" and not you...right?!?! heehee! Keep It Up! Duane

Single Line Sand Anchor I decided to knock some weight off my cart. I have my regular kite anchor, which consists of some 3’ and 18" steel stakes, a steel pipe with connectors on it, nylon straps and a 4 lb. sledge to hammer it all in place. With the box I carry it in it come up to 20 lbs. This is OK when I throw it on my cart, with all my other stuff, IF I’m pulling it across solid ground or shell rock, but when pulling it across uneven Florida “sugar sand” an extra 20 lbs. makes a big difference in my possible life expectancy! heehee! So, I went to Walmart and bought a reinforced canvas laundry bag for less then $10 (it was listed for $20 online): SpaceItUp Gearbox Sport Laundry Bag Yellow/Grey #7021576531A - Laundry Bags $20.64 SpaceItUp Gearbox Sport Laundry Bag Yellow/Grey #7021576531A Sometimes you need more than a simple mesh or cotton laundry bag. That's where the Gearbox Sport Laundry Bag steps in. This heavyweight two-tone laundry bag features a draw-string closure and a full length shoulder strap to help easily get your dirty clothes from your room to the laundry room. Constructed of 600 denier polyester this bag will serve you well for years to come. Dimensions: 32"h x 15"w. The cord was a cotton cord so I combined another nylon rope through it for strength. I checked out the weight of a cubic yard of sand and I couldn’t believe it! The weight of a cubic yard of sand is “2400 lbs.”! After straining my mind trying to figure out how to multiply and divide again, it came out that if I fill the bag up with 2‘ of sand it will weigh 384 lbs. (Pete and/or Jeepster might find an error in this, heehee!) and with it going in the hole I dig to get the sand, this should be more then enough weight to keep my SKYFORM60 in place without any problem. And being a bag, it can help carry other stuff to the site. (Note that with sand in the bag you gain a couple inches on the Dia.) I’m feeling “Lighter” already! (And a little safer too, because if things go to hell, which is possible in the sand as opposed to hard ground, people will be getting hit with a laundry bag instead of a bunch of steel spikes! heehee!) Keep It Up! Duane

Hey Bill, Thanks for the drawing! If I get one of those, you've saved me a headache and some parts left over. heehee! Keep It Up! Duane

Looks like you get to show it off already! I love showing off my kites! heehee! This is my Gombery Skyform60 I call her "Skydancer" (my only single liner) and was flying her at "Okaloosa Island Kite Festival" I really have fun at these festivals! Hey, over at this Okaloosa Island Fest. they had some face painters there too...the kids really love that stuff...maybe you can combine your flying time with some of your Big Daddy Body Art. Keep It Up! Duane EDIT: Of course you'll have to come up with a Tattoo of your kite!! heehee!

Hi Bill, Watching your first flight brought a true smile to my face! Thanks for posting the videos! That is a really beautiful and BIG kite! That's gotta be a real attention grabber too! I've gotta get me one of those...maybe this Christmas...if I'm really good!?!? heehee! You should fly that at some kite festivals they have up there! Keep It Up! Duane

Hey Baloo, Are you inviting us over Unfortunately, after I retired, I let my passport expire, or I'd be right over Hey Baloo! My passport is still good! You buying?!?! Keep It Up! Duane

Yeah...Don't let up on him Nick! I know his work will be a Masterpiece!! (And he isn't all that young you know...gotta get it before he croaks! heehee!) Hey, did you check out that piece on "Six Reasons to Love the Outer Banks"? damn...I've gotta get up there this year! Keep It Up! Duane