LS Kite Stakes

Here is a picture of both kites at the home field, Kitehenge.

Be sure to check out my website. I haven't updated this thread in a while, I have holsters and set wholesale prices for kite stores. Several kite stores, including one in Spain, have brought my kite stakes in. PM me for more information if interested, these are so much nicer than a ordinary golf ball kite stake. Will be releasing a couple new products in the coming weeks!

I do plan on being at WSIKF, possibly the whole week if I had my way.........

I make all the kite stakes I could need......... However, I am going to need a set of 15 inch handles. Good thing I just started another batch of Pro Handles for Revolution, I am going to make me a set for these RevI Bazzer Eyes. I look forward to seeing you again TK. I was more than willing to help out with the expenses to see John eyes when he looks upon you with so much love and adoration.

OMG!!!!!! I have that ticket! Excuse me as I pick my entire body off of the floor... I am going to have so much fun flying these at Kitehenge, and better yet, Bazzer lives close by, I can visit him and get the signatures right where they were made. I am not going to believe this is real until they are sitting on the front porch........... Thank You John!

For those in the Pacific North West, this is THE BEST kite field without driving the two or more hours to a ocean beach. Located in University Place south west of Tacoma WA. Affectionately called "Kite Henge" by regular fliers, Central Meadow is one of the best Northwest USA parks for kite flying with an incredible amount of space (22+ acres), prevailing winds off the water, objects for quad kite play, and clean and heated restrooms, as well as enough local eateries and conveniences to satisfy pretty much anyone, while Tacoma hotels and motels are all within 7-15 miles of the field. This is a relatively new park managed by Pierce County Parks and Chambers Creek Foundation. Latitude & Longitude (Kite Henge parking lot): 47° 12' 06.22" N 122° 34' 35.56" W Information web sites: http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/...yhour/1572501:5 http://www.chamberscreekfoundation.org/ http://www.piercecountywa.org/pc/abtus/ourorg/ccp/index.htm http://www.revguild.org/about/field

The title says it all. All of the officers will be there, and we would like to let all who want to come, to come! For more info on Kitehenge click on this LINKY If you have not had a chance to check out THE BEST kite flying location in Puget Sound, this is when to do it! We will be there regardless of the weather, and a cover (gazebo) with free gourmet coffee roasted by yours truly will be available. (This coffee has been tried and endorsed by JB!) So if it does rain on the parade, we can get under cover and at least have a hot cup of Joe! Tea and hot cocoa will also be available.

This drawing is only about a week away, come on number generator!

I did ask him for a vented.......please draw my number.........please.....please.....did I say please?

Since making the original post, I have been updating and improving the site. The pictures on the products page are clickable, and links page has additions, and the header panel is looking better. I now have a cafe press store!

With hosting by KiteLife, I now have a official website for LS Custom Kite Stakes. You will find the link in my signature, check it out! I would love to hear your comments and suggestions!

Welcome to the forum Terry. You do have some company on that side of the pond, there are quite a few Rev fliers on your island. I would say get a 1.5 SLE if you cannot afford a B series, and get the 3 wrap leading edge (one center and two ends) as well for your initial investment. Find your local Rev fliers and meet them for a flying session. They can help show the ropes on setting up the kite, unwinding and attaching the lines, and helping you with your first launch. You will also learn about the different rods, types of kites, line legnths, and when to use what. Check out the forum at revkites.com, The official Revolution site. There is quite a few fun-loving peeps from the UK that is very active on that forum, and they are always looking for new fliers to meet up with.

Not a officially licensed, branded, copyrighted, or even logo-ed company, but I am announcing my informal foray into the kite gear business. After some discussion, the wife and I are going to call this endeavor "LS Custom Kite Stakes." I am expanding my product line to include holsters, and Rubber Duck Stakes, as well as continuing to make the Marble Stakes. I am spending my afternoon sewing up holsters, and took a break to make this post. The holsters are made from 1 inch polyester strap (webbing) and are sewed together with heavy duty polyester thread. At this time all I have is blue holsters, but will have more color selections, pink, red, black, and purple in the near future. I am working on getting my products in kite stores, but I need to go slowly, this is a one man, home brewed operation, and I am going find myself possibly very busy. I will always sell directly to anyone who wants something I make, feel free to PM me if interested. See picture of the holsters I currently have.

If you saw it at Whidbey a couple weeks ago, that was me. I was hanging out with the Island Quad group that day. I meant to stop and say "hi", but you were busy instructing a young lad on flying your indoor rev and I had enough of the rain at that time....... After looking at the latest weather forecast, I might bring my telescope along for saturday night. It is a full moon night so only the brightest objects will be veiwable, like the planet Jupiter and its moons, several other objects of interest....

When you see my red PT Cruiser covered in flames, you will know it is me. It is up to you weather you come say "Hi" or run the other way screaming......

I plan on being there as well. Here is a link to the OFFICIAL website: LINKY The weather forcast is looking promising! Here is a weather forecast site for Lincoln City: LINKY I will be bringing the kite stakes I make for all to see.

I have added 4 more stakes to Ebay, new marble colors, check it out!

Just search kite stake on the 'bay and you will find them. I have the boxes and can ship them out starting Monday! I also can ship internationally, and will honor free shipping to conus if you PM me for details.

The latest news is the special boxes have finally shipped! They are supposed to be at my doorstep on Monday, September 29th. I should also have some more marbles of different colors at that time as well! I have been busy in my shop making parts, I am planning on going to the Lincoln City Kite fest 3 weeks from now, and want to have a few on hand for that as well as shipping out stakes to those who want them here.

Unfortunately, that is my own sleeve, and I am unable to produce those due to no sewing machine. That particular sleeve is made from a dog leash and was hand sewed with needle and thread, took me several hours to finish.

I have gotten the first 12 stakes done this afternoon, they have turned out very nice. The rods are 304L .250 inch Stainless, 12 inches long with a blunt point. The rods and "cups" (made from 6061 T6 aluminum) are polished and almost look like chrome. I will be taking them to the kite festival at Whidbey Island tomorrow, Saturday, to see what people think of them and see if I can sell some. I am still waiting on shipping boxes, (on backorder) so I am as of yet unable to ship them out to anyone who buys them from me here. I also want to get a better color selection of marbles, the ones I received in an assortment were all dark colored. Here is some pics!

Here is the latest news. I am going ahead with a initial production run of 25 stakes. I have a assortment of 42mm marbles, 1/4" stainless rod, and shipping materials on order. I have some 6061 T6 aluminum bar that I will start machining parts from this weekend. I hope to have some finished for the Whidbey Island Kite Festival. I will put notice up here when I have them ready, and will be posting some onto the 'bay as well. Members of KiteLife will get free USPS Priority shipping!

Had a light bulb go off in my head the other day, and followed the thought through with action. I made a kite stake with a large 42mm marble, after machining a polished aluminum "cup" to epoxy it onto. I pressed a 12 inch 1/4" metal rod into the bottom of the cup. Here is pictures of the result: I can make more of these, and have all kinds of colors and styles available with the marbles. The one pictured has a plain steel rod, but I intend to make future stakes with polished stainless rods. This stake is made with a machine made glass marble, I can get handmade marbles as well, but will cost more. Cost is $25 USD, including USPS Priority shipping to CONUS. I need time to get the matierials, so it will take me about two weeks to have some ready. I have a small home shop and would like to make a little extra $$ to support my kiting habit! If anyone wants one let me know, I would also love to make a business arrangement with any of the kite shops if they are interested as well. I can easily make a dozen or so a week, no two will be the same! Comments, suggestions?

Took it out today with my dad. we put up a 54" Ascension delta about 200 ft and let it fly for a couple hours while I tried to teach my self how to fly my new Rev. Other than the crank handle is a bit too stiff to turn, it worked out great! As to how much line it can hold, it depends on the diameter of the line. With the spiderwire, it is very very thin. This reel would hold several MILES of 80# spiderwire. I am overboard with the 3300 feet that is on it now. There are not many places near my home where I can fly that far up without endangering air traffic.

Back when I was a kid, my dad had taken two aluminum wire reels and made kite spools from them. I flew a 16" Scott's Sled from one that had about 2000 feet of nylon monofiliment fishing line on it. That kite was out so far it was a tiny dot in the sky. One of the drawbacks of those reels was it was nearly impossible to wind the line up on the reel with the kite pulling on the line. Fast forward about 30 years and I got a idea to improve one of those reels. I mounted the reel in a oak frame, machined new shafts, crank, etc. for it in my home shop. I have the reel loaded with 3300 feet of 80# Spiderwire. It works by holding the frame against your abdomen with one hand, and cranking with the other. The crank handle does disengage from the reel to allow it to free wheel. I plan on adding a brake to control the reel during freewheel so it can be stopped while letting line out. I also plan on adding a lock pin to lock the reel in place once the kite is at the desired altitude. The pictures below show what I have finished so far: This first one is of the two reels when I just started on it.