Materials Questions

From FoilDesign

Contents 1 How much material do I need to buy for a ram air kite? 2 How much material do I need for a LEI? 3 Dacron (2.9 or 3.9 oz) : 4 Blue Tarpaulin 5 AirX600, 650 and 700 6 Icarex (grades: PC31, P31, P38) 7 chikara 8 Schikarex, ripstop nylon 42g/m2 155cm width 9 Suppliers by location 9.1 Toronto 9.2 US 9.3 UK 10 Bladders

How much material do I need to buy for a ram air kite?

3.5 x the area of your kite. This rule of thumb is quite good. Get more if this is your first kite, as you may make some mistakes. Remember that 1/3 will be used for the top skin, 1/3 for the bottom skin and 1/3 for the ribs. The ribs could be made of cheap material if you want.

How much material do I need for a LEI?

For an 8 meter (flat) kite you will need approx. 8 meter's of Dacon (LE and rib material) and 10 meters of canopy material.

Dacron (2.9 or 3.9 oz) :

Description:

Stiff cloth, used for LE and Rib tubes of inflatable kites

Sewing technique:

The first few times use white Dacron so you can see through it to line up your sew lines.

Retail:

Bainbridge

Blue Tarpaulin

Description:

Stiff cloth used for the LE and ribs for a LEI. Normal builder trap, blue.

Sewing technique:

It is not transparent, so seam alignment sewing is important. Easy to sew as it is not slippery. Use a thick thread.

Retail:

Any DIY shop.

AirX600, 650 and 700

Description:

Canopy cloth, light, semi transparent in the lighter colours. Ideal for Leading Edge Inflatables kites.

Sewing technique:

This cloth is slippery.

Retail:

• Kite Works
• Kites Up

Icarex (grades: PC31, P31, P38)

Description:

??

Sewing technique:

??

Retail:

• Kite Works
• Kites Up

chikara

Description:

Canopy cloth, light, semi transparent in the lighter colours. Does stretch a little bit under large loads. Ideal for Ram Air kites (two skins to share the load) ok for Leading Edge Inflatables (expect them to change shape slightly over time)

Sewing technique:

This cloth is slippery.

Retail:

• Kite Works
• Kites Up

Schikarex, ripstop nylon 42g/m2 155cm width

• drachenshop.de - 6,75 euro or for large quantities e.g. 20m 6,30 euro 50m 5,90
• chillout.org - 6,75 euro per meter

Suppliers by location

Toronto

Fabric:

• Genco Marine
• North Sails

Thread (Bonded Nylon 4500m rolls)

• Cansew Inc 28 Apex Rd., 416-782-1122

US

• Hang Em High (VA)
• Kitebuilder.com (PA)
• Goodwinds Kites (WA) for spectra core bridle line

UK

• Kite Works
• Kites Up
• Bainbridge (link broken?) Number is: 01489 776000 Email: sue.lea@bainbridgeint.co.uk (Think of a company name before you call, they only sell to companies)

Bladders

Leading Edge Inflatable bladders : Lei Bladders