Hi guys,

I'm building a stunt kite with a 7 foot wing span out of an x-ply windsurfing sail I don't use anymore, and will pull out the battens, sand them for desired diameter for the kite spars. I don't have a sewing machine, so I will adhere the edges together with glue or contact cement. Question is, what is the best choice to use for the strongest bond to x-ply?

Thanks!

Have to be epoxy - two part- you can get at Bunnings, do a small test first

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MagicRide said..
Hi guys,

I'm building a stunt kite with a 7 foot wing span out of an x-ply windsurfing sail I don't use anymore, and will pull out the battens, sand them for desired diameter for the kite spars. I don't have a sewing machine, so I will adhere the edges together with glue or contact cement. Question is, what is the best choice to use for the strongest bond to x-ply?

Thanks!

Sorry can't help much but have seriously been thinking about one of those old school "Singer" sewing machines for doing this type of work as well as some other home canvas projects.

I'm thinking now about using gorilla tape. That stuff is pretty sticky.

So I weighed the kite spars needed and that comes too 1.4 pounds. I think I can build this kite under 5 pounds. With a 7 foot wing span and 2.5 feet tall, do you think I've got enough surface area for it to fly? I'm thinking med- high winds for this kite.

Way too heavy. My 2.2m Cloud weighs about 2 pounds for similar dimensions. X-ply windsurf sail material is overkill for any possible strength requirements of a kite, and that weight will kill any possibility of performance.

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djdojo said..
Way too heavy. My 2.2m Cloud weighs about 2 pounds for similar dimensions. X-ply windsurf sail material is overkill for any possible strength requirements of a kite, and that weight will kill any possibility of performance.

Yes! You're so spot on right! Just had a long conversation with a kite designer and builder. He said the same thing. Now if the spars were hallow, I could get the weight down. I've seen several x-ply stunt kites on the web, but they're probably using hallow spars.

Just wait for more wind or jump of a higher cliff or something- don't listen to the doubters. You can fly if you think you can fly

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Sandfoot said..
Just wait for more wind or jump of a higher cliff or something- don't listen to the doubters. You can fly if you think you can fly

I like your optimism!

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MagicRide said..
Hi guys,

I'm building a stunt kite with a 7 foot wing span out of an x-ply windsurfing sail I don't use anymore, and will pull out the battens, sand them for desired diameter for the kite spars. I don't have a sewing machine, so I will adhere the edges together with glue or contact cement. Question is, what is the best choice to use for the strongest bond to x-ply?

Thanks!

Is the Birdman Rally back on?