Sewing a 2m Rokkaku kite
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- Опубліковано 15 жов 2024
- Making a Rokkaku kite using Emma Kites ripstop nylon (which is very light weight) Cordura corner patches and 1" webbing pockets. 5:4:3 size ratio. Skyshark P4X Camo carbon tube spars (similar to P400) with solid carbon internal ferrules. All up weight 380g with spars and bridle. Pfaff Tiptronic 2030 sewing machine - Awesome (Thanks for letting me use it sweetheart) As recommended I bought a new needle - size 90 (which is a bit bigger than a normal needle) universal point. Guterman polyester thread. Didn't have to touch the tension at all.
9 years ago... Wow.. and I just watch now..
I watched this ages ago but only just followed your guide exactly. Took about 3 hours but finally got it together. The hardest part is just the first time you do a part eg hem, patches etc, then its easy because its just repeating. Thanks so much! Cant wait to get out n fly it asap. 😎👍🪁
Excellent. Hope it flies!
Barry, you could use one piece for the centre rectangle. But for the top and bottom triangle pieces the warp fibres need to be parallel to the outer edge if the kite. If you dont do this the kite will stretch badly out of shape. I know it would be easier to use one piece but it's not a good idea.
Hello Andrew, really enjoyed watching your instructional videos and even though I have not sewn anything since I was in college myself (a very long time ago!) I decided to have a go too. Inspired by another item on the web where a guy used an old broken umbrella to make a kite, I thought I would try to do one myself. I have borrowed my daughter's machine and following your first videos on the Rokkaku now have a kite shaped creation!! I will be adding the reinforced patches and other bits tomorrow, then hopefully to a first flight!
Just wanted to say thank you for your inspirational contributions online.
Tony North Wales.
That's excellent Tony, hope it flies for you
Thanks. It's a good quality Pfaff machine with a walking foot. That helps to pull the slipper ripstop cloth through. Gutermann polyester thread and #90 needle, which is slightly larger than a normal needle.
Thanks Andrew for all your help
Give it a go. Sewing ripstop is a bit tricky because it's so slippery but OK once you get used to it.
Thanks, Last Exit to Nowhere in the UK sells the Ts
It's actually yet! Thank you!
You make it to look easy. I do have my mother's sewing machine and I want to do myself a kite too !!!
I love the Rokkaku. Great job.
Hi I see u use 6 bits is it ok to just use 1 peice of rips top nylon to make a kite as it is 49" wide and I only want to make the kite 45" wide
Andrew, is that a 'regular' sewing machine? Any special needles or thread? Thx for the great videos!
Hi Andrew I've got some 90 size needles mate but what size cotton was looking at some 80s cotton do u think that will be ok
Hey Barry. Good idea, might do that one day. Meanwhile it's all explained on my KAP blog, probably better shown in diagrams anyway.
Thanks Andrew last thing do u have a video or can u do one about the Gide lines how long and where to put them thanks .
Beautiful job. Real men can sew! Now I've just got to get the guts to try a kite!
+bradley duckett Be brave and give it a go.
Hi ! You can add a description of the video dimensions blanks patterns?
Sergey, There is much more detail on my blog including a pattern andrewnewtonkap.blogspot.com.au/search/label/2m%20White%20Rokkaku
Andrew Newton Thank you. I will try to sew.
Question, you put together several panels for one big kite. Is it possible to use one piece of fabric to create the kite? I found a piece of 150 by 200 cm. Would like to create a kite of 150cm height. So in theory i could have my kite out of one piece of fabric but was wondering if there is a reason why you did it with the different panels. Hope for an answer.
Panels are used to minimise stretch along the diagonal edges. If you don't care that your kite will stretch out of shape then just use one panel.
Thanks for the quick answer! I guess stretch will be an issue over time? Or maybe not to much?
Depends a lot on your kite material and the size and style of your kite. Mine would have stretched out of shape immediately with the light ripstop cloth.
Using edge binding will reduce stretch so a small to medium size kite can be cut in one piece. For a 1. 2 metre Rokkaku and using 1.5 wt coated ripstop, I use 30 mm strips of hotcut ripstop doubled to make a 15 mm wide border. This is a light to moderate wind kite. I hot cut all my kites cloth to prevent fraying. For stronger winds, I use 25 mm edge binding doubled and triple zig zag sewn. For kites over 1.8 metres I cut 6 separate pieces so the cloth fibres can be parallel to all edges as describe by the author. I still use either ripstop edge binding or dedicated edge binding to reduce stretch irrespect of the kite size. The spar sizes can also be varied to construct either a light wind kite or strong wind kites. Both top and bottom spars should be bowed but the bottom spar bowed more as it makes the kite more stable. Small Rokkakus can have a single line, kites between 0.6 and 2 metres a four leg bridle and kites over 2 metres, a five leg bridle. I am currently constructing two 8 kite Rokkaku trains with 16 x 1.2 metre kites. The majority are made with 1.1 wt ripstop. Anticipate 35 kg pull for each train. Another kite under construction is a 3.8 x 3 metre Rokkaku. This will have 12.5 mm fibreglass spars. Will have to be well anchored as pull should exceed 50 kg.
The edge binding border also matches a lot of my graphics with colour cordination of the main graphic with the binding colour.
What is the material you used for patches please? Thank you
Cordura, like back pack material
Love the shirt!
Hi. May I know what is the material you use for the corner patches? is it something specific you can recommend? Thx.
Fakhrul.
nvm, i see now it's cordura. thx.
Yes that's right. Any thick material will work. Even multiple layers of the body material.
Thx for the prompt reply, but I'm still wondering if I were to produce a much bigger kite than yours, would it create a greater traction? Logically thinking, it would, but maybe in your experience perhaps that might not be true?
Yes these kites produce a lot of traction, bigger kites are usually made for lighter winds. They become difficult to manage in stronger wind when they bend out of shape
would you say greater than a 36 meter sled kite? I'm sorry if I ask too much but with the resources I have right now, I can't afford trial and error.
I'm making a kite for a school project and i was wondering why do you need the corner patches?
Hi Charice. Corner patches prevent the spar pockets tearing away from the kite fabric and stop the spar ends poking through. Good luck with your project. Happy to answer any questions
Is there a substitute for the carbon tube spars?
You can also use fibreglass tubes or wooden spars. The size of the spars depends on how big the kite will be.
is it possible to substitute the velcro?
Hai, Everything super... Please show, how to tie the bridles.... I'm finding difficulties to make the good one..... Please help...
More info in my blog andrewnewtonkap.blogspot.com.au/search/label/kite%20making
can it be painted? Do You sell sewing patterns for kites with dowels under 36"? I need to make a bunch for my friends memorial in August and I want us to be able to paint them. I ordered a bunch of tyvek for this purpose but what you are using looks to be sooo much lighter. Will the tyvek fabric get up off the ground? Ha ha
Hi Patti. Tyvek would be more suitable for painting than this ripstop nylon. Rokkaku kites are quite complicated to setup with bow lines and long bridles. There are simpler designs that are easier to fly, like a delta or sled design. This e book might help also www.my-best-kite.com/a-form-three-stick-kite-made-with-tyvek-covering.html
Andrew Newton thanks, A. I did buy that book and the writer was very helpful. I think I will blend his advice with some of these sewing tips here. I want to make a diamond or a delta using 36” dowels and very little MATH!!! I’ve got the tyvek and doweks already. I just wish I had a pattern. I do think I’m overthinking it tho and I just need to start. I have to make around 40-50 for my friend’s memorial.
Tyvek is very suitable for building kites and, although not quite as durable as ripstop nylon, is surprisingly strong and resilient. I have several Tyvek kites and one is 8 years old including a 3 metre span butterfly with elaborite art work done in hand painted acrylic. Tyvek is very suitable for painting and is resilient to most solvents. Eventually Tyvek will fail when it repeatedly creases with age especially when subject to flapping trailing edges on kites. It has two advantages over ripstop in that being amorphous, does not stretch in one direction more than any other although only has moderate overall stretch. It is also cheap, being about 25% of the cost of ripstop. In respect to your last question, "Will the tyvek fabric get up off the ground? Ha ha" I have flown a Tyvek kite to over 2,500 ft. I have built a train of 23 Tyvek diamond kites that has flown for many days over several years at a festival . You can make kites out of a vast range of materials. Ripstop Nylon is used because it does an excellent job and is reasonably priced. Tyvek is fine if you want to paint the kite but is not as durable as ripstop. It depends on how long you intend to keep the kite and how often you fly it. To work with ripstop, kite builders sew seams, spar pockets and most use hot cutters to seal the cut edges which can be subject to fraying. Tyvek is cut with scissors and is very easy to work with. Most adhesive tapes and glues stick very well to Tyvek and are commonly used in constructing tyvek kites. The dowell diameter is proportional to the kite size. Some people use bamboo skewers for small kites. You can make light, strong and thin kite spars by splitting bamboo garden stakes. The modern alternative is 2 or 3 mm diameter fibreglass rods.
Bob Moore
Nice !! I want to do one of this design for me. Where do you find the materials for carbon tubes and reinforcements? Thanks for sharing.
Carbon spars from Kitesandfunthings.com and fabric reinforcements from a tent/canvas shop
what type of rod u using for vertical and horizontal?
Skyshark P4X wrapped CF from Kitesandfunthings
@@AndrewNewton i see. What diameter of rod you using? Is fibreglass rod better for the horizontal spars, since it needs to be bowed? Sorry new to this.
Merhaba..Makina ayağı hangisi?
Pfaff Walking foot
Спасибо! Вы лучший!
Thanks to you too
you are really Newton ....
Haha, thanks
Haha! Check for big mistakes! That echoes for me man!! X¬D
Deberías venderme una
www.pictureprettykites.com/rokkaku-kites/