Power Kite Forum

made some weights... first time using a sewing machine...

bassboi - 11-5-2010 at 12:46 PM

...and kiting made me do it.



how about that? i filled them with some old aquarium rocks i had lying around.. didn't get to try em out yet, but it's really windy today so imma just go test the theory :D

Hardrock - 11-5-2010 at 02:34 PM

I need to do up some weights also. Been using anything I have on hand. Other kite bags, water bottles and such.

I saw a post ( seems Angus was involved) where kind of heavy chain links was sewn inside a neoprene sock sort of deal.

Having weights would be a big plus out in a field. I still need to weight down all four sides of an inflated arc. LOL

Looks like you did a fine job with the machine. The color is what I want also.

arkay - 11-5-2010 at 02:38 PM

rebar wrapped with pipe foam and duct tape. that's much more manly ;)

bassboi - 11-5-2010 at 02:40 PM

That's where I had gotten the idea -- to sew some lengths of chain in some sort of material to act as a weight.

I'd been having this orange shirt for a few years now, and it was starting to deteriorate between two silkscreened stripes. I decided to recycle it, and repurpose it.

I admit, first run with the machine wasn't good. After that, it wasn't so bad. I think I'm going to make a 4th one, because I went lay the kite out in the yard with the weights on it, and it still ruffled a little bit. Or, I may be just enjoy sewing a little too much.

How often you find a 23 year old dude rockin' some deftones & tool, and using a sewing machine?!

rocfighter - 11-5-2010 at 03:17 PM

I made some very simiular. Good job with the sewing. Now make a kite!!

Drewculous - 11-5-2010 at 03:26 PM

very long tube socks filled with sand... tied end to end

or i use a pickle jar full of water on the LE of my phantom... rolls off nicely

oldtdevil - 11-5-2010 at 03:37 PM

Next you'll be able to repair your own kites.

Txshooter38 - 11-5-2010 at 04:12 PM

I use to make sand bags for shooting....I found that sand can soak up water through the sock and be a problem. My wife is making me some with small steel bird shot.

powerkiter82 - 11-5-2010 at 07:21 PM

Walmart sales some cheap nylon dry bags in the camping section that when rolled up and sealed they have a plastic buckle handle. I just take these and fill with sand and squeeze all the air out before rolling the top real tight and snapping the buckle. The nylon is taped on the seams and is coated with silicone so they are very water resistant. I had mine out one time and got caught in a sudden downpour and the sand never even got wet.

ICTKITEFLYER - 11-5-2010 at 07:25 PM

Yep that's what I did too worked like a charm...

bassboi - 11-5-2010 at 07:47 PM

The two on top are completed... and the piece on the bottom is how big of a chunk of fabric i used.

I would think that they're fairly waterproof, I'd just have to make sure the fabric dries really well else I'd have mold problems.

I wonder if I could make a NPW. Sewing seems pretty easy. I think I'd get confused on the bridle, as I tried to convert a single line kite to dual, and while it worked fairly good for what it was, the bridle was still a little off.

macboy - 11-5-2010 at 09:28 PM

Ah.....but as a bonus Arkay and Bassboi are ready for a kiter brawl!

Someone somewhere had posted about using water bottles and how handy it was to have ample water at the field - except when it was all gone - so was your weight. Still, for me it's waterbottles and kite stakes to keep things down. No sand nearby for us poor inlanders and I don't wanna carry around extra weight unless there is added benefit (like refreshment)....or weaponry :lol:

bassboi - 12-5-2010 at 02:05 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by macboy
Ah.....but as a bonus Arkay and Bassboi are ready for a kiter brawl!

Someone somewhere had posted about using water bottles and how handy it was to have ample water at the field - except when it was all gone - so was your weight. Still, for me it's waterbottles and kite stakes to keep things down. No sand nearby for us poor inlanders and I don't wanna carry around extra weight unless there is added benefit (like refreshment)....or weaponry :lol:


I'm sure these things will fly like snowballs, but with a more solid impact --- if they don't bust due to the crappy sewing I did on them. However, I think some rebar would do more damage to me than a flying bag of aquarium rocks!

I shoved them at the bottom of my PL Twister backpack, and although it does add a bit of weight, the backpack actually feels better with the extra weight.

I think I'm going to make some more, but this time I'm going to try and use something different inside. Maybe a few links of some large chain. I might even borrow arkay's idea and just get some large bolts (6" long, 2" diameter) and wrap those in some foam or duct tape.

kevnm - 10-9-2010 at 09:28 PM

Here's an idea. Go to a thrift store and buy a pair of old ankle weights for a dollar.

And you can look really stylish if you wear them out to your kite.

Or lead scuba weights in a ziplock bag. The kite slides off the bag easy, and the bag
keeps lead off your hands.

chudalicious - 12-9-2010 at 09:35 AM

I just went through this exercise myself...

Went to a fabric store and bought some orange ripstop nylon. Sewed some rectangle bags and filled some glad zip locks with sand. Put the sand filled zip locks in the ripstop nylon bags and tied with a long strand of the nylon so it wiggles I the breeze and is even easier to see when in grass.

Bought some ankle weights too and am planning on making another set of orange rip stop bags with a slit into bottom so the ankle weights Velcro can fasten around and back to itself. This is very helpful for transporting the weights and keeping them fastened around the outside of the kite bag for easy access as you can loop the weight around any bag strap instead of fishing for them inside the bag. Only thing? Can't use the ankle weights alone because they are black and blend in with the surroundings and because the material that holds the sand inside is so thin, they could easily damage if wet or handled roughly.

KYTE SLINGER - 12-9-2010 at 10:49 AM

:thumbup:
on sewing

quick and easy.....

tennis balls................................


small slice... add in lead shot like fishing weights

nuts,bolts, washers..sand what ever laying about...

when you launch your wing they will roll off nice and easy...

brightly colored ....

kevnm - 12-9-2010 at 07:07 PM

Another good idea...balls. I already have heavyweight juggling balls. If the wind is too light, I could exerjuggle.

rocfighter - 13-9-2010 at 04:31 AM

What I did with my wieght bags is...
I filled 1qt freezer bags with feed corn, sealed them up and then made bright red ripstop sacks from scraps. Sewed them up and sew on a small loop to tie them together when not in use. The freezer bag inside keeps the corn from absorbing any moisture.I made 6 of them at first. But now the Kidd has taken some so I need to make more!!

Chook - 13-9-2010 at 04:47 AM

roc, you could then pop them into the microwave when you get home for a few minutes and sooth your muscles.
Wife does this with wheat with a bit of lavender added for aroma. All in a cloth bag. works a treat on aches and pains.
You may have to vent the old glad bag against blowin' up eh???

I'll have to convince her to knock me up a few weights. Thanks guys!!!

rocfighter - 13-9-2010 at 12:52 PM

This is true Chook, Thats where I got the idea. We made those for the family for Xmas last year!! But these have plastic bags in them. I think it would smell bad:tumble: