Pulled out my kite stuff so that I have it ready should I get to enjoy the forecast wind tomorrow. I noticed that my gloves and pads have a different
feeling to them. Its the same feeling a t-shirt or pants get after you've covered yourself in bug spray. Reading around I see that deet the stuff
found to be in a lot of bug repellants can be fairly damaging to certain materials. This makes me wonder if it is safe to be using around my kite
gear. Usually I spray a bunch on me and rub it in, so its all over my hands when I'm doing anything with my kites and gear. Have I been running a risk
of damaging any of my gear, lines bars, kites themselves???? I'm not spraying my kites directly, but my knee pads, helmet, adn harness have had a few
sprays in the past. The last thing I need is to have my lines weakened and snap because of my carelessness.WIllardTheGrey - 20-7-2011 at 12:24 AM
I'm not sure about kite gear but I ruined a good silnylon rain-fly with some 100% Deet. It ate/melted the silicone coating off. Now I just put a couple of squirts on my wool beanie keeps the nastys off just fine.arkay - 20-7-2011 at 12:26 AM
I stopped using DEET a long while ago for other reason, just eat a lot of bananas
I can't imagine it's good for your gear but I also imagine you are not spraying it on your gear. I'd try to keep it off your hands as much as
possible, if you're wearing gloves it seems a bit redundant.
From the site of all truths, wikipedia:
DEET is an effective solvent, and may dissolve some plastics, rayon, spandex, other synthetic fabrics, leather, and painted or varnished surfaces
including nailpolish.
10-30% DEET is the recommended solution... for what it's worth WIllardTheGrey - 20-7-2011 at 12:30 AM
Yep there's a reason I don't put it on my skin.dylanj423 - 20-7-2011 at 12:45 AM
no wonder it burns a little when i spray it on.... highly effective, though at repelling mosquitosindigo_wolf - 20-7-2011 at 04:41 AM
DEET will chew through most synthetics given enough time.
My friend was covered in DEET while out shooting (photography) in the woods, and when he came back, the plastic on his camera lens cover was scored
and hazed after a single exposure.
DEET can probably do a number on sail coatings, the individual strands on flying lines, and given enough time and exposure weaken the break strength
on safety systems.
ATB,
SamPHREERIDER - 20-7-2011 at 04:54 AM
damn the kite junk, i would be more concerned what its doing to the body.
poison! avoid itwindhunter - 20-7-2011 at 06:49 AM
Being an avid outdoorsman/hunter all my life I've tried everything in the way of bug sprays. 100% deet is not something I would directly put on your
skin ( as advised by manufacturers) Or even continue to wear treated clothing against the skin any longer than need be. This stuff is... TOXIC....
eats plastic, nylon, synthetics varnishes ect. Monofilimant fishing line, plastic zippers, tacklebox (leaking bottle) ,finish on shotgun wood stock
and forarm, sleeping bag, skin rashes where clothing rubs, are just a few things I've experienced over the years. I'd def be carefull around your
gear if you choose to use it. If I remember correctly this stuff was actually developed in the WW ll years by the military and was supposed to
disable biting insects ability to smell corbon dioxide ,your exhaled breath, so they can't find you. Think later they disproved this and found the
bugs just didn't like the chem smell.
I use a product by REPEL called "Permanone" It is a clothing and gear insect repelant. Used as directed and not on ones person I have found this
stuff to work very well against mosquitoes, biting flies, gnats, ticks,chiggers. Last trip to Alaska it didn't do so well against the "no seeums" up
there but not sure what really works on them. Just don't use this stuff on your person and spray only you clothing expected to wear and let dry
before use. Would not spray directly on your kite gear. Should find it at local sports stores or Wally World, bout $5 a can.arkay - 20-7-2011 at 08:16 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by PHREERIDER
poison! avoid it
shaggs2riches - 20-7-2011 at 01:32 PM
:shocked2: my gawd I didn't realize that it could be so destructive. I've been using a spray that is 25%. Mostly I've sprayed my clothing, but its
gone on my arms,legs, neck and hair. Its on my hands from rubbing it in. Think I better find another solution that works just a well. The skeeters out
here are huge and in the billions. Last time out I left because they just swarmed around me becoming just as much a pain as if they had landed on me.
Haven't sprayed my gear, but the thought that my covered hands have touched my gear makes me want to rinse everything clean.indigo_wolf - 20-7-2011 at 01:57 PM
Have Drew send you cases of chili.... nothing like watching skeeters spontaenously combust after the first sip
I can't imagine it's good for your gear but I also imagine you are not spraying it on your gear. I'd try to keep it off your hands as much as
possible, if you're wearing gloves it seems a bit redundant.
