Power Kite Forum

Kite cleaning and restoration?

Blitzhound - 2-3-2016 at 08:10 PM

So... A while back I picked up a sweet set of PL Venoms. A 10m and a 16m. Anyway. I'd like to clean them and maybe reseal the fabric. My question is. Does anyone got any advice on how to do this or even if I should? They are beautiful red and gold kites. A matching pair. But they are a bit dirty.

hiaguy - 2-3-2016 at 08:20 PM

Talk to Jeff about KiteRefit.
I brought a Core (that was well used at Ivanpah) back to life with it.

bigE123 - 3-3-2016 at 01:44 AM

10m and 16m don't put them in your home washing machine, go to a laundrette. I've used Nikwax Tech wash and a reproofer.

This was my 6m in the washing machine, it thought it was going to spill out the detergent compartment :D

bigkid - 3-3-2016 at 06:15 AM

I can't believe you put it in the washer.

soliver - 3-3-2016 at 06:21 AM

The most conventional and common response to kite cleaning is to use a damp rag and mild dish detergent... the key with using anything other than just strait water is that it be mild. Jason (3shot) uses the original wallet I think, but all by hand, not in a machine.

PHREERIDER - 3-3-2016 at 06:33 AM

wow ! never seen it. i would guess that may have aged those kite 300+hours. flexing the material with wet load not so good.

maybe you have noticed how favorite t-shirts are thin and soft.

whatever uv coating there was is gone. mechanical action is not good of any kind.

scrubbing abrasion will bruise fabric even done lightly.

rinse, hang and fly thats it. time will remove particle material.

sure get the caked mud off, but the stain powdery stuff in fabric weave --->leave it the wind and use will clean it all it needs.

clothes we want soft and clean, kites we want hard and stiff....and she said all that too!

recoat, fly and enjoy them... Machine washed not advised.

abkayak - 3-3-2016 at 06:44 AM

i like my kites like my women and martinis

PHREERIDER - 3-3-2016 at 06:57 AM

Quote: Originally posted by abkayak  
i like my kites like my women and martinis


soft and dirty!

bigE123 - 3-3-2016 at 06:58 AM

Quote: Originally posted by abkayak  
i like my kites like my women and martinis

Dirty? :D

That was one of my test kites, completely caked in mud, when I washed my 8.5m Blade that was a bath job and soft sponge. I have also washed my 12m single skin (Hammer) in the bath but with just some warm water and again a soft sponge, when your only option is inland flying and can't wait for fields to dry out it's inevitable they get muddy.
That said the machine washed one (done on a silk cycle) did come out very well. It needed line drying as the cycle doesn't spin it dry.

ssayre - 3-3-2016 at 07:47 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Blitzhound  
So... A while back I picked up a sweet set of PL Venoms. A 10m and a 16m. Anyway. I'd like to clean them and maybe reseal the fabric. My question is. Does anyone got any advice on how to do this or even if I should? They are beautiful red and gold kites. A matching pair. But they are a bit dirty.


I wouldn't mess with them if they fly well. Cleaning kites is a losing battle unless you only plan to fly a couple times a year as show piece

powerzone - 3-3-2016 at 08:07 AM

a high tech jacket or tent is similar to your kite in care. i've used goretex jacket cleaner diluted way down with warm water and a soft sponge to brush on over the kite. if the water gets dirty or loses its suds, exchange it for more fresh soapy mixture. do it in the lawn or a soft place where you can crawl on the kite if you have to. suds it up then do a thorough rinse outside and inside since some suds will get inside. then drip dry, then fly it dry. when you wash it you gotta put back a UV inhibitor and 'waterproofing' sealer because each time you wash it you are making the fabric more vulnerable. the Nikwax or other wash-in stuff is carnuba wax based so it needs heat to 'activate' and melt into the fibers, if you skip this step its useless and does not stick or stay with the fabric.

Now if the kite is floppy and porous recoat it with something to seal the pores like urethane 'tent sure' which i've used and works well. or if its still crispy use Refit or Kiwi HD and do 2 coats. a quick way to tell what is going on with your fabric is to invert the kite inside out. look at the backside of the fabric and see if the sizing/coating has begun to scale or discolor or flake off etc. you'll know it if you see it its a noticeable difference from the outside finish on the fabric.

the Refit or Kiwi is chemical based and lighter than the wax stuff when dry but only 'sticks' well once the kite is clean and has no salt on it. the Refit is $25 ish per bottle and the Kiwi HD is $7 for about half as much. i've used em both and they feel / smell identical so IMO the kiwi is the ticket.

if the kite is porous, the re-coating works but only for a time, sorry there really is no magic stuff that restores your kite back to its glory days. once the sizing is gone from the fabric , unfortunately the kite is nearly dead so you will have to come to terms with that. may i suggest turning the kite into a hammock or kite bag stuff sack or shopping bag or pillow etc.... this way it still 'lives on' in memory and nostalgia.

indigo_wolf - 3-3-2016 at 11:18 AM

Quote: Originally posted by powerzone  

if the kite is porous, the re-coating works but only for a time, sorry there really is no magic stuff that restores your kite back to its glory days. once the sizing is gone from the fabric , unfortunately the kite is nearly dead so you will have to come to terms with that. may i suggest turning the kite into a hammock or kite bag stuff sack or shopping bag or pillow etc.... this way it still 'lives on' in memory and nostalgia.


Would apologize, but alas it had to be done......



ATB,
Sam

gabor - 3-3-2016 at 11:51 AM

Thanks John, good info, I will try the Kiwi HD first on my S3 DLX.

Blitzhound - 3-3-2016 at 02:00 PM

Thanks for all the good advice guys. After reading your post powerzone. I decided to check out the inside of the fabric. It looks just like the outside. The material doesn't show any signs of distress or wear. I had managed to get some green scuzzy sea foam on my 10m the other day and it just looked terrible. I wasn't sure how to get it off. It's a beautiful day outside today and I have elected to try simply rinsing them off with some freshwater and a soft sponge. No cleaning products. It looks like it worked. But should I attempt to reseal them? Or should I just leave them alone? I'm leaning towards just leaving them be. (If it ain't broke don't fix it) right? They fly great in my opinion and they hold air fine. But then again these are the only Arc's I've ever Flown and so far only static. All I can say is if the static test flights are any indication as to how there going to preform in the buggy...Well...is it wrong for a grown man to be gitty?

Cheeks - 3-3-2016 at 05:10 PM

Did I just spend 11 minutes and 34 seconds of what precious time I have left on this earth watching Sam's post? Yes I did but nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo I should not have. Another part of my life wasted.:flaming:

jy1zoom - 6-3-2016 at 10:11 PM

303 Fabric Guard.

UnknownAX - 7-3-2016 at 08:45 AM

Silicone sealant dissolved in mineral turpentine. Apply plenty of it with a sponge and let the kite dry for a few days -And beware of the fumes if you think about doing this indoors. :D:D:D:D:D

This method has been (successfully, I guess?) used on Flysurfer speeds but I haven't personally tried it so do this at your own risk!! :P