Krylon Acrylic Crystal Clear Gloss $4.99 adds crispyness and waterbeading. 316ml will do about 3 m. Surprisingly little solids, mostly propellent and solvent. not too much weight added. Does not add much porosity. Surprisingly flexible. It must have some plastiszer in the product, as it has recomended uses on fabric and smells like cheap chinese rubber balloons. Im going to try Rustoleum clear Leak Seal which has a soft rubbery feel.

Quote: Originally posted by jy1zoom

Krylon Acrylic Crystal Clear Gloss $4.99 adds crispyness and waterbeading. 316ml will do about 3 m. Surprisingly little solids, mostly propellent and solvent. not too much weight added. Does not add much porosity. Surprisingly flexible. It must have some plastiszer in the product, as it has recomended uses on fabric and smells like cheap chinese rubber balloons. Im going to try Rustoleum clear Leak Seal which has a soft rubbery feel.

I have to ask you, what are you tryin to do? How many kites do you intend to ruin?
You are using stuff that does not belong on nylon, so what is it you hope to accomplish?

Quote: Originally posted by flyhighWNY

Do any retailer's JEFF? know if the kite formulation is the same as for "Sail and Spinnakers" I'm surrounded by Sail and yacht dealers and might have them assist me but I'd be willing to bet they're not sure. or will say yes even if its not true. Do you personally think there would be a HUGE difference in weight between 2 products. any info good or bad will save me $$ on bad choice. thx

ok, I have time to breath for the moment,
of all the stuff I have tried that is designed for nylon, I have found 3 products that work best to not only waterproof, extend the life, or freshen the color, but to protect the material from uv and uva rays. Or what ever the uv stuff that burns your eyes is used in sunglasses is also damaging to nylon.
one of the products is water based and is easy to use but not as long lasting as the petroleum based. One is petroleum based and is not used to prolong material life. The last one is kite refit, which is more industial to me than the other 2. Nasty smell, petroleum based, and rather pricey. Now that I have had the kites for some time and used a lot on both coasts, drylake beds, grass and parking lots, I have to say the one that out shined the others is kite refix.
Of course coating the kite with 24 carrot gold, or welding steal plates to each site would be cool as a show piece but really stupid.

Now that we got that out of the way, if you have access to a sailboat shop, ask them what they have for NYLON SAILS. Tell then you want to waterproof the material and block the uv rays. And see what they have. See how much it covers, how much it costs, how many time it needs to be applied to do its thing. Chances it is not a long term application. If it is, you may have found somthing tnat works.
Remember that a sail on a boat is not a kite, as much as a brick is not cooked on the BBQ for dindin.

Quote:

I have to ask you, what are you tryin to do? How many kites do you intend to ruin? You are using stuff that does not belong on nylon, so what is it you hope to accomplish?

I was wondering the same thing. I wouldn't attempt any of those products unless it was on a kite that was already ruined and you were just experimenting. I'll have to give the refit a go sometime.

Sorry I realize this thread is about Kite Refit reviews. I think it is the right product and formulation. I need to try it sometime.

I'm looking for a locally available cheap way to restoring old porous water absorbing kites. Bladerunner did show me his FS Pulse treated with Kite Refit. The fabric still seemed a bit limp, so my impression was that, even though the right stuff, I would need quite a bit more than two or three coats, and hence becoming a bit costly, particularly if I've lots of square metres of fabric to cover.

I have a worn secondhand Flysurfer kite with fabric that's lost porosity and waterproofness. As it doesn't hold air, the wing tips fold and the leading edge dimples. Furthermore it gets heavy from the fabric absorbing water, air humidity, dew and moisture on the ground.

After successfully washing out the thompsons waterseal with trisodiumphoshate, tide, dawn, and automotive parts degreaser, any remains of factory fabric urethane/silicone/PTFE resin are now gone.

I'd like to find a readily available cheap light durable factory-like non-porous water-resistant coating so that I can fly my old kites in damp light winds and be not be afraid to put them down in a muddy mucky goose-poo filled pond like at my local park.

With a special well kept well used kite like a beautiful 6m Mac Bego I think I'd only try Kite Refit.

have you tried La Fin Du Monde? ...great product

La Fin Du Monde is a great product, but I'm not sure that I'd waste it on a kite

This reminds me of a pair of bib coveralls I had years ago. I loved those things and I wore them for work and play untill they fell apart. My mother inlaw would patch them and patch the patches and patch the patches patches to the point that they were not the same old favorites that I once loved.
The point of this is to let you know that the material was once waterproof, and was covered with sizing that produced the fine kite you remember. Washing it with anything other than water will reduce the material to its basic form. Being out in the sun will also reduce it, along with salt water and other things. The material will naturally break down over time. Bladerunners kite is a good example of an old age kite. He could have used another coat of sealer to make it better.

Quote: Originally posted by jy1zoom

After successfully washing out the thompsons waterseal with trisodiumphoshate, tide, dawn, and automotive parts degreaser,

:eekdrull:
...Cringe ...
Is there actually any sail left that's worth trying to recoat? :wow:

Just applied 303 Sunbrella Fabric guard and Waterproofer to an old water absorbant flysurfer.
http://www.amazon.com/303-Products-30674-Fabric-Repellant/
Just used a big fence paint brush. 1 litre does about 10m kite.
Water beads up and runs off!
No sticky feeling.
Fabric feels no different.
Feels like no added weight.
Will reportt on durability.

Also on another kite, tried Nikiwax Tent and Solarproof.
http://www.amazon.com/Nikwax-Tent-Solar-Proof-17-Ounce/
Similar coverage. Waterbased. Smells like PVA glue and acetic acid. Leaves a "waxy" feel, water beads up and runs off.

Regarding the Trisodiumphospate and degreaser... amazingly the kite material is intact! and seams are just fine. It was successful in removing most all the factory coating, and a good portion of the printed logo. The left bare fabric is very porous, but feels sturdy which suggests to me a large part of the fabric porosity is the coating.