Date: Wed, 6 Apr 1994 08:48:06 -1000 From: sasaki@das.harvard.edu (Marty Sasaki) Message-Id: Organization: Harvard University OIT/NSD Subject: Re: Advice on proper care In article , James Morrison writes: >I recently purchased my first upscale delta and I was wondering how should I >take care of my investment. Everything from string, to poles and sails. I am >particularly interested in preserving the bold colors in the nylon sails. Any >suggestions? The best way to keep the colors bright is to keep the kite out of the sun. UV radiation will cause the colors to fade and the strength of the fabric to deteriorate. Aside from this, there really aren't any secrets to keeping a kite i good shape... -- Marty Sasaki Harvard University Sasaki Kite Fabrications sasaki@noc.harvard.edu Network Services Division 26 Green Street 617-496-4320 10 Ware Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 Cambridge, MA 02138-4002 phone/fax: 617-522-8546 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 6 Apr 1994 04:37:22 -1000 From: James Morrison Message-Id: Organization: NCR Columbia Subject: Advice on proper care I recently purchased my first upscale delta and I was wondering how should I take care of my investment. Everything from string, to poles and sails. I am particularly interested in preserving the bold colors in the nylon sails. Any suggestions? NCR Corporation - An AT&T Company James Morrison James.Morrison@ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM (803) 939-2310 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 6 Apr 1994 10:14:37 -1000 From: sc5@prism.gatech.edu (Stephen P. Cseplo) Message-Id: <2nv57d$8fo@acme.gatech.edu> Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology Subject: Re: Advice on proper care In article James.Morrison@ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM writes: >I recently purchased my first upscale delta and I was wondering how should I >take care of my investment. Everything from string, to poles and sails. I am >particularly interested in preserving the bold colors in the nylon sails. Any >suggestions? Keep the kite and spars (I assume that is what you mean by poles) in the bag when not flying the kite, rinse it off with water when it get dirty (Spray 'n Wash is good for tough stains and a Shower Massage set on spray works good), keep the line fairlyu snugly wound on the winder. As far as preserving the colors, I hate to tell you this, but it is going to fade no matter what you do. The UV in sunlight causes most fabrics to lose their color over time and there isn't anything that can be done about that. Icarex is much better at preserving colors, however, most rip-stop nylons will lose their color after about 100 hours of exposure to sun light. Certain brand are better than others but.... BTW, it is a gradual process. Gentle breezes, Steve -- Steve Cseplo |A| The Mad Hata sc5@prism.gatech.edu |K| AKA Region 4 Director |A| "Hey, mon...Tako Kichi!" = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 6 Apr 1994 09:54:35 -1000 From: russh@lib.wfunet.wfu.edu (Russ Hundley) Message-Id: <2nv41r$39s@quad.wfunet.wfu.edu> Organization: Wake Forest University Subject: Re: Advice on proper care Marty Sasaki (sasaki@netop3.harvard.edu) wrote: : In article , James Morrison writes: : >I recently purchased my first upscale delta and I was wondering how should I : >take care of my investment. Everything from string, to poles and sails. I am : >particularly interested in preserving the bold colors in the nylon sails. Any : >suggestions? : The best way to keep the colors bright is to keep the kite out of the : sun. UV radiation will cause the colors to fade and the strength of : the fabric to deteriorate. : Aside from this, there really aren't any secrets to keeping a kite i : good shape... : -- : Marty Sasaki Harvard University Sasaki Kite Fabrications : sasaki@noc.harvard.edu Network Services Division 26 Green Street : 617-496-4320 10 Ware Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 : Cambridge, MA 02138-4002 phone/fax: 617-522-8546 I've found a pretty good way of preserving the colors in my nylon sails. I spray a light film of Armor-All on a lintless cloth, and apply it lightly onto both sides of the sail. I let the sail dry without spars overnight, thenuse a cloth to rub away any dried residue on the sails. I have a 6-year old Spin-Off that I treated this way, and it's still as bright as the day I bought it. You may want to try this on a small area of the kite first to determine if it's going to discolor the fabric. I tried using ScotchGuard, but it tends to really stain the fabric. Russ Hundley russh@lib.wfunet.wfu.edu = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Thu, 7 Apr 1994 02:31:34 -1000 From: dickbell@netcom.com (Dick Bell) Message-Id: Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest) Subject: Re: Advice on proper care : I recently purchased my first upscale delta and I was wondering how should I : take care of my investment. Everything from string, to poles and sails. I am James, I have found a product that has served me very well. It's a carpet cleaner called "Resolve". It has small amounts of scotch guard in it and I know it works great because it has taken the red clay from Oklahoma from a flowform that was flown there after a rain storm. The best advise that I think I can give you is....keep your kites out of the hot sun when not flying them. After you fly them inspect each part of the kite for wear and tear,dirt and other things that did not come with the kite like dirt,sand,salt or whatever. Do not wash your kites with the kite sparred up. Just lay the skin on the floor and spray it down with the resolve. Wipe it off with a soft cloth. Now inspect the threads and rip-stop. Fraying can be stopped several ways. One way is witha lighter/match (be very careful) another way is to go to a sewing center and buy some "fraystop" and apply it in generous amounts. As for the spars just make sure they are clean from dirt,sand and salt. You can just wipe them down with a damp cloth. Make sure that any dirt,sand or salt is also removed from the vynals. Let the parts dry out prior to putting them back into the bag. That should do it. -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dick Bell dickbell@netcom.com Dallas, Texas = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 6 Apr 1994 11:00:26 -1000 From: andrew@tug.com (Andrew Beattie) Message-Id: Organization: /usr/lib/news/organisation Subject: Re: Advice on proper care sasaki@netop3.harvard.edu (Marty Sasaki) writes: >James Morrison writes: >>I recently purchased my first upscale delta and I was wondering how should I >>take care of my investment. Everything from string, to poles and sails. >>particularly interested in preserving the bold colors in the nylon sails. >The best way to keep the colors bright is to keep the kite out of the >sun. UV radiation will cause the colors to fade and the strength of >the fabric to deteriorate. Other things that come to mind: Don't pour sand on the kite to hold it in place on the beach. Pack it away out of the sun when you've finished. Don't hang it on the wall for decoration (When assembled, the fabric is tight - if you store it like that, the fabric will stretch) Remove bungies for storage. I've heard that carbon spars deteriorate if exposed to hot temperatures in parked cars, but I've never had this problem myself. Wooden doweling dries out and gets brittle if stored in a warm, dry place. Fibreglass is almost indestructable. Final point: Don't develop the wrong attitude: Fly your kite till you wear it out, patch it up, then fly it more. Also, you arn't ready to enjoy flying fully until you are prepared to hand it to someone else, watch them loose it or destroy it and then laugh it off. Andrew -- andrew@tug.com Home phone: +44 256 464 912 Work fax: +44 793 614 297 Snail mail: PO Box 109, Basingstoke, RG22 4SW, UK You can FTP the kite FAQ's from ftp.hawaii.edu (directory /pub/rec/kites/faq) The FAQ's include lists of kite stores, kite books, kite plans. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =