Sternhufvud wrote:Hello
Sorry for just breaking in here, but I'd really much apprecciate any help I can get with repairing a kite. To start off I'm a total newb, and only kited a few times. The kite that's damaged is a RRD vision mk2 which was bought in used, still almost mint, condition pretty cheap which is why I feel sending it in to a professional repair center would not be a worthwhile investment. Now I probably also learn a little bit more how to repair kites
As you probably can see on the image the leading edge got partially ripped up in the edge next to the stitches, about 60 cm. This happend after a random explosion of the LE. bladder while in the air.
So how should i go on with this? I bought some strong polyester thread, a needle for the sewing machine that fits the thread and some dacron tape. First off I guess I should start taking away the old stitches in the damaged area, then I thought to put dacron tape on the inside and outside along the damaged edge and lastly sewing them on with a sewing machine.
What is important to think about? Do you have any tips for me?
Cheers
Sternhufvud
If you are not sure, you probably just want to send it to the shop for repair.
You have a couple of ways of doing this.
Technique 1:
Remove the stitches, tape the ripped parts together with dacron on the inside and outside, and sew the kite together.
Pros: Quick and easy. Done in a couple of hours.
Cons: That area of the kite will be thicker and a bit heavier. You probably will need a strong sewing machine to go through the thick material. Remember, you will need to fold the cloth, so you will end up bunching up thick dacron. You probably will need a machine that can sew through three layers of denim to get this job this way.
Technique 2:
Remove the stitching and tape together the parts as best you can to recreate the shape of the leading edge material.
Cut the area of the damage in clean sections. Use the cut sections as template and trace it to your recently purchased dacron cloth. You may have to undo stitches to do an accurate trace. Don't forget to add sewing allowances. You want to be able to sew the new part back in. Make sure to match the shape of your original cloth.
Once you have the template, sew it back in the kite.
Pros: Clean professional looking repair. Added negligible weight and repair looks clean
Cons: You need to know what you are doing.
Here's an example, the tear is similar to your kite, I went ahead and changed three sections of my leading edge instead of patching the whole thing with dacron tape.
https://plus.google.com/photos/10262168 ... 2067913921