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High end materials...

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Starsky
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High end materials...

Postby Starsky » Fri Dec 03, 2010 3:31 am

So,

Whos using the best available and who is not?

Oh, and how can you tell?

zfennell
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Re: High end materials...

Postby zfennell » Fri Dec 03, 2010 3:17 pm

I'm not.
honest,

besides, good production practice will more than compensate for the high priced glitter that is applied inappropriately.
-bill

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Re: High end materials...

Postby JGTR » Fri Dec 03, 2010 4:24 pm

I've heard that Ozone use top quality material on their kites compared to others? Not sure if it's true though as I don't ride Ozone, also their white canopies apparently don't stain as easy as other manufacturers.

I do fly Naish though, have had 2007,8,and 9 Torches and not overly impressed with the material they use on their trailing edge as it always looks worn very quick. I am still using 2007 10 and 12 m kites so can't be that bad :thumb:

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Re: High end materials...

Postby El Rudo » Fri Dec 03, 2010 4:47 pm

High end materials - not needed for most parts, a smart design can usually do without it.
I would worry about manufacturing processes and quality assurance across the whole supply chain.
It ain't as sexy in brochures though.
I have once examined a depower cord that broke at first use. It appeared some hot coating was applied after assembly, deteriorating the Dyneema back to bucket-plastic.
Another concern are some inexperienced purchasers who lack basic engineering knowledge. Some of the stuff I see... scary!

OK flying lines are pretty high end.

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Re: High end materials...

Postby Bigdog » Fri Dec 03, 2010 6:32 pm

North claims to have a superior canopy material technoforce D2. Not sure if any others are using it yet.

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Re: High end materials...

Postby skyte » Sat Dec 04, 2010 10:36 pm

For canopy material - usually ripstop polyester - you have...
Teijin Tecnoforce T9600
Teijin D2 - North kites
Some Taiwanese ripstops (not sure of model names)
and more

For LE Fabric you have...
Dimensions Polyant Dacron usually 175g/sqm
Taiwanese Dacrons
Cuben Fibre - Best Kites
and more

i think there is a difference in the coatings of all these materials and how they deteriorate under UV and in the marine environment.

As the coatings deteriorate, the fabrics can stretch more and potentially rip more easily.

Cuben Fibre is made from Dyneema which is the strongest fibre known to man and also used to make kite lines.

Different fabrics can also have different stretch properties in different directions across the fabric which can make a difference to the way they transfer load through the structure of the kite and make a difference to the stiffness of the kite and hence how it turns.

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Re: High end materials...

Postby alexrider » Sun Dec 05, 2010 12:55 am

Bigdog wrote:North claims to have a superior canopy material technoforce D2. Not sure if any others are using it yet.
No point of having superior canopy material if valves fail all the time.
I know some North importer who claims that, for years, every single kite he sold had valve failures.
Hoping North have sorted the problem out by now.

I do also hope that Ozone has superior canopy material now. A couple of years ago, they would not last a season under the tropical sun.

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Re: High end materials...

Postby skyte » Sun Dec 05, 2010 1:42 am

there's a limit for any material in sunlight.

I think Ozone use Teijin T9600 which is as good as it gets in my opinion

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Re: High end materials...

Postby kitesurfbali » Sun Dec 05, 2010 6:01 am

NO kite last one season is you leave in the sun all day!
In some of the early Ozone kites, specially the Orange, the color was fading fast but the material was still strong!
Here some of the local still using yeah '07 kites.
Problem is people who arrive on the beach at 09:00 in the morning and wind or not wind they pump up their kite and leave them flapping under the scorching sun.
Then at 17:00 they pack up and go home! Many days they did not even got in the water..
If you do that the life of your kite will be very shorten.

Advantage of the Foil is that when lying on the beach they don't flap that much and they get the sun on the bottom of the kite that normally doesn't get exposed when the kite is flying.

Pump the kite only when you are sure you are going to kite! If you stop for a drink or 20-30 minutes to relax is ok but as soon as you have finish pack and put all away...

My kite after 1 year of use in the tropical sun are still crispy and no wear at all.

Bye Jankie

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Re: High end materials...

Postby kitesurfbali » Sun Dec 05, 2010 6:14 am

Here is a Link:
http://www.teijinfiber.com/english/prod ... force.html

Also here an article about materials in kite construction:
http://www.thekiteboarder.com/2009/11/b ... -possible/

Bye Jankie


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