Tips and Tricks to Repair Kites - add your experience!

[kiteaid]

Hi,

KITEAID offers repair products that would be good to carry in your kite bag when travelling.
Our bladder repair products is also available in large rolls if you contact us directly.

They are stronger than the competition and easier to manipulate when doing large repairs.

Check them out here: www.kiteaid.com

Contact us for any questions on our website.

Hope to hear from you!

Regards,

Stephan

[J_kiter16]

How much will a patch repair to the canopy affect the performance of a kite? Say it's a 3 inch tear...

[FLandOBX]

How much will a patch repair to the canopy affect the performance of a kite? Say it's a 3 inch tear...

Not at all, if the repair is done correctly. A 3-inch tear should be stitched. Use ripstop nylon sail tape on both sides of the kite. Make sure to line up the ripstop checkerboard pattern in the canopy precisely before applying the tape. Once the tape is applied to both sides of the canopy, use a sewing machine to stitch around the perimeter of the tape (triple zig zag stitch is best, and use UV resistant thread). If you decide to have a professional do the repair, a 3-inch canopy repair shouldn't cost much. It's a whole lot cheaper than a new kite, and the kite will perform just as before.

[kiteaid]

I would try using our Clear Sail Repair product for the job like that. Easy and will last the lifetime of the kite. On top of that, you will have extra repair material in the eventuality that it happens again.

Kiteforum users get a special discount
www.kiteaid.com

Let me know if you have questions!

Stephan

[NorthernKitesAus]

A question to KiteAid, AirTime, DrTube, etc and all valve re-sellers:

Why not create a valve where the glue is on the upside of the valve, not on the underside?

Yes, I am referring to gluing the valve INSIDE the bladder with the glue between the inside of the bladder and the valve.

The reason is two fold: One, the PSI pressure of a bladder is very high and air simply pulls apart the glue in an effort to escape using areas of where the glue has not bonded properly or where there could be wrinkles in the repair job. You have to remember, most kite surfers do not repair much themselves, they send it off to professional repairers or they may try themselves and stuff it up. The 2nd and more technical reason why I think this works better is that the pressure of the air looses "traction" trying to escape with the valve inside the bladder (that's my theory anyway), because the wider diameter of the valve acts in itself like a trap. I am not sure if you follow me.

I've been repairing bladders for over a year now and have tried practically every product, every PU / TPU glue out there and the BEST way I've managed to do my job once is by the above method.

Try it. But be warned: it's not easy and it can be messy. Always use a piece of PU material or tissue between the hole and the other side of the bladder to avoid the glue sticking both sides together.

[jorgep]

What would be the best way of repairing a canopy tear? given that I want to provide the best quality in the service, I have been doing some research and I find there are 4 ways of fixing a canopy tear that could work.

1. Using ripstop tape (Nylon or polyester?) and stitching the edges

2. Using fiberfix and glue

3. Using ripstop tape (Nylon or polyester?) and applying heat

4. Using tear-aid type A.

Which method guarantees better perfomance and longevity? which one do you guys recommend?

Any insight will be much appreciated

Jorge

[GregK]

Option 1 - it is essentially the same method by which the panels of fabric are joined when the kite is manufactured.

[jorgep]

Thank you

[edt]

what gregk said. sewing it is best. on a small job you can do a hand sew, big job like blowing out several canopy sections you want to invest in a sewing machine. always remember to sew zig zag fashion, not in a line. Sewing in a line creates a weakness.

[jorgep]

Got it, thanks