Repair Kit Options

[jaybett]

The area I've neglected is repair. Hey when you have the Kite Shoppe in your neck of the woods repairs are very easy.

I'm concerned about the times when I am by myself. I want the repairs to be as easy possible. No making a bridle or cutting a rod on the beach.

Kite spec sheets would probably be a good idea, ie. rod types, length and fittings. Maybe the manufactures will help with that one.

The only time I break rods is when I wrap a wing tip and pull. So I'm thinking of carrying premade lower leading edges.

I'll carry extra replacement parts such as stand offs, and APA fittings. I'll want to have CA glue and Tedlar in case something happens to the sail.

Anything else I should be thinking about?

[audioRob]

I bring a dremel that I use in my car via inverter. I am down on spare rods unfortunately

Some packing tape (scotch packing tape will last a good long time) for temporary repairs (NEVER DO TEDLAR ON THE FIELD, you will be very sorry).

Bring some cored dacron, a sharp knife, a pipe cutter, glue, spare linessets and a stake and sleeving.

Best solution is to not pull a line hard when you're wrapped (duh) lol

[jaybett]

A pipe cutter? Besides cutting pipe what is that used for on a kite?

[Bugly]

A pipe cutter? Besides cutting pipe what is that used for on a kite?

I would say that Rob makes weights on the fly so to speak.

[audioRob]

A good plumber's style pipe cutter with bearing on one side, blade on the other with tensioning (dont remember exactly what it's called) works extremely well for cutting carbon rods on the feild cleanly and without any side damage. There's time when walking to the car is out of the question.

And I have used it for weights too hehe

[Theresa]

A couple pieces of sandpaper...fine grit and medium grit

needle nose pliers.......to dig end caps out of standoff connectors

a tube of silicone lotion......for sliding stubborn APA connectors on a leading edge or spreader or.........

Tedlar is a must......yes Rob...we have had to use it on the field, quite a few times.

tape measure that has inches AND mm on it

[audioRob]

Tedlar on the beach? ACK. Done it a few times and it was terrible waste of tedlar that actually came off Even a good wiping down didnt help.. found that good packing tape adheres nicely to nylon/poly/icarex/air-x well and easy to remove without harming the sail (it does take some effort though but I've yet to have it hurt something).

And most importantly, it deals with particles way better than tedlar .. for me at least.

[jaybett]

One of the things that spoils us who live close to the Kite Shoppe is Theresa's ability to be able to fix almost anything.

A few months ago we were flying and a kite's velcro cover over the spine was torn off during a hard crash. Scott calmly put the kite back and in bag and said, "T can fix anything".

In my case I want to be able to do minor repairs until I can get the kite to Theresa. So I want a few prepared things, in case of emergency.

Thanks to everybody for the ideas and please keep sharing them.

[Guest_Guest_wen_*_*]

a LIGHTER is a must the jet-type ones work well for lots of stuff
NEEDLE-NOSE PLIERS (when you forget to glue the LE furl in and can't get the ****ing end-cap off)
BRIDLE LINE like rope for hiking, if you don't have it, you well probly need it
POCKET KNIFE lots of ways to use this ~_^
REPAIR TAPE some kind or other
CRAZY GLUE for pretty much everything

[yogegoy]

Forceps
Fabric measuring tape
Silver permanent marker
Anchovy bait tool (FID for hollow dacron)
Leather finger protector when handling fine spectra lines by hand
Silicone spray
Wire brush clean out bird poop if you fly in a public park like Baylands that have geese as local residents.
Toilet paper (you'll never know when and why).