Do It Yourself - Build A Kite

Kite flying can be a really relaxing past time and though ready-made kites are low-priced

and easy to get, it can be very rewarding to make one from scratch with your own two hands. The process is really fast and easy so if you are up for it, here are a few things to get you started on a diamond-shaped kite.

Required Tools

Markers, paint or crayons

Knife/saw

Scissors

Required Materials

String

Scotch tape or glue

1 sheet of strong paper/plastic (102cm x 102cm)

2 sticks of bamboo or wooden doweling 90cm and 100cm

Strong cord

Instructions

The first step is to build the frame of your kite. Put the 100 cm stick on a even surface and lay the 90 cm stick across it. The 90 cm stick should be about 2/3 up the 100 cm stick and ought to be even on both sides (basically you ougt to have the shape of a cross). Keep in mind that you are making a diamond shape so the 90 cm stick should be above the middle of the 100 cm stick.

Once the sticks are lined up use the string to wrap around them and secure them into position. Use a knife/saw to cut small indentations into the 4 ends of the frame large enough for string to fit in without coming out. Now tie the end of the string to one of the sticks and run the string all the way around the frame. Run the string into a notch, wrap it right around the stick so it stays in position and move on. Do this on all the sticks, then tie the string and cut it with a knife or scissors.

Now take the paper/plastic and set it down and then place the frame on top of it. Use your scissors to cut the paper/plastic to fit the frame, leaving about 2 cm extra right around. If you intend to paint or color the kite, this is most likely the best opportunity to do so as it will be easier to create patterns while the paper/plastic is lying flat rather than waiting until it is wrapped around the frame.

After you are finished with your painting/coloring and the paper/plastic has dried, fold the extra paper/plastic over the strings and tape or glue them down so that they enclose the string frame, making sure that the paper/plastic is fully stretched and rigid.

Tie a section of string around the top and bottom of the 90 cm stick, however, leave a little of extra string loose in the center (for example because the stick is 90 cm long, make the string about 100 cm long). Tie another piece of string around the top of the 100 cm stick and around the bottom also as with the 90 cm stick however, leave additional string at the bottom for the tail (about 25 cm longer). Find where both strings cross each other in the middle. This is where you will tie the string that you will be holding onto while the kite is flying.

Lastly use ribbons to decorate the kite tail; apart from looking pretty the ribbons will add weight to the kite and keep it from spinning out of control when in the air. When this step is finished tie the cord you will be holding around the 2 strings mentioned earlier and your kite is ready to go.

Tips and Warnings

When running the string to create the kite's frame, make sure you do not pull the string so tautly that you warp the frame of the kite.

If the kite keeps dipping or spinning out of control the tail can be too light or too heavy therefore experiment with it until the kite flies steadily.

by: Brian Jones

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