How To Build A Kite

By Author: Rob Thomas
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How to Build a Kite

Kite flying can be a extremely relaxing past time and while ready-made kites are low-priced and easy to obtain, it can be extremely rewarding to make one from scratch with your own two hands. The process is very 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

1. Markers, paint or crayons
2. Knife/saw
3. Scissors

Required Materials

1. String
2. Scotch tape or glue
3. 1 sheet of strong paper/plastic (102cm x 102cm)
4. 2 sticks of bamboo or wooden doweling 90cm and 100cm
5. Strong cord

Instructions

The first phase is to make the frame of your kite. Lay the 100 cm stick on a even surface and put the 90 cm stick across it. The 90 cm stick ought to be about 2/3 up the 100 cm stick and ought to be equal on both sides (basically you must have the shape of a cross). Remember that you are making a diamond shape so the 90 cm stick should be higher than the middle of the 100 cm stick.
Once the sticks are lined up use the string to wrap around them and hold ...
... them into position. Use a knife/saw to cut small nicks 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. Put 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 sever it with a knife or scissors.
Now take the paper/plastic and put it down and then place the frame on top of it. Use your scissors to cut the paper/plastic to equal the frame, leaving about 2 cm extra right around. If you plan to paint or color the kite, this is most likely the best period to do so because it will be simpler to create patterns while the paper/plastic is lying flat rather than waiting until it is wrapped around the frame.
After you are done with your painting/coloring and the paper/plastic has dried, fold the extra paper/plastic over the strings and tape or glue them in place so that they enclose the string frame, making sure that the paper/plastic is completely stretched and taut.
Tie a piece of string around the top and bottom of the 90 cm stick, however, leave a little of extra string loose in the middle (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 too as with the 90 cm stick however, leave extra 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 which you will be holding onto while the kite is flying.
Lastly use ribbons to decorate the kite tail; aside from looking pretty the ribbons will add weight to the kite and stop it from spinning out of control while in the air. When this step is complete tie the cord you will be holding around the 2 strings mentioned earlier and your kite is ready to go.

Tips and Warnings

1. When running the string to create the kite’s frame, make sure you do not pull the string so tightly that you warp the frame of the kite.
2. If the kite keeps dipping or spinning out of control the tail can be too light or too heavy so experiment with it until the kite flies steadily.
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