Hi experts. Just bought the kite that I really enjoyed in demo.
Unfortunately, although a great kite (for me), colour is mostly white with some yellow trim (no real graphics to speak off - they only make one colour).
Yeah you all guessed which kite (great but ugly).
Missus says it looks like xxxx gold. Don't drink the light stuff, so what product can I use to colour change the dakron / ripstop or whatever it is they make kites from.
How do they colour kites (is it a dye or a paint).
What will happen if I dip my kite in black or maroon or dark blue dye.
Any suggestions appreciated.
Its not a fashion statement, but still the same, my mate has the same kite and I would hate to think his backrolls were mistaken for mine.
1. buy a decent brand kite.
or
2. you could paint it with mylar ink thats what they use to signwrite on spinnakers,I have done this once to cover over a sponsership name on a 18ft skiff spinnaker ,looks a bit patchy and will devalue the kite.
or
3. could try dying it , will again go patchy and again devalue kite.
or
4. live with it.( this would be my choice) .
Sit back and think about people that dont have the fortune of living in the western world, or cannot afford any sought of luxury items and build a bridge big enough to get over it.
Sleek1, already gave more than the value of a kite at the office. This is my only luxury, so I have a clear conscience, but thank you kindly for your advice
Not
If you don't know that's ok too
Been looking on the sailboats and ultra lights
Interestingly you can accidently stain your kite but paint and dye don't stick. How does that work?
Someone suggests henna (what ever that is - a herb I think)
Just thought someone may know a method.
I tried to bleach - then die a kite once...
The bleach didn't work, and nor did the fabric die...
I had the thing sitting in a tub of purple die for 24 hours, pulled it out, hosed it off expecting a vibrant purple - but no, just blue and white (Was an 06 Cabrinha Element)...
The GT colour scheme grows on you!
Thanks Rhys. Did not want to give it away, but yes, brilliant kite but **** colour range -Core.
Given the slagging here (minimal compared to some - lucky i don't take offence easily and understand ignorance is often inversly proportional to intelligence - thanks guys for the constructive comment and the humour), I sort advice from a chemical engineer at Dupont (who used to own the product dakron, also own mattygees favourite gay lycra, would not even surprise me if they supplied his breast implants). Contrary to the yatching site forums, apparently it is possible to do the required dying but its relative to temperature and PH levels. The example was given that fishnet stockings and the foxy backback (that mattyjee wears) are initially white, then dyied the required colour(s). Still investigating the costs. They chemcal engineer I spoke to also spoke of paint applications but these were seen as a less permanent alternative.
To die it you would need to boil the crap out of it. It would look terrible. Once you've ridden the kite and love it the Core colours will grow on you. Look better when making a looping motion!...as I currently sit here feeling like I have been in a car accident from last nights mid gust F-16 to splat!
