jyka wrote: ↑Thu Jul 14, 2022 10:23 am
I tried to seal speed3 with thinned silicon, didn't make much difference. Then I found out it were the seams what were leaking and made thicker mixture of silicon and put it to the seams. Maybe it kept the pressure a little bit better but it was still far from new.
I think it's impossible to fix the seams without adding lots of weight to the kite.
The thinned silicon doesn't work because you want to apply it directly to the seams DONT PAINT IT.
What you want is about a tablespoon of pure silicone, and careful using your fingers, apply a tiny bit right at the thread not on the front but only on the back and top. Will add less weight to the kite than this stupid mixture of goop we've all been taught to do and which doesn't actually work.
Anyway that's my theory. People have been suggesting ways to correct the problems of old kites not holding air and they never once tested where the air was leaking so I think this idea is probably an improvement on the paint the entire kite.
Remember it's NOT the entire seam that is leaking. It only leaks right at the needle puncture holes. Apply pure silicone ONLY to the needle holes. Not the entire seam. Don't do the wingtips or front only the back and top.
Right where the fabric joins it doesn't leak it actually leaks maybe 0.5 mm from where the fabric joins at the needle puncture holes.