Building my First Box Kite Mikes Inventions

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I show you one way to build a simple box kite. This one is intended to lift things for drop testing, so it's rather large. It's made from dowel rods, trash bags, string, and tape. Check out the test flight video.
• Box Kite 1: Flight Test 1

[@UDoIt2]

I built one of these back in 1981 based on a popular mechanics book I had. I flew it and I let 1,000ft of line out and it kept going and going higher and higher. It was sooo cool. Another Nice buikd.

[@oscarp4328]

Thanks for the tips man hopefully mine comes out study !

[@ruskiryan2398]

If you get a heat gun and gently warm the plastic trash bags it will shrink them some, and tighten the whole thing up.

[@Nytowl14]

Thanks for an interesting video. Some good tips too.

[@tnglobe25]

Did it fly? I suggest just use crossed diagonal strings for reinforcement. Also the gap between your rectangular is too wide, box type kites are among the best flyers, and does not need much of a balancing. I miss those boyhood years of mine. Cheers from the Philippines.

[@MikesInventions]

Yes! It flew extremely well.I think there's a clip of it near the end...? Or maybe it's in a Card Link...

[@HippieHodler]

can you imagine one with even bigger dimensions Mike? or even better smaller? But it has to be organic material..

[@andersonjesus5841]

Hi Mike, very nice you instrutions. It's Great . I make a box kite Here in Brazil, too. I love kite.

[@juliusvanadrianmosca8365]

You used too much sticks there. If you want it to be lighter, durable and easier for it to catch air you need to use a very minimal number of sticks and a designed frame structure for durability and lightness. 1.First you must better start on making 4 smaller square made of stick tightly tied with a nylon on each corner with few drops of super glue to make it stronger(this is where the skin will go) *to make sure the square is on proper proportion and and add on the durability of tge kite better tie a string again on corners making X inside of it. 2. Get 4 long sticks to be use as the spine of the kite and start to make the boxes for your kite and make sure you tightly tied the connected part and added few drop of superglues on it (you know what i mean and know you can figure it out) 3. Place now the skin and add more crossed strings inside the box for support (dont use sticks as support as it will only make your kite heavier and harder for the skin to catch air.

[@Mrlordhuman]

what are those sticks ? how to find them ? available in supermarkets ?

[@MikesInventions]

They're just regular 1/4" x 48" dowel rods from Home Depot. Supermarkets don't sell them, but WalMart does.

[@neilfroggycrompton2466]

+mike thomson great video but ur design is over engineered with too many extra dowels which means extra weight that isnt needed. traditional box kite designs have 4 upright long spars plus the cross shaped braces top & bottom. the easiest way to stiffen the frame is by glueing the joints with pva or similar type glue & lashing the joints with string/pva glue or another method is to drill holes & using either small nails or even matchsticks as dowel like joints along with some pva to make it solid. amother tip is to use a 1/2 joint notch where the braces meet in the centre of the "x" & glue/bind with string,but ensure that the ends of the X are evenly spaced b4 the glue dries as u cant adjust them after it sets :) pls note i"m not being negative/trolling you @ all,just thought i would pass on the results of my research into building box kites as iv'e wanted to build 1 since i was a kid but could never find any useful info until i searched the net & u tube too,best wishes & happy flying to you & your video viewers too :)

[@blaykeysproduction]

If you were to cut your skin and make pockets first...add your frame then stretch it open with your cross memebers you don't need so much bracing since it's waaaaay tighter....I've made box kites out of 4 1/4" dowels and only 2 3/16" dowels(obviously cut down to make 4..2 x's)

[@blaykeysproduction]

You also use plastic keepers for your cross memebers

[@jasonguto]

The cross-brace look smaller then the 1/4" main structure - what size did you use?

[@MikesInventions]

The smaller sizes are 3/16. 1/4 was probably too much to begin with.

[@jasonguto]

Hey thanks for the tip - I have these small bamboo sticks I was going to use, and they seem to be a little smaller the 1/4. Thanks again.

[@nanny7054]

I watch the whole video and i was expecting the end to be of u flying the kite..

[@user-yf4pz1yg2p]

Nan ny Fam Bam q

[@farveree]

Thanks. Would have been good to see it fly though !

[@MikesInventions]

+farveree You're welcome. There's a link to the flight video near the beginning and end. Check that out.

[@farveree]

+Mike Thompson Thanks Mike, didn't notice the link. It flies great, especially with the extra weight, didn't know you was going to try that. Looking forward to summer now to try it out !

[@indiramahadeo-nichols1629]

You are the best

[@marcioalves8634]

Hello Mike. How are you? Here in Brazil I never see this box kite, but now I can build one. Really thank you Mike, you helped me so much. All the best for you always. Continue with this great job in your channel. A big hug.

[@andersonjesus5841]

Marcio Alves Olá Marcio eu fiz algumas recentemente. Ficam lindas. Apesar de trabalhosas.

[@BarisBytes]

But.. didt it fly????

[@noodvn5037]

receptions ? width ?

[@sarahhoward9081]

Does it fly?

[@MikesInventions]

Sarah Howard, yes it flew quite well. I think there is a link to the first flight in the video. Thanks for watching!

[@indiramahadeo-nichols1629]

Can you send one for me

[@wezanour4847]

Is not really a kite it's bacically a airbaloon