Hargrave's Kite Tensioning System

Laurence Hargrave invented the box kite and was an experimenter whose work assisted in the development of the first flying airplane in Europe. On a photo of one of his kites it said he came up with an innovated way to tighten the kite's fabric to be 'drum tight'. This interested me so I investigated how it was done. This project attempts to demonstrate his method by creating a small model out of chopsticks.

Here's a website which shows how a replica kite can be made.

4 pairs of chopsticks

Cloth tape

Glue

string

1. Cut eight, 6cm lengths out of chopsticks.
2. Drill a hole in 4 of them in the middle.
3. Drill a hole in the other four, 25mm form each end.

Cut eight, 10cm lengths from the chopsticks.

Make a point on each end of these sticks by shaping in a pencil sharpener.

Glue a pointy stick in each of the hole of the 6cm sticks.

On a full chopstick, drill 4 holes at 45 degrees to each other, 25mm from each end. On another chopstick drill do the same but 30mm from each end. Glue 4 of the previously made combos into these holes. The aim is to make a couple of 'free standing 'A frame tents'. As shown in the photos. Next 'mate' one to the other as shown.

Add a loop of tape to each end. join the two center V's with some string, thread out through the top. Tighten, notice as it tightens it forces the opposite ends outwards and tightens the fabric. Hargraves's tightening system works!

This model tightens the fabric in a similar way to Hargrave's. The system could probably be used in the design of a small portable table.