nitrochute 2 #1 June 7, 2005 ok.reading about "what is a fid" , i have decided to throw out a trivia question here .does anyone know what a bodkin is?i'll let you know when we have a winner. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joellercoaster 6 #2 June 7, 2005 It's a little pointy thing, like an awl? But for heavy fabric?-- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 597 #3 June 7, 2005 Fid? ... as in finger-trapping fid? It is a small needle, sort of like a knitting needle, but with a threaded hole bottom dead center - to insert the suspension line. Fids are used when finger-trapping suspension lines. Both plastic and stainless steel fids are available from Para-Gear. Some people also refer to packing paddles as "fids" though I don't know why ... Bodkins are more like sewing machine needles (with the thread hole at the pointy end) with T-handles. Bodkins used to be fashionable for packing Pop-Top reserves (Racer, Reflex and Teardrop) but were superceeded by soft (Cypres-compatible) ghost loops a decade ago. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrig 1 #4 June 7, 2005 Some people also refer to packing paddles as "fids" though I don't know why ... ______________________________ If, I'm not mistaken, the term 'fid', is a Navy term. I've seen reference to fids in Navy manuals. Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #5 June 7, 2005 Quote Some people also refer to packing paddles as "fids" though I don't know why ... ______________________________ If, I'm not mistaken, the term 'fid', is a Navy term. I've seen reference to fids in Navy manuals. Chuck Yeah, I think the Navy using fids or marlinspikes to splice lines predated parachuting by just a smidgen....Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrig 1 #6 June 7, 2005 QuoteQuote Some people also refer to packing paddles as "fids" though I don't know why ... ______________________________ If, I'm not mistaken, the term 'fid', is a Navy term. I've seen reference to fids in Navy manuals. Chuck Yeah, I think the Navy using fids or marlinspikes to splice lines predated parachuting by just a smidgen.... ___________________________________ Oh yes in-deedy! They also came-up with fun things, like 'keel - hauling', too! Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ripcord4 0 #7 June 7, 2005 Bodkin has several definitions but two apply to parachutes: 1.) a pointed instrument for making holes in cloth - similar to an awl 2.) a thick, blunt needle for drawing ribbon, tape or line through a hem, etc. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nitrochute 2 #8 June 8, 2005 ok no one got it. a bodkin is device that looks alot like a slim jim (for opening car doors).it was used "back in the day" to fish pack opening bands back thru their channel on a container . im surprised with all the old timers guessing about fids and packing paddles that no one got it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 3 #9 June 8, 2005 Take your pick. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrigger1 2 #10 June 8, 2005 Fingertrap Insertion Device MELSkyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nitrochute 2 #11 June 8, 2005 ok,except we're talking about bodkins not fids Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrigger1 2 #12 June 8, 2005 Bodkin or "T" Bodkin? I think MoJo got .... did he not? MELSkyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
