bliston

I'm thinking about dropping $740 on this machine and am wondering if anyone has one or knows of any problems: It's a Sailrite LZ1, walking foot zig-zag and strait stick machine. There website is http://www.sailrite.com The site isn't that user friendly, but if you go to shop on line, and click on the model it'll give you a full descripition and has an online video. The big advantages I see is that it's portable, powerful, industrial strength, can handle light and heavy fabrics, is designed for #69 size thread, can be worked at slow speeds, will do 6mm long strait and 5mm wide zig-zag stiches, and is the only strait/zig-zag walking foot I've been able to fine. My uses for the machine would be senior rigger container and canopy work (including lines), and the regular array of mods, but mostly building weightbelts, bags, and jumpsuit repair. I'd appreciate thoughts or sugestions for other machines. I'm just rig on the side and don't want to invest in multiple machines, and really want to have something portable rather than a table machine. Thanks, Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

You might want to use the folks from Elsinore Gravity as resources. They are cool cats. They're approachable, and being in touch with the local scene, I'm should could help connect you with other jumpers around your experience who might be interested in putting something together. Don't be shy just cause they're good.... Happy teammate hunting. Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

Anyone know if Mike McGowan has a current website, or if not, the best way to get in touch with him? Thanks, Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

I've always been told, "if it's not in writting from the manufacturer, you don't really have permission to do it." It's gotta work both ways. What, is every rigger supposed to call every manufacturer and get the REAL regulations verbally? Current on-line info states that the canopy label updates are mandatory and if there is a descrepancy the rigger should update the canopy so that it reflects info on the card. Current language for the fabric testing is "should." If they want it to be mandatory, they "should" change the manual. Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

Good things happen to good people. Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

just got one from the same user too, definately a scam artist Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

Just to put our training choices into perspective - we did about 250 jumps together last season and 300 this season. (and about 10 hours of tunnel each year) Every member of our team found random mirror to be not that bad after just 1 hour of tunnel doing everything in mirror. Many of the blocks also seemed to be pretty easy mentally to "do the other way." 3, 4, 11, 12, and 20 took a bit of getting used to, though. I think each team should at least consider the mixed option, even though the numbers can be daunting if you consider each mirror to be a totally new formation. I personally am very away of where Brian, our point, and Jim, our tail, are all the time - so that helps me know which way to move when I'm saying the next number or letter in my head. Maybe why I don't mind mirrors so much. Because we all think differently there are no wrong opinions in this discussion. Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

We trained mirrors and slot switchers, focussing on creating a dive flow where at least two people could really drive the pace, sometimes this meant mirrors (which we trained hard in the tunnel, so they felt good this year), and sometimes it meant taking B-slots for the tail piece (on 19s, 10s, and 22's (centers doing the piece work are our A 22s). Having at least two people pushing the pace on every jump help us squeeze some extra points on most jumps that weren't "strait up." Taking the time to consider all the options can be a pain, but it helped stretch our options and we headed to nats with tons of choices and feeling ready for ANY draw. Ben Liston Mass Defiance Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

I agree with everyone that the skyhook is awsome - the statements above and testimonials on the RWS website speak for themselves. Don't get fooled by the current attitudes of many high time jumpers with "the smallest and coolest" rigs out there. Most of the guys on my four-way team wore skyhook equiped rigs this year and we'll probablly switch the rest of the rigs over this winter. Old stigmas die hard, but the Skyhook is changing the way jumpers of all experience levels view RSLs and I think even the "I'm too cool for RSLs" guys will be on board in due time. Time will tell... Ben Liston Mass Defiance 4-way FS Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

I think for most advanced class teams, 14, 2, and 3 are faster than 8, 10, 15, and 22. Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

When is it and where can I find more details about the comp? Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

Tying them together by threading the pull up cord through the large three rings is even easier (and likely keeps them even more even). Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

I had a 105 on demo. It opened so fast my video (which I sent to them) skipped a bunch of frames. I got me vertical and then tried to make my head go through my ass and say hello to my feet. This was when they first came out. Company said that my airspeed may have been to slow. Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

In order for a four-way team to progress, you need to spend money on: 1. Video 2. Coaching (or get experienced people on the DZ to help for free) 3. Tunnel Training You can either pay $900 (45 jumps) to figure some stuff out on your as a team, or pay $900 for one good weekend of video and coaching and make 10 times the progress. That's 150 each for a top coach, 600 for twenty jumps with video, and 100 for packers, and 50 to celebrate the good decision. The coach will show you all the exits, all the block techniques, and all the creeping and debriefing techniques. Ask anybody who has every done serious four-way and they'll tell you the same thing. Ben MD Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

Most important rule - Don't hurt the Inside Center. Steve GT Amen to that my brother. Worst of last year was a concussion on old block 12. And Brian (the bastard) was complaining about how the back of my head hurt his knee. Ben MD Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

Aggies are the only ones I know who actually sell plasma for jump money (I think Mark McHam was the first). You guys are abnormal - in the best way. ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

[I can't believe the brainlessness involved with selling an unserviceable main on ebay for $69, without making it permanently unserviceable....... ] It's not brainless at all. When I was getting my rigger's ticket, I bought two unairworthy stillettos from Square 1 (that they advertized as such) for $100 each. I put on line sets and patched the cross ribs holes that resulted from the failed pull test. This was a perfectly reasonable sale make to someone with morals. The buyer might feel bad about the situation, but is not to blame and should sleep easy. 100% of the fault lies in the dick that resold it. Seriously, to whoever sold it as "unairworthy," yes, cut the line or label the next main that comes along in that condition, but don't put ANY of the fault of this on yourself. You did nothing wrong. Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

We do it differently. As IC, I go to the rear of the door and take a right hand donut grip on our tail (who holds the bar with his left and reaches inside the plane to for our IC's right leg. As IC I line up like the head of a diving 10 exit, but just using one hand. On exit, our tail gets a positive launch and I "drop through the trap door." We end up with a bit of rotation, but that's the way we're going for the inner. Launching it this way also gives the point a bit of throw out the door, just like the IC gets launching a 17. Ben MD Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

I've dealt w/ Casters of Ok. and they're awsome. Just make sure you specify the exact wheel you want. We were happy with the performa 3" x 7/8" ones. I remember paying $7 something per wheel and caster after a big of friendly negotiations. We used 1/2 birch plywood for the decks. A little more pricey, but the smooth finish, strength and light weight were worth it. We just cut, waterproofed, drilled, and padded. Quick and easy. Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

I've found that with my ST120s that using standard rubberbands for the locking stows, but "istalling" them using the "tighter" tube stow instructions (basically pulling it through itself a second time) works well. It keeps good tension, is a bit easier for packers than using small bands, and avoids the need to double stow the locking stows (which some people advise against). Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

Different manufactures have recommended different things. Sunpath, for example, recommended that rigs be put into a mesh bag and washed in a machine with cold water. RWS says to do the bathtub and woolite. I'd disagree that washing is bad for a harness/container. In fact, I'd argue that getting dirt and sand particles out of cordura and webbing could actually help extend the life of a rig (think of what sand paper does). I'm pretty sure that nothing is done to impregnate material as rigs are made. Unless you are washing off post production scotchguard, I can't see how a rig would get dirty more easily after a wash. Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

I've got a 113 reserve and a stilletto 120 main, and yes, the longer container for the 319 makes room for the extra volume in the reserve tray, the main tray allows for a max recommended size of a 120. If you want to jump a 126 reserve, the 319 the best bet for you, and I don't even think that the main tray will be that big for your 105 (my 120 is pretty tight in there). Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

Here's a picture of my 306. RWS also makes a Micron 319 that has the same width and thickness as a 306 but is 18 inches long compared to the 306's 16 inch length. A sharp looking container. I have a PD113 in my 306 and it fits in there very snug. Trying to put a 126 in there is a bad idea because it will look ugly and compromise the safety of the system. RWS has clearly stated that cramming reserves bigger than what the container was designed for is not wise. Folks in the company are smart, I'd follow their advice. Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

Anybody know of a good source to buy spandura? I'm looking to buy about 5 yards in black (for jumpsuits and BOC replacements). Pls. include cost per yard/foot if you have the info handy. Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

I assume that you are talking about the cypres pocket that doesn't provide space to coil the excess. A much better solution is to make a long "s-fold" with the thick cable that runs to the control unit and insert it into the channel that runs from the base of the container toward the yolk. Then all you have is the thin cable that runs to the cutter to stow at the base of the container. I make a circle with the field replaceable link under the flap and the velcro closing in the middle of the circle. I got permission from RWS to do this on their containers. Be sure to get something in writing from Sunpath before doing anything other than what their manual states (this, of course, is a good rule of thumb to live by anytime you are considering doing something that is in any way different than what's presented in the manual). Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!