hajnalka

Walt - You'll have to call DJ (number on website,) as the thread assortments aren't on the site. When I got mine a few years ago they had two assortments: fluorescent and regular. (No mixing.) All are colors used in rig and jumpsuit mf. Each had 12 1 oz spools of 'E' thread, and I believe they were $20 - $25 each assortment. They rock. Mine have paid for themselves many times over with countless repairs. Someone on these forums said that DJ is no longer offering these assortments - I hope that 's not true!! I second and third what others have said about their great customer service. Peace, Dawn

... But I think he was referring to when you said only Master riggers (NOT seniors) would have the tools, facilities, etc., blah blah. Also I would suggest that many hard-core experimenting swoopers have more skills, canopy knowledge and data than most riggers when it comes to tweaking their canopies ... and many are very friendly with their local riggers for the 'tools' part. Not saying right/wrong/legal/illegal. Our 'senior rigger' loft has 7 industrial machines that can do about anything .... and I'll admit, we've done about everything with them. We've had up to 3 master riggers on site who would sign off anything we did. (Legal or not?) Happily my partner just got his master rating, and I'm working on mine so soon this won't be an issue. I always watch these discussions with great interest; it seems that the rules will always be debated and I'd really like to know when/if we'll get straight answers. I'm not holding my breath Poynters may have mistakes, but it was the man himself who saved a rigger's ticket and set precedence by rerferencing a page in his book and testifying that it was accepted practice for a senior rigger to install an AAD into an AAD-ready rig. --- that this was NOT an alteration. And in that case the feds said basically "OK. Good to know." So it seems to me that now we have a precedent. Is it an alteration to install an AAD into an AAD-ready rig? Well, look at case ABC vs whomever - the Feds have ruled 'no' in the past. Puts me on pretty solid ground as a senior rigger. Instead of these debates, I'd love to know more about precedence/findings the feds have ruled on. I bet they're few and far between, however. Mel, Love ya and sympathize with all the scary line set installs you've seen from seniors .... but don't get me started on the canopies we've gotten back from master riggers with the wrong line set or wrong trim installed ..... and even with bar tacks completely missing . tdog, you're making many good points. Thanks for the thread. Peace, Dawn

Slight hijack here because something struck me wrong. Oh, please . PRO is an acronym for 'Proper RAM-air orientation." The only difference between Propacking a main and a reserve is the huge amount of care taken packing that reserve, and the fact that the nose is spread out to take air/inflate quickly, and the tail is neatly flaked and not pulled around the whole pack job. I grant you that the last few steps are done on the floor. But it is still a PRO pack. Whole different animal from a flat pack or a roll pack, where the canopy is laid out on its side and treated as a single unit. I can PRO pack on the floor. I can side (flat) pack standing up. These definition have to do with the orientation of the canopy when packing, and have nothing to do with whether you are packing standing up or on the floor. I PRO pack lots of reserves every week ... mostly on the floor . Best, D

Nothing new, just adding that as a rigger I love these risers and think they're some of the best and most durable out there. I've seen way too many hard housings working their way out of the cable housings over the past few years on other risers and have re-tacked more than I can remember. To me the all-in-one housing, amp fitting and grommet is an ingenious and elegant construction method. -D

Don't 'snippety snip' your old monkey fist off - whoever sews it onto your new PC will need the tapes to sew it to your new PC's apex tapes. I've done this tons of times. Your new PC won't have to be taken apart. It should have some holes/clearance area at the bottom where the bridle attaches (betw. the support tapes but before the mesh starts) where it's possible to get at and work on the apex/handle area from inside. Like the previous poster said, it's just a matter of picking some stitches to deattach, then bartacking your old monkey fist to your new apex tapes; easily and cheaply done at less than the cost of a new monkey fist (but don't quote me on that - rigging rates vary depending on area.) If anything, snippety-snip your new PVC handle and give it to the dog to play with or something . Best, D

Having an opinion either way on this when you can't possibly ever be faced with the actual decision is almost impossible. You just can't put yourself in the mother's shoes if you aren't one, especially when you say 'sitting out 9 months isn't a big deal in comparison to the potential hazard exposure'. Exactly what is the hazard exposure? Does it change based on skydiver experience? Gestational time? Mother's health? Fetal health? Prior pregnancies? I don't know the answers to any of these... if I get knocked up, I have a wicked lot of explaining to do, so never looked into it. But to make a global statement that every jumper mom needs to be on the ground for 9 months during gestation seems a little extreme... every person/pregnancy/skydiver/risk analasys is different. Excellent post

Exactly. there's no evidence. So even if the story was told without names, it's more like legend or folklore. Bolas: You rock. I knew there was a good reason I love you ...

We had a 90 lb, 5' girl at our DZ who got her rating 4 years ago. She only took students level 6 and above, or coached. Still, most of those student said they never saw her in freefall. She was awful in her debreifs, VERY critical, often reducing students to tears. While she was here I spent a lot of time drying tears and talking people into staying in the sport. She didn't last long - moved to CO and last I heard she isn't jumping anymore. Still: WHY do people like this get AFF ratings???? No offense to any AFF-rated people out there, but I wish the rating was seriously hard, like it used to be. (my partner got his rating in the 'hard' days, after failing the course once.) Best, D

This one was even better than that. Girl, it made history. DB - nice to have known that I've met you, retroactively or something

Terry: They still have the 1 oz 12-pack samples of E-thread - flourescent or regular. http://djassociates.thomasnet.com/item/thread-nylon-thread/thread/e69-4?&seo=110 Best, Dawn

Plus you can get those sample packs of E thread which I LOVE - 12 1 oz spools of asst. colors, either neon or regular. Great to have on hand for jumpsuit repairs, etc. They really are 'small quantity specialists' and have overnighted me various harware, webbing etc. when I've had to do airplane rigging in a hurry for a military SL contract or something. Their customer service has always been excellent for us. I highly recommend them.

I'm happy to report that we have Peter Matos and Ivett Breda back with us - YESSSS

Nick - Thanks for passing on this info. I got an e-mail from their designer yesterday; they couldn't transfer either of my logos onto a seal; but then my logos are pretty intricate. The plastic seals rock! They are definitely easier to use, and end up very tight & flat. I'm off to order my new press and dies. Thanks to everyone for posting and sharing your information. Best, Dawn

Derek & Terry: Thanks for the info and reviews. I ordered some of the plastic seals from them without problem (I used a CC instead of PayPal.) I'll let you know what I think once I get them. I plan to order a press and dies from them as well; I've e-mailed them about a blank (no symbol) CSS or Downwind logo for the opposite side - that would be WAY cool . Was doubtful - but if they can put your rigger # on there, who knows what they can do? To the new rigger OP: I do have an extra military press I'd sell, but for what I would charge for it you should probably go with the guys who are linked on this page, based on amazingly low price and Derek's report. Best, Dawn

If you have a collapsible kill-line PC, make sure the kill line is long enough that you're able to cock it fully. Don't go by the color in the window, but by the PC itself. I'd bet the above reference to Bill Booth's discussion covers this. If you're not sure how to determine kill line length on your own, ask a rigger. Kill lines shrink over time. If this is the case with your gear, getting it replaced should be quick and will cost $20 - $30 or so vs. the cost of a whole new PC.

I'm starting with OD (olive drab.) The Rit-type stuff gets it black .... almost. It takes forever and tons of rinsing, though. I'm thinking now that the finish on the Cordura will prevent any successful dye job. -D

I'm trying them - thanks! Best, Dawn

Sangiro - My thoughts and love are with you. Thank you for honoring him by changing the colours on the site. I'd like to post some words from the man himself. It's his last PM to me, and it changed my life. From Tonto: Respectfully, Dawn Larsen

Does anyone know of a source for strong fabric dye that can turn any Cordura black, relatively quickly and easily? Like Rit dye X 10, on steroids. (Don't worry: We're not doing anything illegal, and this does not involve any TSO'd equipment

What all of the above guys said

BOLAS! - I heard, '2nd weekend in October.' Do you have Pete Luter's contact info?? .... he could tell you for sure. Or just call the DZ. Wish I knew; sorry. (Maybe I should call the DZ? ) If anyone else (Matt Miller?) can chime in here about our Birdman extravaganza dates, that would be awesome. Best, Dawn p.s. Miss + love you, Bolas!

Sounded to me like he was just trying to narrow things down and be helpful .... in the careful, responsible way of an engineer. We spent some time with an owner of a major gear manufacturer and rigging school during nationals at Eloy, 5 or 6 years ago. We loved the Nylatron he was using in his rigs, and asked if we could have his source ... He said "NO." He wanted QUID PRO QUO: You want to know my stiffener supplier? Give me something I can use in return. Totally reasonable to me. Profit margins are slight, and competition is fierce. Lots of what the MFs know is due to years of blood, sweat and tears and testing into infinity. I'm continually amazed that they are as free with information as they are! I think the OP would do much better with a Google search. Nylatron is not too hard to find, and I'm sure he could find whatever other materials he might need as well. Best, Dawn

Awesome!!! It will be great to see you, Harry. Speaking of comebacks, Jack called me last night and said: So he's planning a full-altitude subterm hop 'n pop on a 200 ft2 canopy soon with 12 -14 friends who want be in the air with him. I'm definitely making the road trip for that. He's doing well - jogging, biking, working and rigging at Thomaston. -D

Almost forgot my reason for posting: Grounding. "Riggers cannot GROUND equipment." I thought we could, on certificated equipment - in fact I thought I'd seen ADs and SBs in the past that referred to obliterating TSO labels? I'll have to look this up. Best, Dawn

One of the privileges of my rigger ticket is to decline to pack a rig for any reason I choose. I exercise that privilege from time to time. Mark WOW - I agree with both of you, in spades. What an excellent thread for riggers everywhere. Thanks to everyone who's contributed solid fact, reference and knowledge. Sorry for skydivers who consider us grumpy or opinionated . We have to make a lot of judgement calls, and it isn't always easy. When I became a rigger several years ago, things seemed easier. You inspected the crap out of everything. Rounds with mesh anywhere near the acid era were pH and pull-tested. Anything questionable you thumb-tested, and if you still had doubt you pull-tested it. If still in doubt, you called the manufacturer. Now there are mfgs who forbid fabric strength pull-tests (they say it unduly stresses the fabric. I know it stresses the fabric, but unduly?) ... and others who ask that you pull-test their reserves once a year. More mfgs are putting limits on their gear, which makes the job easier; I'm finding this especially with rounds/pilot rigs. Orphaned gear we treat more skeptically since there's no one to call or service the stuff. At our loft we don't follow the 20 year rule. I used to have an experienced pilot/jumper, and I regularly repacked a rig of his that had a Mills Mf. round from 1966. Like the above new rigger, we'll gladly pack a 21-y/o Raven that's in good shape and been well-cared for. In fact I'd rather pack an old Raven than a -M or -MZ even with the service bulletin done, but that's just my opinion