jasonRose 0 #1 June 20, 2005 Obivously I know very little about micro lines and the thicker Dacron lines, be gentle. In fact until I searched the forums I called them the fat and skinny lines. What is better?? What is the differnce in the differnt sized canopy lines. What is the service needed to keep lines in good shape?? Probable dumb question for you up jumpers but I always say if you dont know ask.Thanks! Some day I will have the best staff in the world!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #2 June 20, 2005 Micro line, or spectra, is stronger for any given diameter then Dacron line. Being smaller in diameter, Spectra will produce less overall drag than Dacron. Spectra has a much smaller pack volume. On the down side, Spectra has little or no elongation, stretch, which transfers the force of a hard opening to the jumper and the canopy. Dacron can have up to 20% elongation and can absorb some of the opening shock forces. Spectra has a rather low melting temperature and the heat produced by the slider moving down the lines heats them up to the point that they will shrink over time. Usually between 3 to 5 hundred jumps you will need to replace the line set. Hope this helps. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jasonRose 0 #3 June 20, 2005 QuoteMicro line, or spectra, is stronger for any given diameter then Dacron line. Being smaller in diameter, Spectra will produce less overall drag than Dacron. Spectra has a much smaller pack volume. On the down side, Spectra has little or no elongation, stretch, which transfers the force of a hard opening to the jumper and the canopy. Dacron can have up to 20% elongation and can absorb some of the opening shock forces. Spectra has a rather low melting temperature and the heat produced by the slider moving down the lines heats them up to the point that they will shrink over time. Usually between 3 to 5 hundred jumps you will need to replace the line set. Hope this helps. Sparky Sure does. What is the most common lines used?? Wouldn't hard opening be caused by the pack job? Some day I will have the best staff in the world!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #4 June 20, 2005 QuoteWhat is the most common lines used?? Wouldn't hard opening be caused by the pack job? For sport parachutes, now, its Spectra. Yes, hard opening can be caused by a poor pack job, bad pody position, or a lot of other factors. That being said, what would have a been a hard opening under spectra could end up being quite mild with Dacron.Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jasonRose 0 #5 June 20, 2005 QuoteQuoteWhat is the most common lines used?? Wouldn't hard opening be caused by the pack job? For sport parachutes, now, its Spectra. Yes, hard opening can be caused by a poor pack job, bad pody position, or a lot of other factors. That being said, what would have a been a hard opening under spectra could end up being quite mild with Dacron. Thanks for clearing that up. Spectra is less forgiving if you cause a hard opening but they do not cause the hard opening. Some day I will have the best staff in the world!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vt1977 0 #6 June 20, 2005 I decided to have my canopy relined with dacron when it was time for a re-line and the openings are definitely softer. I have noticed no loss of performance in the canopy and there was only a minimal increase in pack volume. I don't think I will ever go back to microline. Vicki Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #7 June 21, 2005 QuoteI decided to have my canopy relined with dacron when it was time for a re-line and the openings are definitely softer. I have noticed no loss of performance in the canopy and there was only a minimal increase in pack volume. I don't think I will ever go back to microline. Vicki While spectra will allow your canopy to go faster due to less drag, in most cases the jumper does not have access to the equipment that can measure the difference. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,590 #8 June 21, 2005 Dacron softens hard openings, and doesn't shrink like Spectra. It also gives plenty of warning when it needs to be replaced, by "fuzzing". However to be cool you must jump Spectra, Vectran, or HMA, even though they suck, else your peers won't respect you."There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiverton 0 #9 June 21, 2005 QuoteI decided to have my canopy relined with dacron when it was time for a re-line and the openings are definitely softer. I have noticed no loss of performance in the canopy and there was only a minimal increase in pack volume. I don't think I will ever go back to microline. Vicki If you do not notice the difference in performance before and after a reline you could have saved the reline. Why did you reline the canopy anyway? I felt a huge difference after a (microline) reline on my stiletto 107) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Using your droque to gain stability is a bad habit, Especially when you are jumping a sport rig Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrig 1 #10 June 21, 2005 QuoteDacron softens hard openings, and doesn't shrink like Spectra. It also gives plenty of warning when it needs to be replaced, by "fuzzing". However to be cool you must jump Spectra, Vectran, or HMA, even though they suck, else your peers won't respect you. __________________________________ That's what it's all about, huh!? Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vt1977 0 #11 June 21, 2005 QuoteIf you do not notice the difference in performance before and after a reline you could have saved the reline. Why did you reline the canopy anyway? I re-lined the canopy because the openings were started to become unpredictable and generally strange. Landings weren't great either. I measured the old line set (microline) and the brake lines were 6.5 inches too short - hence why I was having problems! Post re-line the openings are far better than they ever were before even on a new microline line set. Performance-wise (as in how fast the canopy turns etc.) has not suffered at all by choosing dacron. I'm glad I did. Vicki Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrewEckhardt 0 #12 June 21, 2005 QuoteDacron softens hard openings, and doesn't shrink like Spectra. It also gives plenty of warning when it needs to be replaced, by "fuzzing". However to be cool you must jump Spectra, Vectran, or HMA, even though they suck, else your peers won't respect you. I've only seen Dacron tension knots including one on low-mileage lines with a tail pocket, and would bet on physical differences being the cause (weight, stiffness, size, spectra slickness). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #13 June 22, 2005 QuoteQuoteDacron softens hard openings, and doesn't shrink like Spectra. It also gives plenty of warning when it needs to be replaced, by "fuzzing". However to be cool you must jump Spectra, Vectran, or HMA, even though they suck, else your peers won't respect you. I've only seen Dacron tension knots including one on low-mileage lines with a tail pocket, and would bet on physical differences being the cause (weight, stiffness, size, spectra slickness). >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> When we used to jump Dacron-lined Strong tandem canopies in the California desert, the older and dirtier and fuzzier the lines got, the more often we got tension knots. I suspect that a the greater bulk of Dacron lines slows slider descent by a fraction of a second and that is why people believe that Dacron produces softer openings. As for hoping that Dacron lines will save your neck from the hard openings that often result from sloppy packing .. you sir are an optimist! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
