shah269 0 #1 June 27, 2012 Rubber bands? Guys I'm sorry but this is an odd one, maybe I'm a little OCD. But at the end of each day of skydiving I pull off my old rubber bands for new ones. I'm not jumping anything nutty or any kind of exotic lines. I just figure it's better to be safe than sorry. And I'm just asking, by going to new rubber bands am I causing any unusual wear and tear to my rig or my lines? I'm going to guess no but figured I would just ask, and the last day I jumped I totally forgot to ask the packers what they thought. Thanks!Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay. The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sundevil777 102 #2 June 27, 2012 Quote maybe I'm a little OCD Yes People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,588 #3 June 27, 2012 OK, as long as you put the old ones into a bowl for everyone else to use -- because they're perfectly good after a single day. Wendy P.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DaVinciflies 0 #4 June 27, 2012 With 70 jumps you could still be on your original rubber bands!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hellis 0 #5 June 27, 2012 Quote OK, as long as you put the old ones into a bowl for everyone else to use -- because they're perfectly good after a single day. Wendy P. No! Don't do that Mail them to me Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Abedy 0 #6 June 27, 2012 OCD as in "Organizing for Community Development" so yes, if you give the "old" bands away to skydiving buddies you sure will help develop the community And yea, sounds like obsessive-compulsive disorder. Have never seen anyone do this. If they don't tear apart when you pack, they are OK. If in doubt, pull 'em a little before you stow the lines with them; if they don't tear apart, they are OK. Shouldn't do any harm to your lines if you treat them with new rubber bands only, though. The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shah269 0 #7 June 27, 2012 QuoteOK, as long as you put the old ones into a bowl for everyone else to use -- because they're perfectly good after a single day. Wendy P. Well Wendy by the end of the week, two days of jumping (8 jumps++/), they kind of look like poop.Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay. The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Southern_Man 0 #8 June 27, 2012 Quote Well Wendy by the end of the week, two days of jumping (8 jumps++/), they kind of look like poop. If that is true than you are doing something wrong with your packing."What if there were no hypothetical questions?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #9 June 27, 2012 Maybe a better question is to ask for criteria for replacing those bands. They look a little rough? They have a hole in them? They have a tear partway through? They are a bit oxidized or dried out? They are loose/slippery on the lines (typ if you use small ones and single wrap - However, I recommend regular and double wrap on all - warning, I don't practice what I preach - my first three are normal/double, the rest little/single (purely due to laziness on my part)) (((as for OCD...., about once a month, if I took my field packed rig home to slowly pack it, I normally replace all my bands, "just because" - but those last bands on my rig rarely get replaced and they do seem to hold looser after a few weekends - so this is as good a time as any to get them all)))) ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #10 June 27, 2012 QuoteQuote Well Wendy by the end of the week, two days of jumping (8 jumps++/), they kind of look like poop. If that is true than you are doing something wrong with your packing. only if he's talking about all the bands. if he's just talking about the main locking stows (first one, or even the first 2 or 3) then it's normal to have to replace them pretty often - YMMV (or he could try smaller bites too, but I like 1.5 to 2" bites, so those locking stows do wear those bands pretty fast - again, YMMV) ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hellis 0 #11 June 27, 2012 QuoteQuoteQuote Well Wendy by the end of the week, two days of jumping (8 jumps++/), they kind of look like poop. If that is true than you are doing something wrong with your packing. only if he's talking about all the bands. if he's just talking about the main locking stows (first one, or even the first 2 or 3) then it's normal to have to replace them pretty often - YMMV (or he could try smaller bites too, but I like 1.5 to 2" bites, so those locking stows do wear those bands pretty fast - again, YMMV) Also new jumpers might use the pullupcord to set the first stow because it's tight ( or lack of skill ). That will wear the rubberbands fast. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shah269 0 #12 June 27, 2012 Quote Also new jumpers might use the pullupcord to set the first stow because it's tight ( or lack of skill ). That will wear the rubberbands fast. Yes sadly that's me. Still working on it! You know the center two will get frayed around the edges. The others look just fine. So would it be ok just to replace the center two? Not like these things cost all that much!Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay. The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Southern_Man 0 #13 June 27, 2012 Yes, just replace the worn ones. The locking stows will wear out faster than the line stows. They will not wear out as quickly if you don't abuse them (hint, bring the grommet to the rubber band, not the rubber band to the grommet)."What if there were no hypothetical questions?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #14 June 27, 2012 Quote Quote OK, as long as you put the old ones into a bowl for everyone else to use -- because they're perfectly good after a single day. Wendy P. Well Wendy by the end of the week, two days of jumping (8 jumps++/), they kind of look like poop. If they ain't broke don't fix 'em...put the $ toward a new condo in the city! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
likestojump 3 #15 June 27, 2012 QuoteQuoteOK, as long as you put the old ones into a bowl for everyone else to use -- because they're perfectly good after a single day. Wendy P. Well Wendy by the end of the week, two days of jumping (8 jumps++/), they kind of look like poop. Does that mean you have been to the dropzone for a total of 12 (+/-) times since you got your A license ???? As in 4 days every year ??? OCD is an understatement. Unless of course you are the type of dude who siphons the fuel out if his car every time it's parked for more than a few days. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
excaza 1 #16 June 28, 2012 QuoteUnless of course you are the type of dude who siphons the fuel out if his car every time it's parked for more than a few days. You have to, otherwise it evaporates. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PiLFy 3 #17 June 28, 2012 Quote Quote Also new jumpers might use the pullupcord to set the first stow because it's tight ( or lack of skill ). That will wear the rubberbands fast. Yes sadly that's me. Still working on it! You know the center two will get frayed around the edges. The others look just fine. So would it be ok just to replace the center two? Not like these things cost all that much! Wha??? How & why would you use a pullup cord for your locking stows, Shah? Don't tell me your fingers are too weak to pull the rubberband? You jumping big dacron lines? You're not double-wrapping the locking stows w/dacron lines? Are you? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hellis 0 #18 June 28, 2012 Quote Quote Also new jumpers might use the pullupcord to set the first stow because it's tight ( or lack of skill ). That will wear the rubberbands fast. Yes sadly that's me. Still working on it! You know the center two will get frayed around the edges. The others look just fine. So would it be ok just to replace the center two? Not like these things cost all that much! Ok, will give you a tip. Place the bag between your knees, and have the lines on top of one knee. Grab the grommet with one hand and the rubber band in one. Push out the air with your hands from above and your knees from the sides, and then just push the rubberband trough. Don't rush it, make sure the air is out before you try to set the rubber band. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shah269 0 #19 June 28, 2012 Place the bag between your knees, and have the lines on top of one knee. Yup yup that's what I did this past Sunday and it worked GREAT! The rubber band were much better looking at the end of the two days of skydiving.Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay. The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #20 June 28, 2012 Switch to tube stows - the crippling cost of replacing them every jump will soon break you of the habit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theonlyski 8 #21 June 28, 2012 Quote Switch to tube stows - the crippling cost of replacing them every jump will soon break you of the habit. Just get a stowless bag. "I may be a dirty pirate hooker...but I'm not about to go stand on the corner." iluvtofly DPH -7, TDS 578, Muff 5153, SCR 14890 I'm an asshole, and I approve this message Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
koppel 5 #22 June 29, 2012 Quote If they don't tear apart when you pack, they are OK. If in doubt, pull 'em a little before you stow the lines with them; if they don't tear apart, they are OK. Can't say I agree with this concept. As a full time rigger I see a lot of gear come through the loft and I have seen enough people using bands that have nicks in them that can and do break during the packing process or deployment process. consider if you will that the locking stows tend to get the most tension, that during lift off the mass of the lines extends the bands and if they are damaged they are more prone to breaking.... now you have a point in the deployment process where you can have bag-strip, the canopy has left the bag before line stretch. There can be disastrous outcomes. I always teach people to change their bands before they break. The last thing you want is an out of sequence deployment. For the cost of bands its really not much and as someone else suggested if you dont like to pay for bands then get a stowless bagI like my canopy... ...it lets me down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #23 June 29, 2012 Quote Quote Switch to tube stows - the crippling cost of replacing them every jump will soon break you of the habit. Just get a stowless bag. could you imagine THAT engineer with a StowlessYou are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shah269 0 #24 July 3, 2012 Thanks guys, i was being a bad boy when it came to the flap on my D bag. But now it's alllll gooood! thanks!Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay. The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
