Jessica 0 #1 January 27, 2002 Can I do this? Will I hurt anything? As many of you know, I have a hell of a time with packing, and it would help immensely if I colored the different line groups so i could tell them apart more easily. But, I don't want to do anything CRAZY. With my luck, magic marker has a HORRIBLE DEGENERATIVE PROPERTY and will kill me the first time I jump my besmirched canopy.Pet me! I'm harmless and cute! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimbo 0 #2 January 28, 2002 Mark away. It shouldn't hurt anything. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheMarshMan1 0 #3 January 28, 2002 I could be wrong (its been known to happen )...but I would guess that the fabric markers you can buy for clothes wouldnt hurt anything... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kirils 1 #4 January 28, 2002 You should'a bought a Heatwave or Hornet. All the line groups are color coded. (grin) Skydiving is not a static excercise with discrete predictability... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kris 0 #5 January 28, 2002 Confirm with a rigger first (of course) but check into the non-toxic dry-erase markers. That's what I used to touch up the colored stitching on my old rig and what I used to dye the Spectra line on my power-tool flap-closer.I have even gotten that Spectra wet several times and it hasn't faded more than two shades and hasn't rubbed off onto anything else.Kris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cobaltdan 0 #6 January 28, 2002 we use the european equivalent of 'sharpie' markers on our lines to mark the cut and finger trap points.additionally for ease in packing different color tape is used on the line attachment points.sincerely,dan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #7 January 28, 2002 I use a black "Sharpie" marker when building line kits or replacing lines. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jfields 0 #8 January 28, 2002 Wow. This might help us folks that are not the best packers. It takes me awhile to sort the groups out. Color-coding the line groups would definitely help. I think I'll take the old Sharpies to the DZ with me this weekend and do a little bit of careful coloring. Speaking of coloring....My collapsible pilot chute didn't come with a window. I had my rigger put one in and mark the spot. But when packers actually pack my rig in the loft, the marked spot isn't visible. I'm not sure if the mark was made anticipating shrinkage, or with a slightly different packing method. Should I re-mark the line where it most frequently appears in the window? I'm not quite sure why it isn't lining up when the pc is cocked.Thoughts?Justin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #9 January 28, 2002 Jason,The Kill line can shrink/stretch over time, this will mean the coloured section may not be in the window, you can remark the kill line using a marker as described above, but I don't bother. Just be sure to cock it properly during the pack job.CyaD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jfields 0 #10 January 28, 2002 I understand about shrinking and stretching, but I didn't think that would be much of an issue right after having the window put in and the kill line marked.When I'm packing, I just manually make sure the pc is cocked. But if I give my rig to a packer, it gets more confusing. They see a window, but no indicator, even if they did cock it. I was just contemplating re-marking it for clarity, and looking for pros and cons.Thanks!Justin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
R00tj00se 0 #11 January 28, 2002 Imagine colour coding your reserve lines and then having a line over. It would be like defusing a bomb in an action movie...People on ground: Cut the red one, Johny.People under canopy: No, cut the blue one.Everyone: Doh, too late - should have cut the green one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Geoff 0 #12 January 28, 2002 QuoteWith my luck, magic marker has a HORRIBLE DEGENERATIVE PROPERTY I think it depends whether it's good magic or evil magic..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jessica 0 #13 January 29, 2002 QuoteEveryone: Doh, too late - should have cut the green one.ROTFL!Well, okay, I guess I'm gonna head out to Asel Art tomorrow and get a handful of Sharpies. Wish me luck. Pet me! I'm harmless and cute! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmarkworth 0 #14 January 29, 2002 Justin,Since you just had this done, check to see if the line has flipped over inside the window. It is possible that you rigger only marked one side and it is facing the wrong way.Just a thoughtBryan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jfields 0 #15 January 29, 2002 I'll check that. Thanks for the idea!Justin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thrillseek 0 #16 January 30, 2002 Justin,I had a similar issue with my kill line (nice name, eh?) It had faded and people in the plane doing pin-checks couldn't see whether or not it was cocked. I talked to a rigger and he said that there was no problem whatsoever with coloring the lines with magic markers. I have had mine like this for almost 2 months of very active jumping, and i'm still deploying like a champ! *knock on wood* Hope this helps,A.T. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
packman 0 #17 February 3, 2002 question # 1 : yes you can use a perm. marker to mark your lines, have a rigger watch you to make sure you mark them correctly. question # 2 : have your rigger use a perm. marker to mark your kill-line on your PC. only takes a minute to do and will take your worry away that you have wondering if it is cocked or not ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
