hole in canopy?...

[rmcvey 0]

ive just bought a used canopy and while inspecting it i found a small hole (about 2mm across) on the top skin right near the trailing edge on the centre cell.

its the only hole ive found.

does this need attention by a rigger??

[Hooknswoop 19]

If it is smaller than one of the boxes (1/8 X 1/8), I wouldn't worry about it. If it is larger than one of the boxes, I would get it patched.

Oh, ya: Do NOT use rip stop tape, the adhesive degrades the fabric over time, requiring the entire area that was tapped to be patched. I have seen several canopies tear because of rip stop tape. I recently tore a PC that had been repaired w/ rip stop tape, it tore like tissue paper.

Hook

[rmcvey 0]

thankyou.

[lummy 4]

same here... there's a small hole on the top skin. I asked a couple of people and the consensus was to leave it as is....

I typically check it once or twice a day when I jump just to make sure it isn't getting bigger.

I promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. I promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. eat sushi, get smoochieTTK#1

[rigging65 0]

What's been said here is correct, all I would add is some info about canopy material:

Ripstop material is designed to "stop rips" (imagine that) due to the pattern it's woven in. However, external treatment of material can change that.

F111 canopies tend to rip slowly, over time, restricted by the "ripstop" boxes in the material. What that means is that usually a small hole in F111 can be left for quite a while without it developing into something larger. It can also be patched simply with rip-stop tape. Doesn't even require any sewing, but it is usually sewn down to keep it from coming back up down the road.

ZP, on the other hand, tends to tear huge when it goes. This has to do with the way it's treated (how it's made "ZP" after it's woven). What this means, is that a small tear can quickly run the length of the cell when it loads up.

Another issue is the location of the hole. Leading edge of the center-cells see the most load on the canopy, followed by trailing edge of the out-board cells (on opening), followed usually by the leading edge of the out-board cells then the trailing edge of the center-cells. Obviously, less load means less tendency to enlarge a whole, but it doesn't eliminate the chance.

So, overall, anything smaller than 1/8 inch. is generally fine (we use the "pinky rule" sometimes...if you can get your pinky finger in the hole, the whole is too big), but if it's ZP I would get it patched as soon as it's practical.

"...and once you had tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward.
For there you have been, and there you long to return..."

[Iflyme 0]

Excellent thread ... I too have some small holes in my canopy. Your advice is valued! Thanks

[riddler 0]

OK - hope this is not off-topic, but is there one single thing that causes most of these smaller holes? Is it the forces of opening? Or maybe the wear of packing/opening/repacking? And are there any good tricks to try to prevent them?

[riggerrob 643]

Half of all holes are caused by dragging canopies through the weeds.
The other half of holes - especially those tiny holes near the center tail - are caused by slider and d-bag grommets slapping each other, pinching fabric in between them.
One of our senior jumpers theorises that he can eliminate damage caused by slider grommets by packing his tail above his slider grommets.
Oh, and he packs his main neater than most people pack their reserves.
The jury is still out on this theory.

[JJohnson 0]

Another things that can cause holes is packing debris into your canopy. Catch a small pebble in your cells and watch the nice hole it will punch in the material.

JJ

"Call me Darth Balls"

[skycat 0]

Another is cocking your pilotchute after you put it in the bag. If you get the kill-line wrapped around some fabric it can cause line burns and holes.

Fly it like you stole it!

[masher 1]

Quote

Oh, ya: Do NOT use rip stop tape, the adhesive degrades the fabric over time, requiring the entire area that was tapped to be patched. I have seen several canopies tear because of rip stop tape. I recently tore a PC that had been repaired w/ rip stop tape, it tore like tissue paper.

Hook

So what do you use?

--
Arching is overrated - Marlies

[Hooknswoop 19]

Quote

So what do you use?

F-111 for F-111 canopies and ZP material for ZP canopies (not really F-111)and patch it.

Hook