What a difference a dye makes

You can buy these beautifully made 60" milsurp flare 'chutes from Aerocon for $12 each (I own three) and dye them with $5 worth of dye:

https://aeroconsystems.com/cart/all-parachutes/60-inch-white-parachute/

OR you can, as 207 people have thus far, buy exactly the same 'chute on eBay already dyed for only $99.99:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/220603871193

https://www.ebay.com/itm/221412148005

Just noticed this while searching for milsurp 'chutes appropriate for rocketry.

EDIT: Assuming just for argument that the $12 sale price at Aerocon is their cost and was the eBay seller's cost, too, they've potentially made $18,214 to dye 207 parachutes. Not bad.

What can I say, America runs on lazy people.

Very interesting find.
I have 2 of these 60" chutes from Aerocon and dyed them orange. Think of what you can buy from the money you saved by dyeing it yourself :wink:

ksm2001 said:

Very interesting find.
I have 2 of these 60" chutes from Aerocon and dyed them orange. Think of what you can buy from the money you saved by dyeing it yourself :wink:

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I just dyed a 38" flare chute with with a central line that makes it into a toroid. I used Rit maroon dye on one of the 60" chutes because I couldn't find cherry red at the time and it turned out nice and red, but with a definite maroon tint. On the 38" chute I just dyed I used Rit cherry red in the hope of getting a bright red. It turned out PURPLE! Yech! Perhaps this was due to a different 'chute material than the 60" with a strong preference for just one color component in the Rit. Unfortunately, I bought two bottles of the cherry red dye while I could find it.

Cool stuff. I saw this a number of years ago but never did it. I should probably do this for $12 plus dye. Aerocon is maybe 30 minutes from me.

buy 30 or more from Aerocon and they are $6 each. I think I paid $7ea for mine a while back in a 7-12 price bracket (Now $9ea).

Includes free white chute, so doubles the cost again to $12.

qquake2k said:

I used liquid Rit dye, but the color faded as it dried. I think the nylon doesn't like dye as much as cotton does.

https://www.rocketryforum.com/showt...quot-Binary-Effusion-quot&p=722146#post722146

https://www.rocketryforum.com/showt...quot-Binary-Effusion-quot&p=722300#post722300

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I think you're right. Mine look about the same, maybe a little darker, and I even followed this advice:

When dyeing bright or dark colors use double the amount of dye.

For the deepest color, use a water temperature of 140ºF/60ºC and keep heat constant while dyeing (the stove top method).

When dyeing nylon, silk and wool, add 1 cup white vinegar to the dye bath. If possible delay adding the vinegar until 5 minutes after the fabric has been in the dye bath. The delay will help to promote level dyeing.

Add 1 tablespoon laundry detergent to all dye baths to help promote level dyeing.

The longer the garment is immersed in the dye bath, the deeper the resulting color. Items can remain in the dye bath up to 1 hour as long as the water remains hot. You’ll also have to make sure the item receives constant agitation or stirring.

I agree you can't beat the price on these chutes. I actually dyed the one pictured here and wrote a review

https://aeroconsystems.com/cart/all-parachutes/36-inch-white-parachute/

I know at one time CDI sold 42" flare chutes and had a large inventory of them. but I think Kyle wanted a lot more for them compared to what Aerocon sells them for. At one point I worked a deal with Kyle on some 42" chutes. After shredding some lines on a few of them I went back to try to make the same deal and he never responded back. I just stopped doing business with him all together.

I had one of the 60" chutes at one time but didn't have anything big enough to fly it in. They are fantastic chutes but what would you suggest flying something that size in?

I have a Dynastar 58" chute that packs up pretty tight, but the shroud lines on the military surplus chute are pretty thick and well made.