how do you store and manage parachutes?

[bjphoenix]

My biggest problem from launch to launch is managing parachutes. Since almost the beginning of time I've used snap swivels on parachutes so they could move from rocket to rocket. Now I end up with an assortment of parachutes with broken lines, lines pulled loose, etc., and of course different diameters. I need a way to organize them in my range box so I can pull out the diameter than I want, and also keep separate the damaged ones from the good ones.

I have several real old parachutes in fairy good condition that I'm going to retire, but I have a lot of new ones that I need to build and start using so I want to be able to manage those well from the start.

 

[Dipstick]

A large plastic storage container that is quite thin. I fold them separately and the lid squishes them in place. Its easy to see them to grab.

This is all theory. In reality they all get stuffed in, catch eachother and make a mess

 

[tim cubbedge]

I mark most with a Sharpie what size they are and stuff them in a ziplock or baggy of some sort in my range box. Those that are too big just get put on my bench and folded.

 

[fyrwrxz]

Ziplocks. Really large chutes go with stuff sacks from sporting goods racks. Apollo size chutes just get stuffed back into the capsule as best I can. They kill a lot of grass if you just leave them lying around.....

 

[DaHabes]

Each chute has its size noted with a Sharpie on one of the panels at the bottom, including the chute size and spill hole size. If there is no spill hole that value is zero. I fold them as if I were packing them for flight and wrap a piece of masking tape around them. They then go into my range box. I generally don't repack them after launch until I get home. I have more than one of the most used sizes to jot have to mess wit any tangles at the field. Flying time is paramount.

 

[OzHybrid]

Ziplocks and sharpies. Also great for leads, a complete set of nuts and bolts for your specific rocket, bottles /tubes of epoxy(just in case the cap comes loose)

 

[David Schwantz]

All are repacked into rocket a field. Night or two before next launch all are removed as I set up recovery, repacked and everything is marked RTF.

 

[hball55]

Ziplocks and sharpies. Also great for leads, a complete set of nuts and bolts for your specific rocket, bottles /tubes of epoxy(just in case the cap comes loose)

+1 on the ziplocks and sharpies. I mark the ziplocks based on rocket weight and the ability of the chute to support that weight at 20 fps descent rate. < That’s for the large chutes. For the small chutes (10”,12”, 15” Estes type) I just store in the rocket they came with (afterall, they’re too difficult to remove).

The large chutes I get them out the night before a launch. If a certain size is used in multiple rockets, I carry a spare in case a rocket is lost.

 

[teepot]

I also mark the size on the chute with a sharpie. I put each chute in a baggie folded as it would be for flight. I also mark the size of the chute on the baggie. Some bags have multiple chutes of the same size. I have a large tool box to carry the chutes in.

 

[AfterBurners]

Honestly I don't have that many chutes, but zip lock bags work well. Mark the bag of size chute. I switch out chutes and harnesses between rockets.

 

[bjphoenix]

I'm primarily talking about light 12" and 18" Estes-type parachutes.

I cut strips of printer paper, rolled them into a tube and taped them, then I pull the chute into a spike, fold it over once and slide it into a tube. This keeps them separate and untangled. Per suggestions above my next step is to mark things better and maybe segregate different sizes within different ziplock bags.

It didn't take me long to figure out that if I started with 5 rockets it wouldn't be long before I had less than 5 usable parachutes so I put snap swivels on them and switch the usable ones from rocket to rocket.

 

[Ronz Rocketz]

I've given up on Estes plastic parachutes and have 10", 12", and 15" Top Flight chutes in the side of my range bag. I can then connect the chute before launch or the night before.

 

[bjphoenix]

I've given up on Estes plastic parachutes and have 10", 12", and 15" Top Flight chutes in the side of my range bag. I can then connect the chute before launch or the night before.

View attachment 475228

I understand and some of my larger LPR have picked up fabric parachutes. However I have a lot of the old plastic parachutes that I can still use. I've found the deficiencies of the Estes parachutes to be shroud lines not strong enough, attachment to the plastic not strong enough, and plastic susceptible to heat damage. I can't do so much about heat damage except to be diligent with wadding, but I have new nylon string to use for shroud lines and I am going to experiment with stronger attachments to the plastic material. So I will use the plastic parachutes for however long my supply lasts. I may get around to a separate thread on this eventually.

 

[Ronz Rocketz]

I understand and some of my larger LPR have picked up fabric parachutes. However I have a lot of the old plastic parachutes that I can still use. I've found the deficiencies of the Estes parachutes to be shroud lines not strong enough, attachment to the plastic not strong enough, and plastic susceptible to heat damage. I can't do so much about heat damage except to be diligent with wadding, but I have new nylon string to use for shroud lines and I am going to experiment with stronger attachments to the plastic material. So I will use the plastic parachutes for however long my supply lasts. I may get around to a separate thread on this eventually.

I also have a large ziplock of plastic chutes but I've given up all confidence in them so they sit in my parts box. I've also become addicted to Qualman baffles which rarely burn the chutes. I sprayed the nylon chutes with fire protective spray which seems effective. The spray doesn't soak in and leaves a residue on top when dry.

 

[David Schwantz]

rklapp, don't know what a Qualman baffle is. Can you describe? I also have a fire spray, but it does soak in and there is no residue left over. Got it at Jo Ann's.

 

[tim cubbedge]

don't know what a Qualman baffle is. Can you describe?

http://www.qualmanrocketry.com/Baffle BT plywood.html

 

[David Schwantz]

Thanks, did not know about Qualman Rockety.

 

[Ronz Rocketz]

Thanks, did not know about Qualman Rockety.

Their fin guides are also excellent.

The spray soaks into the nylon somewhat but mostly leaves surface crystals when dry that I wipe off before use.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003VASNKU?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

 

[David Schwantz]

Pretty sure that is the exact same stuff I have. Never noticed the crystals before. Guess I should put on my glasses once in a while.

 

[Ronz Rocketz]

I’m also using the thin mil nylon chutes from Top Flight.

 

[Sooner Boomer]

Zip lock bags - snack and sandwich size, used prescription pill bottles. Crystal Lite "cans". I can store several Estes plastic chutes, each in its own zip lock, then put all of one size in a Crystal Lite can. I have all sizes pill bottles. I can fit an Estes nylon chute in the largest. The key thing is to seperate by size/materiel, and LABEL what they are!

 

[Rmowens54]

My biggest problem from launch to launch is managing parachutes. Since almost the beginning of time I've used snap swivels on parachutes so they could move from rocket to rocket. Now I end up with an assortment of parachutes with broken lines, lines pulled loose, etc., and of course different diameters. I need a way to organize them in my range box so I can pull out the diameter than I want, and also keep separate the damaged ones from the good ones.

I have several real old parachutes in fairy good condition that I'm going to retire, but I have a lot of new ones that I need to build and start using so I want to be able to manage those well from the start.

Not the same thing as using a gear box but I hang mine, sorted by size on a set of small finish nails in the back of a closet. All are on snap swivels. Depending on anticipated wind conditions I pack the chutes at my house before departing for the launch site.

 

[Lord Rory Gin]

Usually stored IN the rocket. Spares are in ziploc bags.

 

[dr wogz]

I have a fan pointed vertically, and runs 24/7. I then clip my chutes to the fan grill / guard.

So, when not in use, the chutes are in a constant free fall & always fully fluffed & deployed.. Looks cool too!!



Zip lock baggies, & Tupperware containers for mine. The big cloth ones get hung up; allowed to freely hang.

 

[Ronz Rocketz]

I have a fan pointed vertically, and runs 24/7. I then clip my chutes to the fan grill / guard.

So, when not in use, the chutes are in a constant free fall & always fully fluffed & deployed.. Looks cool too!!



Zip lock baggies, & Tupperware containers for mine. The big cloth ones get hung up; allowed to freely hang.

 

[Donnager]

I have an issue packing parachutes in rockets and leaving them packed for months, because they get stiff and wrinkled and don't seem to open very well without significant fluffing up. As a consequence, I have lots of parachutes hanging loosely in my garage workshop. Pros--They open easily and aren't wrinkled, Cons--They are everywhere.

I may look into the bag thing. I've got to do something.

 

[Stewman]

I will add a couple of things to this. I also use zip loc bags for all of my LPR and MPR birds. I put a label on each package with the name of the rocket and the chute size. (using a sharpie is just as good). But I also have a file folder for each of my models and the baggie goes into that. I add some talc powder to the baggie (just make sure it is zipped well). On launch day, all the file folders are taken with us, so we have our flight records and parachutes together.

I try to use nylon chutes for as many models as I can. If the parachute gets badly damaged, lost, or otherwise needs replacing, I paper clip a note to the file folder that I need to make a parachute.

For HPR rockets, they are either stored inside the rocket or in a large bag that has the chute size on it. Keep them in a computer paper box.

 

[lakeroadster]

My circle of friends, there's this one guy, who insists on wearing my home made mylar chute...

 

[rocketman4h]

I also don't like creases in my parachutes. What I do is hang them from hooks on my peg wall. simple as that some chutes hang for a year or more. I would hate to see what theu look like after being folded in a bag for that time.

 

[Back_at_it]

I carry a few extra plastic chutes with me in the range box just in case I need them but for the most part I have made the investment in nylon chutes for anything larger than a BT50. I still use the old plastic chutes or a streamer for those rockets since they are so tight.

I'll use a marker and write the size directly on the chute so that it is easily identified. From there store them in gallon sized freezer bags. One for plastic and streamers nd the other for Nylon. Just smash them down flat and zip them up.