What thickness of Rip-Stop Nylon???

[Mikus]

My seamstress wife wants to make me some parachutes (yay!).

What thickness of rip-stop nylon do y'all suggest? Coated or uncoated?

Anything else I (she) should know? Thanks!

 

[bobkrech]

My suggestion is to go as light as possible, but use strong seams.

Check out this article on Kite Sewing 101 for some good tips.

https://www.geocities.com/gengvall/sew/sew.html

Bob

 

[Mikus]

Thanks Bob!

 

[Handeman]

I've made quite a few of my own chutes.

I know that lightest is best, but I used the available rip-stop nylon that was in stock at my local fabric store. Unless you are sewing chutes that are 10 or more feet in diameter, the difference in weight and packing size won't really matter in sport rockets.

What I found the hardest item to find was good shroud lines. I ended up ordering a 3000 ft spool of 150 lb Dacron line for $15. I got it on clearance while searching for kite line. It's the same cord used in the low end window blinds, about 3/32" diameter and 150 lb test. It's worked great on chutes from 12" to 53" and I intend to use it on sizes to 96". Anything larger then that I'll go with the 300 lb parachute cord.

 

[RangerStl]

Did Kevlar cord not do the job? I was thinking about using twisted, bonded Kev in a thickness about that of kite string.

N

 

[bobkrech]

A problem with Kevlar(R) is that it is not stretchy and has little shock absorbing capability. It is also not very abrasion resistant and costs more.

Bob

 

[RangerStl]

I can see that. However, for LPR or small MPR I can't see the cushioning effect of the shroud lines being nearly as important as the elastic shock cord...

N

 

[Mikus]

I've made quite a few of my own chutes.

I know that lightest is best, but I used the available rip-stop nylon that was in stock at my local fabric store. Unless you are sewing chutes that are 10 or more feet in diameter, the difference in weight and packing size won't really matter in sport rockets.

What I found the hardest item to find was good shroud lines. I ended up ordering a 3000 ft spool of 150 lb Dacron line for $15. I got it on clearance while searching for kite line. It's the same cord used in the low end window blinds, about 3/32" diameter and 150 lb test. It's worked great on chutes from 12" to 53" and I intend to use it on sizes to 96". Anything larger then that I'll go with the 300 lb parachute cord.

Sweet, that would have been my next Q. It's not too thick to pack easily? I've had that problem with some of the smaller, "homemade" chutes I have bought in the past. :y:

 

[Adrian A]

In the string and rope department of my local Home Depot I found some braided (not twisted) dacron line that was perfect for my homemade 35" chute. I think it was described as mason's line. No twisting, no tangling, just enough width that I can hit it often enough with the sewing machine needle to get a good attachment to the canopy. Braided = good. Kite web stores are good sources of light coated ripstop.

 

[Handeman]

Mikus, that cord works very well and I've had no issues packing it. I usually use it on chutes 24" and larger. Once your rocket is large enough to need that size chute, packing is not usually an issue. As the chutes get larger, the packing of the shrouds become less and less of an issue.

Adrian, I started making chutes with the mason's line. Now that I've used the dacron, I'll never go back to the mason's line. This is the same line used on most 1" blinds to raise and lower them. It has an almost cloth type covering. Very strong and easy to sew.
I got mine on sale at the Kite Studio under Sale Items, here. Because this is used in blinds, the colors available on clearence are usually a little different, but they still work great. The price is up to $20 for 3000 ft.

 

[Mikus]

Thanks guys! I'll pass on the info.