Canopy Dyeing

[guest]

I have an old f-111 with the big lines. Does any one have experience in dyeing this type of material black. I have 5 white cells, 1 red, 1 blue.

Thanks

[imported_mknutson]

This is a bad idea!
First of all, you run the risk of messing the canopy up in many diiferent ways during your dying process. I can't explain all of them as I am not an expert like the manufacturers.
BUT.......

The canopy colors are NOT what get's you in trouble!
If they see your red/white/blue canopy, you messed up something long before you stepped off the edge.

I jump very bright canopies now because I like to see footage of my jumps for many different reasons. I also have a different colored center cell to aid in packing. But I do not concern myself about a bright (Yellow, Purple, Jade, Turquiose, ect.) Canopy.

I plan ahead of time. Then I plan some more. Then I review my plan. Then when time comes to jump, I even have a plan "B". If plan "A" and "B" wont work, I GO HOME!!!!!!

I have almost 350 BASE jumps alone. I have only been seen by BYSTANDARDS at BD, KL Tower, Yosemite, Norway and Switzerland. All of my others jumps are between me and my ground crew.

If you are new, and you choose to disregaurd this advice, and not train to have the skills to plan a BASE-jump, then you are skrewing up! This is very serious. Planning is 90% of the every jump. If you don't know how to plan, then there are hundreds of jumpers who are experienced in planning. You should tag along with several of them to learn the skills, and get several different personal perspectives.

[hr]
Thank You

Mick Knutson
[link:www.blincmagazine.com|BLiNC Magazine]

"Everything you ever wanted to know about BASE Jumping, but didn't know who to ask."
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[guest]

The biggest problem with dyeing a canopy is the unpredictable effect on the fabric.

Remember, you are jumping a life-saving device and that dye job you do on it may be a die job on yourself if the dye you used weakened the fabric (which is already weak from age and type anyway!).

I would not dye an airplane skydiving canopy, much less a one-and-only extreme skydiving canopy.

Mick's point is largely correct too. If you plan well, and remain discreet, it doesn't matter what color your canopy is.

For those unexpected situations, though, "tactical" colors have a lot of advantages. I had to hide from the gendarmie in an open field one night, and when I covered up with my all-black canopy, their powerful lights scooted right over me because I looked like a shadow in the field.

If I'd been jumping a camera-friendly canopy like Mick's, it would have been a bust because there aren't too many yellow and orange shadows out there!. :).

[imported_mknutson]

I agree with your situation, but that was not my point at all.
And I have jumped is very bad territory, and got a black and one camo stash bag for that.

But with all of the LEGAL BASE out there now, I believe focus should be put on skills and technique, NOT Evasion!

[hr]
Thank You

Mick Knutson
[link:www.blincmagazine.com|BLiNC Magazine]

"Everything you ever wanted to know about BASE Jumping, but didn't know who to ask."
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[guest]

I've always thought skill and technique are more important than evasion, but I thought we was mainly talkin' about tactical versus cinematic emphasis in canopy color selection.

love,

Robin

[imported_mknutson]

At a high level, that was what the issue was. But thinking deeper into this question, I was thinking of why this question was proposed.

It seems that this person is either not a BASE-jumper, or inxperienced at the issues I have suggested. So I was trying to actually put a more valid solution on the table.

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Thank You

Mick Knutson
[link:www.blincmagazine.com|BLiNC Magazine]

"Everything you ever wanted to know about BASE Jumping, but didn't know who to ask."
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[guest]

Good idea. Dyeing canopies certainly doesn't fall within the category of "valid solution."
:)

[guest]

Gheeess! Almost sorry I asked. Didn't mean to stir things up. It just that where I live all I have is "A"'s, And a bunch of them. My only thougt was why advertise. I am quite happy with the canopy as is and have a number of jumps under it. I certainly appreciate the info. and concern.

Stay Safe

[imported_mknutson]

I am very happy you did ask.
I am sorry this got so out of hand.
But I have several "A"'s with my bright canopies. But I also have jump them in the dark or very, very early in the morning at first possible light.

Please continue to ask questions, and understand...There are many people here and many different personalities. Without questions like this, there is no BLiNC Magazines.

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Thank You

Mick Knutson
[link:www.blincmagazine.com|BLiNC Magazine]

"Everything you ever wanted to know about BASE Jumping, but didn't know who to ask."
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[guest]

I'm glad you asked too. Mick and I were just having a little fun, and I agree with the "why advertise?" premise, but it's better to find an old 7 cell that's the right color instead of dyeing it.

enjoy.

RObin

[kleggo]

"but it's better to find an old 7 cell that's the right color.............."

are you crazy??????
or stupid????????
or have a death wish?????????

you must take advantage of modern base specific gear or just stay home.

<g>

stay safe

crsig fenstermaker

[guest]

" it's better to find an old 7 cell that's the right color.............."
than to dye another old one. yes, absolutely.
>
>are you crazy??????
yes, and I have pictures to prove it.

>or stupid????????
on occasion.

>or have a death wish?????????
not that I've noticed.
>
>you must take advantage of modern base
>specific gear or just stay home.

Not necessarily. Look, the guy's already using an old F-111 canopy on an antenna and I would not hesitate a minute to use an old (but serviceable) 7-cell on lots of BASE jumps. For the low stuff so many Americans do these days, on the other hand, I agree with you that something modern, probably a FOX VTEC with appropriate pilot chute, is a no-brainer choice.

But for most slider-up jumps, there's no reason NOT to use a serviceable old F-111 7-cell. And SERVICEABLE is the key, Craig, and not including that word originally may be one reason for your vigorous response: If it's so "old" that it opens weird, lands hard, or splits seams, well, then, I further agree with you that the person who jumps such a canopy is probably either crazy, stupid or looking to die.

But don't forget: "modern base-specific" canopies are basically slightly tweaked models of old 7-cell designs reinforced like newer reserves, and thus not a whole lot different than that old gear. Of course, if you remeber that, you may want to stay home, eh? :) :)

Love,

Robin

[Mike]

Dyeing a canopy is fundamentally problematic. It may be possible, but...

Low porosity ripstop nylon fabric (F111, Exactachute, whatever) goes through a process called calendering. This involves passing the woven material through two heated rollers, which press the individual yarns together. This achieves a low fabric porosity. This process is done AFTER the dyeing process. By the way, zero-P fabrics are treated with additional coatings, usually silicon based, to fill the remaining "holes."

With F111-type material, It is known that water submersion will undo the calendering of the fabric and "open up" the small gaps in the weave, increasing porosity and hindering canopy performance. Dyeing may have a similar effect.

In fact, dyeing may have numerous adverse effects on your canopy's performance and useful life. It's really not worth the trouble. I have a base canopy that is totally white. People I jump with say it is as hard to find in the night sky as a jet black canopy.

[guest]

Hey,
Ever try a highlighter marker? I colored a nylon jumpsuit with one, and it looks cool. I have wondered about dyeing canopies also, and I think it is a good idea.
I bet that with markered end cells, a water landing would produce smearing in a tye dyeing effect.
Peace out,
Tom