Cleaning grease off a canopy

[gus 1]

If anyone has any experience or expertise in cleaning minging sticky industrial grease from F111 material can you get in contact please? Or post any advice here.

Thanks,

Gus
gus AT outpatientsonline DOT com

OutpatientsOnline.com

[masterrig 1]

Using clean, soft cloths. Using Naphtha (varsol, lighter fluid) on a clean soft cloth, lightly swipe the grease spot. With each swipe, use a clean part of the cloth. Daub off any excess cleaning solvent and let air dry (out of the sun... of course). Repeat, if necessary or until the spot is clean. Hope, this helps. Canopy owners manual should also have a method of cleaning grease from parachute material.


Chuck

[nitrochute 2]

if you can find it there is dry cleaning product called everblum.it is what george harris (the inventor of f111)recommended when i worked at para flite.

[masterrig 1]

That's good to know! I have not heard of that product. I've always gone by Dan Poynter's recommendation in his parachute manual.


Chuck

[gus 1]

Thanks Chuck, thanks Charles. Unfortunately there's considerably more than just a few small spots of grease but I'll try and find those things you've suggested and see what happens.

Gus

OutpatientsOnline.com

[masterrigger1 2]

Gus,
You need to use lighter fluid (naptha).
MEL




edited to include the chemical name.

Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC
www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

[Zoter 0]

What happened Gus...??
Is this on your BASE canopy?

[beezyshaw 0]

There is another "spot remover" type cleaner called M-1 and it is really good stuff; it is totally safe for nylon. I know of more than one canopy manufacturer that uses this to get sewing machine grime or other petroleum based stains out of canopies.

[nitrochute 2]

one thing to consider in addition to whether a particular cleaner will harm nylon is what it will do to the fluorocarbon finish,that is, the u.v. inhibitor.

[gus 1]

Some pictures for your amusement. These were taken after I'd done an initial clean.

Gus

OutpatientsOnline.com

[masterrig 1]

Dayum! What'd you run into? An oil derrick?


Chuck

[LouYoung 0]

Can't wait to read THAT entry in your log book!

[Zoter 0]

Shiiit Gus....literally
Those pics sure 'aint' amusing
Your poor canopy and lines.....
She looked sooo pretty in your Swiss Vid...

[nitrochute 2]

DANG! looks like someone wiped their ass with it.

[BrianM 1]

So how did the cleaning go? What did you do, and how well did it work?

Got a student canopy (and harness/container) covered in grease, hoping to learn from your experience.

"It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

[masterrigger1 2]

Quote

Got a student canopy (and harness/container) covered in grease, hoping to learn from your experience.

Try lighter fluid (naptha)!! It works really well.
apply it directly to the stain and then use a dry cloth to sponge the stain and excess liquid away from the canopy.


MEL

Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC
www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

[BrianM 1]

Quote

Try lighter fluid (naptha)!! It works really well.
apply it directly to the stain and then use a dry cloth to sponge the stain and excess liquid away from the canopy.
MEL

How well does this work for large areas? Does lighter fluid/naptha have any negative effect on F-111?

"It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

[masterrigger1 2]

Quote

How well does this work for large areas? Does lighter fluid/naptha have any negative effect on F-111

It is best to work smaller areas at one time, but you can do large areas.

Also, make sure that it does not bleed through to other non-stained arears.

Naptha is approved by the military for this purpose on parachute fabric; cordura, F111, webbing, and etc...

MEL

Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC
www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com