Help packing New Very Dry ZP

[agk23 0]

I bought new Sabre 2 last summer and made about 15 jumps. While packing was a bitch, I managed to pack it all by myself every time.

At the end of the season I packed and left at home for the winter. A couple of days ago I decided to repack it. It was a big mistake. ZP has completely dried out and now it is impossible to get it into the bag (it is pretty cold where I live, and with heating the air is very dry). I tried 5 times and every time it is the same story - it keeps exploding under my fingers the moment I try to get it to the bag . Squeezing out air from the fabric does not help as it immediately re-inflates after you let it go or move even a little bit.

Anyone has any suggestions?

"Gravity is a habit that is hard to shake off"
Terry Pratchett, "Small Gods"

[bodypilot1 0]

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Anyone has any suggestions?

Ice pick.........

www.WestCoastWingsuits.com
www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

[ltdiver 3]

**Warning...Not a rigger here**

Just a thought...why not pack in the bathroom, after taking a shower, naked, while you're still damp and the air moist?

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[phoenixlpr 0]

Try to get and use a humidifier. That would help.

[Squeak 17]

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Try to get and use a humidifier. That would help.

or try to not be a pussy and control the canopy whilst packing it

We live in a VERY dry place, and the new ZP is slippery as all hell.
The secredt is to NEVER EVER let the canopy suck air. Once you have gotten all the air out NEVER Let the canpy go, until the locking stow is on.
Always keep presure on it

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[980 0]

Is the container sized for the canopy?

If the container is the correct size for the canopy, you will be able to do it.

It might not be easy and will probably require you to keep the canopy under tight control all the time, but it will be possible.

Since I have not seen you pack, I cannot tell you how to make it easier for yourself.

I can tell you this, however: I see you listed Burnaby as your DZ, so just bring the rig to safety day and someone there will be able to help you.

Otherwise hit up the CSPA chatlist if you do not have contact info for other experienced skydivers in your area (packers are the best for this), because 5 minutes in person with someone that has learned how to do this is better than endless hours of reading posts online.

cya
sam

[phoenixlpr 0]

Quote

or try to not be a pussy and control the canopy whilst packing itSlySlySly

We live in a VERY dry place, and the new ZP is slippery as all hell.
The secredt is to NEVER EVER let the canopy suck air. Once you have gotten all the air out NEVER Let the canpy go, until the locking stow is on.
Always keep presure on it

First of all its not my problem. I still remember how hard my new canopy was to be packed years ago.

Is it packing in humid environment easier? So why not answering for that? Try to give him practical advices

[agk23 0]

Thanks for the practical advice. I will try the humidifier thing this weekend.

As I said, I am not total novice to packing canopies (I have probably packed over 1000 pack jobs in the past, most of them f111 though), and managed to pack new ZP from day one.
This time it is different. Somehow the fabric got very stiff and retained all the crinkles from being in the bag for so long. Even getting the air out is a problem. Folks who jump in winter in cold places would know how the fabric feels when you get it out of the bag in the cold - it very stiff and does not want to unfold, but once it is out, it is very difficult to get it back. Jumping such rig usually helps a lot with subsequent packing, as during the flight the crinkles stretch a bit and it gets some moisture.

If i can't manage on my own this weekend, I will probably wait until I go back to the DZ (I hate to give up though). Plus, hopefully, it will warm up and become a bit more humid around here. If nothing helps I will just do the bathroom packing option

I did ask our packers for advice when I got the rig and that helped a lot.

Thanks for your ideas

"Gravity is a habit that is hard to shake off"
Terry Pratchett, "Small Gods"

[wildfan75 1]

Our club rigger is in the process of getting all our student and tandem rigs in date (reserves). He has been using a humidifer to help off set the wonderfully cold, dry WI weather. He said that it has made a difference.

[ltdiver 3]

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If nothing helps I will just do the bathroom packing option

Get video!

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[agk23 0]

phoenixlpr, wildfan75,
Thanks for the practical advice. I got humidifier from a friend yesterday and today after humidity increased from 30 to 65 i got it packed . The difference is day and night.

ltdiver, I will do the video next time.
Cheers

"Gravity is a habit that is hard to shake off"
Terry Pratchett, "Small Gods"

[littlejohn 0]

roll it up and stuff that bitch in the bag lol try phsyco packing it

death before dishonor

[phoenixlpr 0]

You are welcome!

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I got humidifier from a friend yesterday and today after humidity increased from 30 to 65 i got it packed Wink

Last time Ive boosted from 40% to ~98% during the night. Ive jumped that packjob on the next day.

I would not pack a new canopy on PVC or wooden floor either. Having a small thin carpet under the canopy on bagging is a big help.

[Metekanya 0]

Try rolling instead of s folding. It works great for new canopies. The openings are the same. Just watch that the atachment point of the bridle is out.

[NickDG 23]

Get a water bottle and spray it!

Warning - I am a Rigger . . .

NickD

[BenediktDE 2]

I would not try the "humidifier thing" if I did not know I was jumping the rig directly after packing (or few hours later).
I would carry it to the DZ unpacked. Then either ask someone to instruct me. (Disclaimer: The next sentence is no advise!) Personally I would wait for weather to jump in, and pack it directly before this jump and wetten it with some sprays of water...

For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.

[mircan 0]

And, for the occasion when you do not have a chance to moist the air stick to the:

Quote

The secret is to NEVER EVER let the canopy suck air. Once you have gotten all the air out NEVER Let the canpy go, until the locking stow is on.
Always keep presure on it

Use your palms, forearms, elbows, knees, feet, chin, forhead... whatever works for you. It won`t be long before you have 'your' sequence of 'what goes where and when.' It helps if you have a rigger friend (like me). He can show you those little tricks right there and then, so you can get it right away.

my 2c

dudeist skydiver #42

[freeflychris 0]

Why did you even unpack it?

[JonnyGuru 0]

Try to think of it as "containment", rather than keeping pressure on it to keep the folds where you want them. You'll notice as you apply pressure to the folds, they just spill out the sides where you don't have ample containment. Man it up, but, there becomes a point that you put TO MUCH FORCE on the canopy and it falls apart, as you do your folds. Like one of the previous posters said: use your feet, elbows, knees.. and etc... Use them to help contain it.. Once I make a fold, I don't use anymore effort to hold it in place than it took to make the fold. Make your fold and place a body part over it or next to it, so it can't re-inflate. You don't need to press hard, just put something next to it so that it can't expand(IMO). There are lots of different folding methods used to place parachutes into deployment bags. Ask around your DZ. I'm sure someone there has a practical technique that will help you out.. There is also the "just suffer through it" method... The more you jump it, the more it will become packer friendly. The more you will learn how to get it in there... Good luck!!! Best wishes

Make the most of what ya got!

[mircan 0]

Yeah,
once you make any type of fold you can use almost no force to keep it in place. Just press it and hold it. The power is not in the strength, but in the technique. Try to fold first S fold and to press it with just two fingers, lightly. Then you can keep in it place for 20 minues with one finger. No big deal. The b*tch is not going to move anywhere. As long you just put your knees on the sides. No force needed. Just find your sequence.
I mean, if you ever become desperate, f*ck, I`ll video my packing, and send it to you. No problem. I`ll even speak in english if you want it (oxford dialect)
mircan

dudeist skydiver #42