Securing LPR Chute Shroud Lines
 

Hi! From a thread in 2008:

"Looping a shroud line through the parachute plastic and through the reinforcing ring(s) and then tying a knot in it just *has* to be more secure than expecting the tape disc to hold the shroud line in place against the plastic without tying it to anything."

I expect it is. Is it necessary? I'm bad at knots and not a weekly flyer. Mr. Gassaway has "loops under tape discs" in his competition tips at the NAR site, but competition models are meant for a different lifecycle than my middlingly-built models.

I imagine the answer is "why ask us? Just try it and see how it goes for you." But I'd be interested in the Forum's feelings on rings vs. discs.

Thank you!

I tie a knot in at the end of the shroud line, then loop it under a tape disk. I find it easier to place it on the disc first then attach it to the plastic parachute. Then I use the end of my Exacto knife (the butt end, not the pointy end) to rub the disc into the plastic, being sure to run it along the looped shroud line. Never had an issue with it coming loose.

Thank you! A knot at the end is easier to live with .

+1 to exactly what barone does.
Same way over 40 years.

+2 to the above...my *only* failure occurs with a really old chute that has dried-out tape discs. I can't seem to find a decent disc nowadays...they just aren't as sticky as days of old.

So on old chutes, I give the lines a tug and if the disc comes off, I stick down a new one, but then keep an eye on it.

Mr Gassaway recommended discs cut from adhesive bandage strips. The notion appeals.

Avery hole reinforcement discs (for 3-hole punched documents) work great as well.
Much "stickier" and more permanent than Estes tape discs.

On my more "valuable" rockets BT-55 and above I just use professionally sewn Nylon chutes.

I do this for heavy-ish models that need to use plastic chutes, including egglofters, many scale, and Plastic Model conversions:

"To avoid the lines pulling loose from the parachute under stress, the shroud lines can be attached to run over the top of the chute as shown at right [below]. Cut-up band-aid pieces can make for very sticky yet flexible shroud line tabs."

Have to make new lines that are long enough to go over the top plus two shroud line lengths. As in, 3 very long lines for a 6-sided chute, 4 very long lines for an 8 sided chute, etc.

http://georgesrockets.com/GRP/CONTE...test/ChuteL.gif

For mylar chutes, I tie a knot, use mylar tape with the knot exposed just a bit, and a tiny bit of CA on the knot. No loop required.