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Member since 12/10/11
Posts: 8
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Posted on: 12/24/11 2:00 PM ET
Hi There,

can somebody give me some tips how to get best results with very light and slippery syntactic fabrics like light ripstop nylon?

- What should I set the presser foot pressure to?
- What should I set the Thread tension to?
- What can you recommend for a needle? (using Microtex sharp size 12 now)
- What can you recommend for thread? (using #33 nylon at the now as the project has to resist constant pull and sunlight)
- Any other tips? Stitch type and length?

Thanks
Martin


  
Member since 2/17/07
Posts: 2506
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Posted on: 12/24/11 11:39 PM ET
We use 1.4Oz ripstop nylon in the parachute shop. I can tell you a couple things we do, but remember, this is for a parachute, and may not apply to what you are doing, so take with a couple grains of salt, please.

7-11 stitch per inch, with size 69 (TEX70) thread. You most likely will not be using thread that heavy. We use heavier needles (18-20) due to the thread size. Can't help with presser foot pressure, but in general it should be enough to feed the fabric, but not so much as to leave marks from the feed dogs. Sunlight is hard on nylon; would you consider using polyester thread instead? It's not as sensitive to ultraviolet as nylon is.

That's about all I've got for you. Hope somebody else knows more about using this material for something not a parachute.

------
A sewing machine is just a welder for textiles.
  
Member since 12/10/11
Posts: 8
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Posted on: 12/25/11 10:58 PM ET
I'm sewing Kites, what is not that different than parashoots. I use a 0.5 ounce spinnaker cloth. My main problem is packing at this point and I absolutely can try a polyester thread. Any tips on a brand?

Cheers
Martin
  
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