After the senior rigger has put together a personal tool kit,
the next step is to acquire a selection of sewing machines in order to do minor repairs of defects found during
inspection prior to packing. For example, if you find a
small hole in the canopy, a sewing machine will be necessary
to make the correct repair. For this, a lightweight single
needle machine is the perfect beginning. As your
sewing skills progress, additional specialized machines
can be added as space and finances allow. Always remember,
only those repairs allowed under your certificate may
be performed.
A bit of advice for those individuals who wish to buy their
own sewing machines: buy the best and newest machines
you can afford. Avoid old machines! They’re usually
worn out, and parts may be hard to get, causing them to
be counterproductive. Buy self-lubricating machines as
opposed to ones you need to oil manually. Always get
machines with a reverse mechanism. Get an adjustable
“K leg” stand and table. This allows you to set the height
of the table to best fit your physical needs. Large people
bending over a short table for any length of time will
understand the need for this feature. If the rigger is buying
a new machine, it is possible to order an oversize table
top in place of the standard 20" x 48" size. This allows
better control over harness and containers so they don’t
overlap the table.
When buying any machine, particularly from a sewing
machine dealer, get the operator’s manual and the parts
manual for the machine. The operator’s manual tells you
how to set up and operate the machine. The parts manual
is indispensable when the need to order parts arises. The
average person could never figure out the names of some of the parts, which makes it necessary to refer to the part
number. Without the parts manual, this is impossible. In
fact, some companies and individuals refuse to take delivery
of new machines if the manuals are not with them.
Experience has shown that the average rigger who wishes
to set up a loft needs three initial machines: a lightweight
single needle such as a Singer 31-15 or Mitsubishi DB-
130 [Figure 6-57]
for canopy repair and lightweight
maintenance; a double needle such as a Singer 212W140
or Mitsubishi LT2-220 [Figure 6-58]
with a binder or taping
attachment for binding material and light manufacture;
and a medium-duty double throw (308) zigzag
machine such as a Bernina Model 217 [Figure 6-59] for
suspension line repair and replacement.
For those individuals on a tight budget or with space constraints,
a good idea is to buy a double needle machine
first. By removing one needle and bobbin, the machine
will perform excellently as a single needle machine.
Replace the needle and bobbin, and the machine again is
a double needle. This gives the rigger two machines for
the price and space of one. A good zigzag machine will
also do multiple duty. Its primary purpose is for zigzag
sewing. However, adjusting the stitch regulator allows the
rigger to do an acceptable job sewing bar tacks. By changing
the stitch length and adjusting the width to the narrowest
setting, some machines will do good straight
stitching such as the Pfaff model 138.
For those riggers who advance to master rigger and
wish to really get into the profession, they will need
additional specialized machines such as a mediumduty,
single needle, compound feed machine like a
Consew 226R or a Juki LU-563. [Figure 6-60]
This
type of machine is used for doing container repairs
and light harness work. The next machine should be
a heavy-duty harness machine such as a Singer 7-33
or Consew 733R. [Figure 6-61]
These machines specialize
in sewing 5-cord nylon or heavier thread used
in the manufacture and repair of parachute harnesses.Lastly, a bar tack machine such as a Pfaff 3334
[Figure 6-62]
or Singer 69 class allows fast, strong,
professional repairs and is invaluable in line replacement
and manufacturing. This selection of machines
provides the rigger with the ability to undertake virtually
any repair or modification needed on today’s
parachutes. Remember, all sewing machine manufacturers
build models that fit within the various duty
types. Those models mentioned are only representative
for that category.
Figure 6-63 shows the comparative models of various
types of machines currently available.
