All Rocketry Blogs

Model Rocket Building: Installing Untangled Shroud Lines (2010-10-21)

You can tie on shroud lines without tangling. It just takes a little more time. Don't pull all three line loops through the screw eye (or in this case the snap swivel) at the same time. Pull them ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: TIPS for Tying Shroud Lines (2011-02-23)

Parachute tape disks can be tough. You've got to weave the line through the disk and then tie a square knot. Here's a few tips: 1. Don't touch the sticky side of the disk. The oils on your skin ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: TIP - Tying Untangled Shroud Lines Part 1 (2011-06-12)

This is one of the 8 sided parachutes from the Saturn V build. Notice the shroud lines aren't tangled. Tying the lines without tangles is fairly easy, it just takes a few more minutes. The trick is ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: TIP Tying Untangled Shroud Lines Part 2 (2011-06-13)

Without twists in the doubled line, feed it into the snap swivel eye. Take the loop over the top and pull tight, keeping the center mark in the middle. You might need tweezers to get the loop to the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: 100% Cotton Shroud Lines (2011-07-23)

Earlier, I'd found a good shroud line thread before HERE . This was a 76% polyester, 24% cotton blend. Recently, I found this at a JoAnne's Fabric in Orlando Florida. It's the closest thing to the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Another Shroud Line Idea (2011-08-15)

Here's another "too much attention to detail" aspect of how to tie on shroud lines. I use square knots to tie on shroud lines. I've yet to have one come loose. While making this parachute for the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: TIP - Shroud Lines - AGAIN! (2011-08-22)

Maybe this post should be called "Teaching an old dog new tricks". I've avoided the pre-assembled red parachutes that Estes had sent with their kits. These parachutes were substituted when traces of ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: TIP: Cutting Equal Length Shroud Lines (2012-02-08)

If you ever get a kit that tells you: "Cut the shroud lines into three equal lengths" Here's a way to cut them equally without getting out the yardstick. Loop the line over your hand as shown. The ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: New Estes Parachute Shroud Lines (2012-03-28)

I was checking the shroud line attachment knots on two of the new Estes 12" parachutes. On one parachute, two of the six loops were a little big. I was going to re-tie the knots so all six were more ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: No Tangle Shroud Lines Article (2014-07-02)

I wrote a new article for the Apogee Peak Of Flight Newsletter #368 on: PREVENTING TANGLED SHROUD LINES To read the article - CLICK HERE This is a simple way to tie and attach no-tangle shroud lines ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Weak Shroud Lines (2014-09-19)

While building an Estes Patriot I tested the shroud lines on the pre-made 12" parachute. This newer chute was made in China, dated 6/20/2013. I pulled on the line and it broke - very easily. I've ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Tyvek Shroud Line Reinforcement Strips (2014-10-03)

Robnee posted on TRF: Tyvek Jewelry Tags for Shroud Line Attachment "Has anyone used the little Tyvek Jewelry tags for attaching shroud lines to homemade plastic chutes before? I picked up a pack ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Lonnie's Shroud Line Hook (2015-06-13)

Did you ever have trouble getting shroud lines through the tight loop on a snap swivel? Lonnie Buchanon showed me a tool he made at the last R.O.C.K. launch. TIP: The end of a stiff wire is bent ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Thick Shroud Line Attachment -- TIP (2017-02-25)

I never attach parachute shroud lines directly to the nose cone. If the nose cone passes through any two lines your parachute lines are tangled. I'll add a longer shock cord and tie the cute on about ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: What Knot Is It? (2018-03-31)

In an earlier post I showed the knot tying diagrams from the New Way Firecat 4 kit. I was a Boy Scout and tied my share of knots but that was years ago. I do remember the simple ones.   ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AAAAAAGH! (2019-02-23)

Does this happen to anyone else? These are the parachute shroud lines from one of the Black Brant kits. For all the newbies, years ago you had to assemble kit parachutes. The shroud lines were ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Tangled Shroud Lines? (2019-08-13)

At the last club launch, one parachute got fouled up! Using the method suggested by Ed Mitton - I opened the snap swivel, removed the lines, untangled and replaced the loops side by side. DONE! ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Snap Swivel Attachment (2019-08-24)

On YORF, David Stribling posted some scanned instructions for the TLP Hawk kit. The Launch Pad instructions are clean and to the point - TLP Hawk Instructions 1: CLICK HERE TLP Hawk Instructions 2: ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Parachute Shroud Line Material? (2019-09-05)

From the Facebook Model Rocketry Fanatics page, a question: Any suggestions on what thread or string to use on DIY parachutes for low power? Then the answers come in -  "Use Kevlar ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: I Wish They Didn't Do That - Part 3, Tape Disks (2019-11-28)

Some smaller vendors supply parachute kits you assemble. If you can tear a tape disk before making of the parachute - the tape disk will tear under the stress of the ejection charge. If it tears, ... [Read More]