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this is not for parachutes, really, but could be used. is there any way to decrease the porosity of older fabric? I have a big traction kite that has seen better days, and it needs to be replaced or the topskin needs a re-vamp. i remember something about starch from my first skydives, a joke it might have been, but i remember it.

any thoughts?

Scotch Guard works. I've used it on older 7-cells. The effect doesn't last long but it works . . .

NickD

How is the silicon coating added to ZP fabric? I tried a google search but couldn't find anything.

Maybe copy that process?

how would I apply it? and how well does it work? could it be used for a BASE canopy?
I assume hang it up rigger style, and spray the bitch down. maybe do a internal coat through the nose openings near the leading edge as well?

It's possible to use food grade silicone, and just spray it onto the material (but this obviously doesn't improve the strength of the fabric that has been lost through UV degradation etc). Once it's dry it should have a much lower porosity.
Don't know how long this would last though.

Just spray paint the thing, make sure it is a cool color though

I will be willing to do that, actually. silicone spray paint might work. Ill try it on the kite first. and I will try scotch guard on the old dagger as soon as i get some.

There was somebody recoating canopies some years back, but the problem was that with the increased internal pressure from no air leaking through caused major failures at seams. Catastrophic failure on a base tarp could ruin your day. The fabric is weaker from normal wear and tear. Scotch guard might be ok but this guy was sealing to zero porosity and that was blowing stuff up, I saw some of these afterwards.

yeah, thus my hesitancy to do it with a real parachute. this was only for the kite. but I really only use my dagger for water jumps anymore anyway, and almost always slider up.

 
You could just try the topskin from nose to C group. Test jump in skyjump environment. Let us know how it goes.

I remember back in the mid 90's, there was a company/person that you could send your old F-111 canopy to who would give it a bath in some sort of scotch guard solution. I met someone who had it done to their old Fury 220 and he claimed it worked pretty well.

Anyone remember?