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I went out to do a BASE jump tonight, and I had to get a ride from a friend, because I hit a dear a couple days ago on my way home for thanksgiving. I left my helmet and my boots in my car, which is in my dad's shop, so to be on the safe side I decided to sl the local 240 A . I also left my break cord in my car, so I picked up some electric tape at a gas station on the way. I used three wraps. When I jumped I heard the pins pop and felt the canopy start to come off my back, but then I had the feeling of going into free fall. It was a weird feeling, when I expected to open right away, but it was a nice extra rush and a good memory for my 100th.

Lesson learned: Don't use electric tape for sl if your life depends on it, even if the guys on BJ say it works.

Another good lesson is dont depend on a teenage chick you just met to not drop your sorry ass off a 190 foot cliff.

Guess I have noone do blame but myself for that one!

Like you said though, nice extra adrenaline and good story for my letter to the Harrisons.

I would think your life depends on it no matter what you use?!

Agreed. I meant if it's too low to FF, and the sl system must work to get the canopy flying in time. I had a PC that I knew would get it open if the electric tape broke too soon.

js'kiddin

Just out of curiosity, why three wraps and not four?

i had good experience with electrical tape! also shopping bags (the normal plastic one you get at your grocery store) are working great!

Just because from what I remember from what I read on here a while back three seemed to be the most popular number.

I'm a bit of an electrical tape aficionado

if it's cheap gas station tape i'd feel better with 5 wraps. i only use 3 wraps if it's the thicker 3M heavy duty tape, In cold winter conditions i've used 5-6 wraps. but average conditions- 4 has always worked

I regularly use it sub 200' and haven't had the free fall assist yet, but of course now that I've written this.....

Well, as they say 'better late than never'!

It was the cheap gas station kind. I'll keep that in mind if I am ever without break cord again. Better yet, maybe I'll figure out a place on my rig to stash some break cord.

I was too scared to say that...

I did quite a few with tape (always 3M). This was until I saw a buddy go off the bridge with his bridle wrapped around his leg. He used a break cord set up he had designed and if it wasn't for that, he would have gone in.

I was standing ready to exit after him in an arkward position. Before leaving he asked me if all was ok. I kind of glanced quickly and said: "yeye, it's all good!"

I can still picture his face when he realized what was going on (as his whole body got turned around). Very funny in retrospect even though it was the face of someone realizing they were about to die. Opened and landed almost immediately in still water.

Congrats on your 100th!!

Between 1313 and me you should
always have break cord on you

Behind one mud flap I have a foot
or so of break cord and behind the
other a pull up cord.

So when you coming down again?

When you do please bring along the
video you shot of my 100th on CD

Electrical tape is a bad idea for several reasons:

1. There is no standard, so you do not know how strong it is and therefore what its breaking strength is.
2. The tape you buy in your local store could be several years old, been left in sunlight, exposed to temperature extremes or been produced by a cheap & nasty manufacturer. You cannot guarantee its condition.
3. When electrical tape gets cold, its loses a lot of its strength.
4. With repeated use, it will leave a residue behind on your bridle.
5. If you use to few wraps, you could find yourself in freefall v low. If you use too many you could damage your canopy.
6. When electrical tape gets a small nick, it can tear easily.
7. Some electrical tape reels are more elastic than others. That means the shock-loading breaking strength can vary widely.

Even when there is plenty of altitude, I would always recommend that you use 80lbs break tie.

That is one of the scariest things I've read on here in a fair bit.
pope

It was a 240' A with a wide open lz, a 5 mph tailwind, and I had a 48" pc attached. I did get the idea to use three wraps of electric tape from reading this forum, but I'm not retarded or suicidal. I realize that I could have strength tested the tape to get a better idea of how many wraps to use, but I knew that three wraps would break without damaging my gear and I wasn't that concerned about the possibility of it breaking a little too soon.

I hope this eases your fear. I wouldn't want you to loose any sleep over me.

I've used it a few times. Works fine. Break tape feels like im yanking my guts out when I hit linestretch. But then again I'm a pretty small light guy.

I always have an abundance of break cord... so when we gonna hit your high speed tower? :)

so when we gonna hit your high speed tower? :)

Not sure which one of my towers is speedy
but you are more than welcome to come
down for a visit any time.

I also know several BASE guys in Georgia
you could scoop up on the way to share the
ride and the gas money.

Do you happen to be wiz with elevators?

Rubbish - electrical tape is fine and has seen me and every other genuine Oz jumper through every static line we've ever done. I've used it down to 150ft and would do so again right now with no hesitation.

Here's what you do. Put three to four wraps around the object you are attaching to, then four wraps through the eye of the pilot chute. As with any static line or PCA, of course you'll have the appropriate sized pilot chute attached.

Easy!

I've always been bemused by these overly complex static line systems.

But yes, using tape does mean leaving some evidence of your jump on the object, which may not always be the best thing to do.