[balloon-makers] Velcro standards etc

[Jonathan Wolfe]

So, as I'm plowing through the masses of interesting emails on the
subject of specifications and liability, I just got this in the inbox:
<span
 class="671510819-25102006">Thank you for
your recent order at buyhookandloop.com  You are among an ever growing
crowd of consumers that realize they do not have to pay 3X the price
for Velcro Brand product -- Congratulations!  Our generic "velcro"
meets or exceeds the specifications of industrial brand Velcro.
I don't mean to advertise for this company, but I just replaced the 12
velcro tabs in my [experimental] balloon Gloria before Fiesta (she just
turned 5, with 216 hours now - She's mostly Carrington, but also some
unapproved Westmark fabric - all holding up great!). And I LOVE being
able to do this kind of repair work myself, and making my own choices
about safety specs.  It's not for everybody, but assuming personal
responsibility is very empowering. It's one of the serious advantages
of being a homebuilder and going the experimental route. And I think it
cost me all of $7. And it's been working great.
But, if something goes wrong (catastrophic velcro failure in a
parachute top?!) I've got nobody to sue but myself :)

-Jonathan Wolfe, Ph.D.
http://www.FractalFoundation.org
http://www.SkyDyes.net

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