TM 10-1670-287-23&P
0016 00
UNIT MAINTENANCE
MC-4 RAM AIR FREE-FALL PERSONNEL PARACHUTE SYSTEM
SEARING AND WAXING
0016 00-1/(2 Blank)
THIS TASK COVERS:
Searing
Waxing
INITIAL SETUP:
Tools
Knife, Hot, Metal (Item 24, WP 0063 00)
Pot, Melting Electric (Item 34, WP 0063 00)
Materials/Parts
Beeswax (Item 5, WP 0076 00)
Wax, Paraffin (Item 46, WP 0076 00)
Personnel Required
92R (10) Parachute Rigger
Equipment Condition
Unpacked.
CAUTION
Cotton tape, webbing, or cord will not be seared.
NOTE
Fabric materials such as cord, tape, and webbing that is cut for use
in the maintenance of the MC-4 parachute will normally be heat-
seared or dipped in a melted wax mixture, as applicable, to prevent
the material from fraying or unraveling. However, in some instances
the preparation of the material may not be necessary and will be
specified accordingly.
SEARING
The cut ends of nylon tape, webbing, and cord lengths may be prepared by heat-searing, which is
performed by pressing the raw end of the material against a hot metal surface (knife) until the nylon has
melted sufficiently.
CAUTION
Avoid forming a sharp edge or lumped effect on the melted end.
Sharp edges may cut other components
WAXING
Fraying or unraveling of cotton or nylon tape, webbing, and cord length ends may be prevented by
dipping ½-inch of the raw end of the material into a thoroughly melted mixture of half beeswax and half
paraffin in an electric melting pot. The wax temperature should be substantial enough to ensure the wax
completely penetrates the material rather than just coating the exterior fabric.
END OF WORK PACKAGE
