## UNIT MAINTENANCE MC-4 RAM AIR FREE-FALL PERSONNEL PARACHUTE SYSTEM SEARING AND WAXING 

## THIS TASK COVERS: 

x Searing 

x 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) 

## SEARING 

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. 

Cotton tape, webbing, or cord will not be seared. 

## CAUTION 

## NOTE 

## Personnel Required 

92R (10) Parachute Rigger 

## Equipment Condition 

Unpacked. 

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. 

## WAXING 

Avoid forming a sharp edge or lumped effect on the melted end. Sharp edges may cut other components 

## CAUTION 

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 

