compounds that, when used on canopy fabric, weaken the  material. This particular brand of pencil has been found to  have minimal effect on the fabric. Various colors, such as  white, yellow, and red, are useful. Fine point felt tip markers  are used for marking certain materials, such as Dacron$^{®}$ or  Spectra$^{®}$ line. Black, red, and blue are most common. Felt tip  pens, such as Sharpie$^{®}$ and Pilot$^{®}$ ultra- fine point permanent  type, are used by many riggers.  [Figure 6-10] Butane cigarette lighter—used for burning thread ends to seal  the thread and keep stitches from raveling. It is also used for  searing tapes, lines, and light webbing. One of these should  be at each sewing machine or work site so the rigger does  not have to leave the work to find one.  [Figure 6-8] Scissors—used for cutting all types of materials used in the  parachute industry. A high-quality scissor is lightweight,  ergonomic, and comes in right-hand and left-hand models.  Also, a short 5-inch barber shear is very sharp even when  “used” and works very well in cutting Cypres loop cord and  other line material commonly used in parachute rigging.  [Figure 6-11] 6-inch stainless steel rule—used for making fine measurements  during work. At a minimum, the scale should read to  1 ⁄ 16 inch  and have a dual (English/metric) readout. Certain models  have one rounded end. This model can be used for removing  cut stitches from work by rubbing the rounded end against  the thread thereby lifting it and making it easier to remove.  [Figure 6-9] Finger-trapping needle—used for inserting suspension  line into a “finger-trap” configuration. It is a heavy-duty  threaded needle commonly called a “fid,” not to be confused  with a “packing fid” or “paddle.” Plastic ones are available  commercially, but the best ones are custom made from  stainless steel or aluminum knitting needles. Cut to length,  they are then drilled and tapped with screw threads in the  flat end. The size 2, 6, and 8 needles are the most popular  for the current line sizes. A blunt end needle is also used to  finger trap Cypres loop cord.  [Figure 6-12] Fabric marking pencils and felt tip markers—used for  marking webbing, tapes, and fabric. The Dixon #134s was  used in the parachute industry for decades but is no longer  available. The Dixon China Marker is now used by many  riggers, as it contains no acid, and they come in 12 colors.  Other types have been found to contain abrasives and  6-4 Figure 6-9.  6-inch stainless steel rule. Figure 6-6.  Scalpel or Exacto$^{®}$ knife. Figure 6-7.  Thread snips. Figure 6-10.  Pencils and felt markers.  Figure 6-8.  Butane cigarette lighter.