Material Repair and Grommet Replacement Procedure If, after removing the grommet, the fabric is damaged so that  the grommet cannot be set properly, use the zigzag machine  to stitch around the perimeter of the hole, reducing its size.  [Figure C] The name Velcro$^{®}$ is a trade name for what is known as  “pressure sensitive hook and loop fastener.” It is a commonly  used material for closure systems. Before the advent of  Velcro$^{®}$, snaps and zippers were the preferred method of  closing containers. Velcro $^{®}$ changed how the parachute  industry designed products. In the late 1970s and early  1980s, there was a tendency to overdo the use of Velcro $^{®}$ and  problems with durability and interaction with other materials  became known. Since then, the use of Velcro $^{®}$ has been  reduced to those applications where it is superior to other  methods and can be easily replaced. •  Description: Main riser cover Velcro$^{®}$ replacement •  Authorized repairmen: FAA Senior or Master  Parachute Rigger •  Materials: E thread—color to match; Velcro $^{®}$—color,  width, and type to match •  Machines: 301 straight stitch—medium duty 7–11 SPI •  Equipment: Scissors, seam ripper or scalpel, marking  pencil, and 6-inch ruler 1.  Take the basting tip and pass it through the hole,  searing the material.  [Figure D]  This solidifies the  frayed and raw edge of the damaged material. 1.  Identify the nature of the use of the Velcro $^{®}$. Before  you remove the piece, note how it is attached to the  container. Some designs are such that several layers of  construction have to be reversed to get to the location  where the Velcro$^{®}$ was sewn on. If this is the case,  the rigger may have to make a very expensive repair  to replace a small piece of Velcro$^{®}$. 1.  Cut the replacement Velcro ® to size. Velcro $^{®}$ is  normally scissor cut, not cut with a hot knife. •  Applicable products: Most parachute assemblies that  use Velcro ® •  There should be no sharp edges on inside of grommet. •  Grommet must be set tightly. •  Check the grommet orientation. 2.  Set the grommet in the repaired hole.  [Figure E] Disassembly Reassembly Inspection Container Velcro$^{®}$ Replacement 7-43