ChutingStar Rigger Pullup Closing Hook.
The Rigger Pullup Closing Hook is the “signature” closing device used at ChutingStar.
This latest version made of 6061 aluminum that is sandblasted and then powder coated with a smooth satin black finish.
The Hook is the ultimate hand tool for closing reserve container flaps. The pullup cord is locked through the bottom of the hook as you move the temp pin from one flap to the next. It also works well on closing tight main containers and stretching out new reserve closing loops.
ChutingStar Owner, Master Rigger and Atlanta DPRE Mike Gruwell has demonstrated the use of the Rigger Pullup Hook at all the seminars he has given at the Parachute Industry Association Symposiums. Use of a pullup tool, such as this Hook, instead of a leverage device, has shown to eliminate or minimize the possibility of damage to container grommets, the reserve closing loop, the temp pin and the reserve pin during closing.
Read the blog and see the video on how the Hook is used at this link our Learn More Blog.
ChutingStar’s Rigger Pullup Hook was originally designed and manufactured by Georgia skydiver and rigger Perry Thibedeau in the early 90s for closing Dual Hawk Strong Tandem main containers with the old Master 500 and 520 tandem canopies. The “Hook” was used to wrap the pullup cord around to get leverage for closing the last couple of main container flaps.
Thibedeau and other local parachute riggers in Ellijay at Skydive North Georgia also used the tool for closing reserve containers. The reserve pullup cord is wrapped around the hook allowing you to use one hand to hold tension on the pullup cord, your feet to control pressure on the reserve container flaps and your other hand to move the temporary pin from one flap to the next.
This tool and method of reserve container closing has been used by Mike since he started rigging in 1998. Other riggers who have trained under Mike and other ChutingStar riggers have learned to use this method, which avoids using positive leverage tension devices that can damage reserve container grommets or reserve pins. The tool is also for stretching new reserve closing loops prior to packing by hooking the loop while anchoring the CYPRES disc.
