Rope thickness for continuous loops

**Spaceman** · 10-24-2014, 14:47

Are there guidelines when selecting rope size for continuous loops (to larkshead around the gathered end of the hammock)? I was prepared to make them from 7/64" amsteel since that seems to be the default until I saw that my WBBB XLC had thicker loops (3/16" amsteel, I believe). For the length of rope we're talking about, there isn't a big difference in weight. There is a big difference in strength however (1600lbs vs 5400lbs). Of course, there are other sizes of Amsteel between the two I mentioned that might be appropriate as well (1/8" at 2500lbs, 5/32" at 4000lbs). Just wondering how others went about selecting a rope size for their loops.

**gmcttr** · 10-24-2014, 15:19

7/64" amsteel properly made into a continuous loop larks headed around the end of a hammock should have a breaking strength upwards of 2400 lbs.

My thought is there's little need to use anything stronger. The typical whoopie sling or webbing that it will attach to has less strength.

**Spaceman** · 10-24-2014, 16:56

Originally Posted by gmcttr

7/64" amsteel properly made into a continuous loop larks headed around the end of a hammock should have a breaking strength upwards of 2400 lbs.

My thought is there's little need to use anything stronger. The typical whoopie sling or webbing that it will attach to has less strength.

That makes sense that it doesn't need to exceed the strength of the other suspension components.

How did you determine the 2400lb+/- rating when configured as a continuous loop? The only rating I found was the manufacturer's rating for the rope itself (7/64" avg strength=1600lbs, min. strength=1400lbs). Is there a formula to convert the average rope strength to strength when configured as a continuous loop?

I'd also like to take a shot at making my first whoopie slings and would like to learn a little more about the science behind it. I'll probably just end up copying what others have done here and on YouTube, but is there a good technical resource that explains how bury lengths are determined and how different lengths effect strength?

**gmcttr** · 10-24-2014, 18:23

Originally Posted by Spaceman

...How did you determine the 2400lb+/- rating when configured as a continuous loop?.

From info like Slide 12 in this document...http://www.samsonrope.com/Documents/..._March2011.pdf ...

...past discussions like this one along with the included correspondence with a Samson Rope engineer (see post 39 in particular)... https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...-bend-diameter ...

...and a fair amount of searching out info on the web.

**Spaceman** · 10-24-2014, 18:35

Nice links. Thanks. I found a few other related forum discussions after making my last post. I've got my homework for the night.

**DELupie** · 04-17-2015, 09:44

Has anyone used 550 paracord in any shape form or fashion for continuous loops?

**Bubba** · 04-17-2015, 10:21

Originally Posted by DELupie

Has anyone used 550 paracord in any shape form or fashion for continuous loops?

550 is not advisable for any kind or weight bearing application. 550 lbs is too low to provide a safe working load and it isn't spliceable so the breaking strength would be decreased by the use of a knot.