Tablecloth hammock failure

**GadgetUK437** · 02-20-2016, 10:44

You don't say what weight cloth you are using? If you don't know, then you can work it out. You say it is 90x156", so that is 10.8 sq yards. Weigh you hammock in ounces, take off the weight of the whipping, then divide that figure by 10.8 to get you cloth weight in oz/sq I'd.

**SilvrSurfr** · 02-20-2016, 15:07

I think tablecloth hammocks are 2.3 or 2.6/sq. yard.

**GadgetUK437** · 02-20-2016, 15:14

Originally Posted by SilvrSurfr

I think tablecloth hammocks are 2.3 or 2.6/sq. yard.

Mmm, but this one looks a bit light,

**onetearless** · 02-21-2016, 12:53

I can weigh fabric on Monday. It packs up smallish so I'm guessing it may be sort of light.

**zooshooter** · 02-22-2016, 10:11

Originally Posted by onetearless

Yesterday I sat in it w my lady... I put the hammock back up and it failed again. This time it dropped the brother in law his wife and new baby

You're putting way too much weight in it. Single person at a time and you won't have them tearing apart on you.

**FrayD** · 02-22-2016, 12:00

I'll add another vote for a second layer to your setup. I picked up a couple that size over a year ago and made a double. It's held up very well on the occasions that I've hung it up. We've loaded it up and not had a failure. With two tablecloths your covering your safety a lot better. If one cloth has some flaws the second one can pick up the slack and keep you in the air.

**onetearless** · 02-23-2016, 13:33

Originally Posted by GadgetUK437

You don't say what weight cloth you are using? If you don't know, then you can work it out. You say it is 90x156", so that is 10.8 sq yards. Weigh you hammock in ounces, take off the weight of the whipping, then divide that figure by 10.8 to get you cloth weight in oz/sq I'd.

After the involuntary haircut there are aprox. 10.21 yd2 that weigh 684g. So, weight is about 2.3 oz/yd2.

**onetearless** · 02-23-2016, 13:56

Originally Posted by GadgetUK437

Mmm, but this one looks a bit light,

I think either more durable material or doubled table cloths are good ideas. Also maybe a sewn channel with thicker continuos loop . . .

However, I wanted to start by addressing the seemingly more immediate problem of contact point failure (as my hammock failed twice under the CL).

I have been trying to shield the hammock body from the CL using the whipping as a physical barrier. It works ok w/ paracord but the CL is exerting much force on the wraps, enough to push them aside.

image.jpg

Might there be a better cord for whipping that might stay in place under the grip of the CL? OR Is there a more durable material I could use as a collar under the whipping or under the CL that would keep the CL from cutting into the hammock body?

**GadgetUK437** · 02-23-2016, 14:18

Originally Posted by onetearless

However, I wanted start by addressing the seemingly more immediate problem of contact point failure (as my hammock failed twice under the CL).

You should not be surprised by that.
Fibres will always fail at a force multiplier, where the fibres are deformed, by compression (here) or by bend radius (in the turns of a knot). Any whipping that is tight enough to hold under load will compress the fibres, multiplying the force.
A more efficient use of your time (and cash) would be to buy another tablecloth and have a two-tone double layer hammock.
Or go with the sewn channel. But then you are exchanging one type of weakening for another.

**bigsig11010** · 02-24-2016, 05:36

My wife and I use same size tc double layer with no problems. I'm about 299 she is just right. Together were about 475. I did triple sewn channels on ends with webbing straps ran through. Been using it 2 years plus. All good. In alabama in cool weather ok but in summer you suffocate with 2 in there. Ps I know it's a family forum so no details but FYI Check out hammockasutra