Just made my first DIY hammock

**arizonared** · 10-09-2010, 18:01

Hey there. Here is a pic of my son in the hammock I made today. This is my first attempt, but for some reason, I can't seem to get a good flat diagonal lay. any recommendations?

I love it, also, it cost me a total of $7.50 for this set up, so I am extra happy.

**Shug** · 10-09-2010, 18:48

Good job on the hammock.
Maybe add a ridge line to the hammock...... and get more sag.
I did some videos on hammock stuff for new guys...PART 4 covers some ridge line info ... here is a link:http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=15516

JustJeff has some terrific info as well:http://www.tothewoods.net/HomemadeHammock4.html
You'll get 'er dailed in.......
Shug

**Knotty** · 10-09-2010, 22:16

The lay is pretty much a function of the length, sag and how the gather is done. Remember to lay on the diagonal.

**arizonared** · 10-09-2010, 23:02

So my hammock is 10.5 feet long and about 5 feet wide. How long do you recommend I make the ridgeline?

After laying in it again, something just doesn't feel right. It feels as if there is too much sag in the middle and not enough on the edges. It kind of feels as if the hammock is too deep. Any recommendations on how to correct that? Should I redo the whipping? If so how do you recommend? I set it up using the instructions at Just Jeff's page.

**jred** · 10-10-2010, 22:22

You might try a "W" whipping:
http://www.tothewoods.net/HomemadeHammock2.html

I *think* the ridgeline should be 87% of the end-end length (I used attachment point - attachment point). 126"x.87=~110" If you allow 2" on either side for suspension attachment, that would be ~105"

If I'm wrong about the 87% or about what point you're supposed to measure from, I'm sure someone will chime in.

**leroybrown** · 10-10-2010, 22:41

I have read 83% and that is what I use. Comfy Comfy. I am in my hammock right now matter of fact

let me check

yup - comfY!

**leroybrown** · 10-10-2010, 22:43

Oh,

and to answer your question - convert the length from feet to inches and multiply by .83

make your ridgeline longer than that, and then play around a bit. I like to put my head literally against the edge where it rides up a bit on the right , get to the lowest part and stick my feet out to my lelft

**weedeater64** · 10-11-2010, 00:15

What shug said.

**Porkroll** · 10-11-2010, 09:12

Great job, I just did my first DIY hammock too. It's awesome isn't it! I added a ridge line to mine too. Gives it a nice sag so you can lay diagonally.

**arizonared** · 10-11-2010, 15:30

So I tried a ridgeline that was 83% of the length of the hammock. It didn't really have any effect. I tried 5 or 6 different times to slightly alter the whipping, including using a w whipping.

The last one I tried involved a sewn channel on the ends and gathering together as per knotty's instruction video. So the good news is that i can lay fairly flat, but one of the sides seems rather taut still, even with the way i have whipped it. So it has got me wondering if the person who cut the material for me didn't do a very good job of making sure it was squared off.

Moral of the story, don't just rush in and hem it, but check to make sure everything is ok

I won't make the same mistake on my next hammock

Thanks for everyones input, I appreciate it.