caternary cuts - How to???

**FontanaHorseman** · 01-21-2011, 17:01

OK - in the middle of a tarp fiasco (remind me to bind up all the excess material before I sew a side to the ridgeline again!).

What are the general rules of thumb for depth of cat cut and also how do you do them? Freehand drawing? Or is there some tool here that you can run and print out a pattern?

Need a pattern for 6' and for 3 1/2'.

Thanks, FH

**oldgringo** · 01-21-2011, 17:05

Ask, and ye shall be overwhelmed.;

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...light=catenary

**FontanaHorseman** · 01-21-2011, 17:15

Thanks for the quick response!

Now - how do you transfer that to a pattern!

The clock is ticking...Go!

**FontanaHorseman** · 01-21-2011, 17:28

OK - I took the spreadsheet and ran it out for every 1% instead of 5% to see where the more even measurements would be to help plot them on some larger graph paper.

Basically - I can do a 1/2 cat curve of 18" for the 3.5 foot and 3' for the 6' curve the fold it over to do the other side.

Is there a way to do this with excel?

Thanks, FH

**Cold Butt Stephen** · 01-21-2011, 17:29

I used a piece of cardboard and used a tape measure to measure the corresponding length and height measurements. It is a pain in the butt, but it worked.

**bloomgorge** · 01-21-2011, 18:04

just use a piece of string, one end at each tie out, let it hang and keep pulling it tight until the center of the string is at 6" from the edge. tape it and then trace the line.

**SmokeHouse** · 01-21-2011, 20:05

I took 11' cardboard, attach string on each end, drop the sting in the middle to desired length, trace it, cut it, pattern complete. The pic below is a 5" cat cut... what I prefer...

**Shug** · 01-21-2011, 20:51

I free-handed with dotted lines. It worked.
Shug

**miisterwright** · 01-21-2011, 20:56

I use "the string method", but I use a length of that ball chain used for dog tags and other necklace type things. I think makes a more consistent curve than string because of it's weight and resistance to kinking.

You need a big blank wall to use this method. Not as easy to find in some homes as you'd think. And make sure if you're working with something thin like untreated 1.1 that you don't use a sharpie to mark the curve without something behind it. Your wife may feel the sudden need to express her feelings on the subject.

**FontanaHorseman** · 01-22-2011, 00:18

Originally Posted by miisterwright

I use "the string method", but I use a length of that ball chain used for dog tags and other necklace type things. I think makes a more consistent curve than string because of it's weight and resistance to kinking.

You need a big blank wall to use this method. Not as easy to find in some homes as you'd think. And make sure if you're working with something thin like untreated 1.1 that you don't use a sharpie to mark the curve without something behind it. Your wife may feel the sudden need to express her feelings on the subject.

Yeah - I know this all too well....

Great idea on the dogtag chain.

Yall have taken all the fun out of my graph paper model.

I have changed the Cat Cut Excel spreadsheet to tell me exactly how much rise every 1/4 inch (which matches my graph paper) for a 21" and 36" curve.

I was just about to start plotting the dots when I came back to this thread and saw the string & dogtag chain ideas......spoiled my fun!

I think I will plot my graph and then check it with the chain to see how accurate it is!

This DIY can be tedious but it sure is fun!!!

Anyone want to comment on the optimum cut for a 6' curve and 3 1/2' curve?
I am thinking 1" per foot but have seen others use 1.5" & 1.25".
Any advantages/disadvantages for more aggressive cuts?

Thanks for the advice.
FH