Paracord 550 - Whipping and Ridgeline acceptable?

**samjaynes** · 01-24-2011, 13:07

Getting all my materials ready to begin making a couple hammocks soon - still need to purchase some amsteel blue for the suspension (still haven't decide on buckles, whoopies, truckers hitch, etc) . I have a few hundred feet of paracord 550, and was wondering if whipping and the ridgeline are acceptable uses for this? I read somewhere that the ridgeline needs to support 150lbs....

Comments?

**Highbinder** · 01-24-2011, 13:09

Whipping yes, because the force is on the bundle of fabric rather than the cord.

For ridgeline, I'm not sure in terms of the breaking point and forces applied, but I wouldn't use it as paracord stretchs. I'd suggest you pick up some dynaglide rope for your ridgeline

**Rat** · 01-24-2011, 13:14

Depends...
Whipping is no problem, works great and I have used it on many hammocks; both regular and gutless but I prefer gutless as it looks cooler laying flat.

For the ridgeline: If it is non-structural then it will be fine, if it is structural then not so good. The problem with the 550 in a structural ridgeline is not that it is going to break, but it stretches pretty good. Easy to compensate for if you make it adjustable; but easier to just use a no stretch cord really.

**samjaynes** · 01-24-2011, 14:58

Originally Posted by Rat

Depends...
Whipping is no problem, works great and I have used it on many hammocks; both regular and gutless but I prefer gutless as it looks cooler laying flat.

For the ridgeline: If it is non-structural then it will be fine, if it is structural then not so good. The problem with the 550 in a structural ridgeline is not that it is going to break, but it stretches pretty good. Easy to compensate for if you make it adjustable; but easier to just use a no stretch cord really.

Thanks guys for your responses - exactly what I needed to know. By the way rat, when you say gutless, I assume you mean without a channel, right?

Cheers

**Walking Dead** · 01-24-2011, 15:02

Originally Posted by samjaynes

... By the way rat, when you say gutless, I assume you mean without a channel, right?

Cheers

No, I'm betting he means with the inner strands removed. There are 7 "string" covered by the braid outside that make up the cord.

**Rat** · 01-24-2011, 16:43

Yep, what Walking Dead said; inner strands of 550 cord removed.

**Just Jeff** · 01-24-2011, 16:53

I second Rat...I use paracord with the inner core removed for whipping, but don't use paracord for a structural ridgelines. I tested a few but they stretched too much. I don't think ot would be unsafe, and I doubt you could break it, bit it wouldn't perform as a structural ridgeline should.