Foot end spreader bar failure

[tpkanu]

I designed my bridge hammock to run 7/64" amsteel for the suspension arcs thru fabric tubes - not sewn to the fabric. At the ends of the arcs I had fixed eye loops spaced exactly 80" apart, the length of the hammock body. I had the spreader bars running thru fabric tubes to keep the hammock body from slipping.

After the .433 easton aluminum foot spreader broke, I reassembled the hammock, but noticed that the suspension arc amsteel seemed too long.

IT WAS - IT WAS NOW 83" (versus the original 80"). Both of them stretched the same length. Oh my aching back.

I have been using amsteel for whoopies and never knew that it stretched, since stretch is not noticable in whoopies (they are constantly being readjusted).

LESSON LEARNED - PLAN FOR 3" OF STRETCH OVER 80" FOR 7/64" AMSTEEL OR PRESTRESS YOUR SUSPENSION PRIOR TO ASSEMBLY.

Hangnout figured it out, if you read his post.

.433 easton tubing will probably work fine for you potential bridge builders, but I am still moving up to .625.

Happy Trails, Happy Hangs

[Jsaults]

That was some impressive strength gain in up-sizing. Thanks for applying your education to the most important subject in the world (hammocks, of course!).

Jim

[gnome]

the stress must be all cpmpression, keep the spreaders in direct line with the lines. I have been using rather lite carbon fiber colapsable ti goat poles, just keep everything in a direct line// gnome