Will Pine Sap attack my hammock suspension straps...

**OutandBack** · 07-20-2011, 09:08

... if I don't remove/clean it?

Being retired I use my hammocks a couple times a week mostly in my local woods for lunch from the hammock and enjoy an hour or two of reading after lunch.
I am always getting pine tree sap on the tree straps. There's a type of pine trees in CO that just ooze sap so I have learned to avoid those.

Do you guys think the sap will slowly dissolve the polyester threads?

I've heard one can use peanut butter to dissolve the sap but then you have the smell of peanut butter and that might attract bears.

My other concern is any solvent strong enough to dissolve pine sap could also attack the straps as well.

So for now I'm just leaving it and hoping for the best.

**Fronkey** · 07-20-2011, 09:12

I found this place that says many ways to remove sap. I can't imagine it destroying the straps, but I don't think I would want it on them either.

Fronkey

**Callahan** · 07-20-2011, 09:25

Hey OutandBack,

Someone gave me the tip of rubbing plain old margarine into the sappy part of the straps really well, then washing them in hot water and dish detergent. It seems to clean them right off like new, and they don't end up smelling like chemicals or a PB and J sandwich!

Cheers

**JaxHiker** · 07-20-2011, 09:34

I use Goo Gone which works great to get the sap off my tarp. I don't think it'll affect the material but I don't want to get sticky setting stuff up.

**OutandBack** · 07-20-2011, 09:55

Originally Posted by Fronkey

I can't imagine it destroying the straps, but I don't think I would want it on them either.
Fronkey

My big concern is the Turpentine in the tree sap which is a pretty strong solvent.
Between uses I find the sap has dried out and there is only a white powdery residue left. It's not sticky.
So my guess is the solvent in the sap is evaporating however for a time the solvent was present on the material possibly doing damage.

**gargoyle** · 07-20-2011, 10:06

Cheap preventitive, cut the toe off an old sock and make a strap sheath. When the sock gets dirty, toss it and make a new one.

**leepingreenlizards** · 07-20-2011, 10:09

All though I'm not 100% sure, I don't think pine sap would be harmful to nylon straps...other than make them a little stiff in cold weather. It can be used to seal a hole in waterproof garments and gear in a "pinch"...one of its many uses.

If it were me though, I'd situate a piece of material like nylon or something behind the strap and allow it to drape down over it where it goes around the tree. Better this than having gooey straps to deal with friend.

LGL

**OutandBack** · 07-20-2011, 10:16

Originally Posted by gargoyle

Cheap preventitive, cut the toe off an old sock and make a strap sheath. When the sock gets dirty, toss it and make a new one.

Originally Posted by leepingreenlizards

All though I'm not 100% sure, I don't think pine sap would be harmful to nylon straps...other than make them a little stiff in cold weather. It can be used to seal a hole in waterproof garments and gear in a "pinch"...one of its many uses.

If it were me though, I'd situate a piece of material like nylon or something behind the strap and allow it to drape down over it where it goes around the tree. Better this than having gooey straps to deal with friend.

LGL

Nice!

"SAP SLEEVES"
Wish my wife would let me use the sewing machine (long story

).

**turnerminator** · 07-20-2011, 17:00

Pure turpentine, white spirit, alcohol and turps substitue are sold in PET bottles(PET is a polyester), which is a good indicator that it won't do much harm to them.

I clean sap off with alcohol, works a treat.

**zukiguy** · 07-20-2011, 20:25

+1 for the Goo Gone removing pine sap. It saved an expensive fleece jacket and made it good as new. I wouldn't worry about the sap eating the straps too much. While there is turpentine in the sap it's pretty diluted (around 25% from what I can find).

Good Luck