Fabric glue for Edge Hem?

[Gergify]

So I'm building a simple hammock to use for backpacking instead of a tent.
I have 10.5 ft of Rip-stop Nylon.

I am trying to hem the edges, but I have NO immediate access to a sewing machine. The nearest Cleaners is a good drive as well.

Will fabric glue work well in securing the edges or should I keep trying to find a place to sew it?

[jons4real]

ooo good question, I'm kinda in the same boat. I hope someone chimes in on this one.

[titanium_hiker]

You can (carefully!) heat seal ripstop - if it touches the flame, though, it melts and shrinks.

Fabric glue might work- try it on a scrap of ripstop first.

[Gergify]

You can (carefully!) heat seal ripstop - if it touches the flame, though, it melts and shrinks.

Fabric glue might work- try it on a scrap of ripstop first.

I guess I'll try the glue. I feel like its very 'unprofessional', but if it works I guess I can deal with it.

[samiam2714]

Try Bishes original tear mender.

http://www.tearmender.com/

I used it to glue the main crotch seam on my jeans, I couldn't get to my sewing machine at the time. It dries fast, flexible, and really strong. It is kinda rubbery and flows out the bottle fast so gluing in small section over several minutes would work best.

[gmcttr]

The long edges can be left as they are if you have not cut them. They will be stronger if you can eventually hem them.

If the "fabric glue" is flexible enough to let you gather the ends, it may be OK. As suggested, you can heat seal them with a flame. If you have a soldering iron, you can use it as a hot knife guided with a straightedge, to trim and seal the ends with out the risks of a flame.

[fred1diver]

Imo don't glue them sides, heat seal the edges, enjoy the hammock and when you have access to a thread injector, hem the sides and continue enjoying the hammock!!!

[JohnSawyer]

Realistically, do NOTHING... the selvedge (sp?) won't unravel in my experience...

The other option is to use a iron-on hem tape... but that's more work than sewing.

Heck, send it to me and I'll hem it for you... would take me about 30 minutes to get it done...

[Gergify]

Well this is really just an experimental run for me, Just so I can see how I like sleeping in a Hammock.

I was gonna leave it like Sawyer suggested, but I figure why not go ahead and glue it. Worse case scenario is that it doesn't stay and I'm back to where I started. Best case is it works fine and lasts me a few years before I decide to make a new/better one.