Warning to newbie splicers

**uutuku** · 02-28-2012, 14:58

Too all you noobie splicers, I want to share an experience I had several days ago. I was experimenting with the truckers hitch suspension, and wanted to make a short line to larks head to each end of the hammock, with a loop in the ends. I had some 3/16 Spectra line kicking around and decided to use that.
The project involved an eye-splice in each end of both pieces of line. I had been splicing 7/64 line earlier in the day, and had the 6” bury length in my head for the smaller line. After both were completed I was looking them over, proud of my handy work, when I realized That the buries were way too short!! Not only that, I had forgot to brummel one of them @#$%! In my wisdom I decided to try them anyway. I got everything rigged up and was squirming around in the hammock and THUD! I suddenly found myself on the floor. Luckily I was in the house above a thick carpet and nothing was wounded but my pride. The un-brummeled splice pulled out. Lucky I wasn't outside over rocks or worse. Stupid part is I know better. I was a commercial fisherman for 30 years and have done lots of splicing, and working with many kinds of line. Feel free to criticize, I deserve it.

BE CAREFUL
PAY ATTENTION
NEVER MAKE ASSUMPTIONS
BIGGER THE LINE THE LONGER THE BURY (look them up)
ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS BRUMMEL, AND LOCK STITCH!

**MAD777** · 02-28-2012, 15:51

Good warnings! Glad only your pride was hurt!

**grok** · 02-28-2012, 17:46

Newton happened to stand under an apple tree. If you are a DYI hammocker we have all discovered the same principle. Like the day I figured out that 550 cord stretches:P No thud but I sat on the ground. I've never owned a Hennessy but I will never try to make one again because rip start doesn't stop till you are on the ground! I dare any hammocker to say the have not bruised their ego>

**Cannibal** · 02-28-2012, 17:53

Good job of following the first commandment of hammocking:

1. Thou shall practice and understand your hammock BEFORE going forth to the woods.
-Lest thy spend the first night in a hammock planted firmly upon the ground.

Plus, you get your badge as an official hanger. Once the rear hits the dirt/carpet, you have been initiated.

**Bubba** · 02-28-2012, 20:55

A non brummeled splice can hold in amsteel. Is Spectra very different?

**uutuku** · 02-28-2012, 21:07

It is made of Dyneema but without the coating that Amstel has, Also smallest dia is 1/8 with 1800 lb breaking strength. If I had used the correct bury it would have held just fine. I spaced out and used the same bury as 7/64 Amsteel, the line I was using was 3/16ths and needs a lot more bury than 7/64ths.

**AaronAlso** · 02-29-2012, 07:21

Originally Posted by Cannibal

Good job of following the first commandment of hammocking:
Plus, you get your badge as an official hanger. Once the rear hits the dirt/carpet, you have been initiated.

++1

This is so very true. I doubt any of us want to admit it, but all of us have crashed the rear end into the ground at least once. Hang your butt in a sling long enough and it's bound to happen eventually.

Welcome to the family!

**HighlandHorde** · 02-29-2012, 08:27

I haven't ended up on my but yet...but I sure came close. I was trying a new setup on my tree straps. I hooked everything up. I took a look and thought "those tails seem a little short" but went and sat in the hammock anyway. When I lifted my feet I felt the hammock drop. It was a Brand new DIY hammock so I wasn't sure how everything was gonna work but that dropping feeling got me up to check my lines. My tree straps were 1/4" from coming undone and dropping me to the ground

.
Its another instance of "I should know better". I rock climbed for years and always made sure there was "too much". I am just glad it didnt let go (althought I have no idea why it didnt

)...I would have crushed the High-bush Blueberry that I was hanging over