Zip ties vs Whipping

**funbun** · 02-17-2007, 12:33

Is one more reliable than the other? Will zip ties crack at cold temps? I've got a bunch of zip ties laying around, why not put them to use?

**Touch of Grey** · 02-17-2007, 12:41

While in my mind zip-ties could be used, after having used them for many years in my house and in the industry I find that they deteriorate faster than a good whipping might. Especially if you seal the whipping after having applied it. On the other hand zip-ties are hard at best to pull as tight as you can do a whipping.

Yes I am sure that the larger sizes could last a little longer and have much more tensil strength than the smaller ones again I find that without a tool to pull the tie tight it just does not do the job.

Of course as always that is my opinion and most people are quite aware of what one's opinions are worth or that everyone has one.

TOG

**Coffee** · 02-17-2007, 13:54

Here's a thought. In the field it will be easier to replace the whipping than a wire tie. The rope for the whipping will already be there. A wire tie is a one time use item. But I think if you are at home an constantly changing whipping and testing different ideas, then wire ties are far easier and pretty cheap.

Than again, the engineer in me always thinks of ways things can go wrong or fail.

**funbun** · 02-17-2007, 13:58

What kind of rope do you use for whipping?

**Coffee** · 02-17-2007, 14:48

I am using armsteel 7/64" spectra right now. Way overkill. But I have a bunch of it and it is pretty cheap.

**funbun** · 02-17-2007, 15:48

Noob question: what is the point in whipping. Does it perform a stop for the other rope?

**southpawx3** · 02-17-2007, 22:25

I just made my first hammock this week and I was going to use zip ties on the ends but i went with Teblums suggestion of a double sheet bend instead. so far its holding good, havent spent the whole night in it yet, just a few hours but it hasnt moved and is really simple to take apart to adjust the folds. I'm still playing with it but Its not as comfortable as my HH yet.

**Coffee** · 02-18-2007, 00:46

Originally Posted by southpawx3

I just made my first hammock this week and I was going to use zip ties on the ends but i went with Teblums suggestion of a double sheet bend instead. so far its holding good, havent spent the whole night in it yet, just a few hours but it hasnt moved and is really simple to take apart to adjust the folds. I'm still playing with it but Its not as comfortable as my HH yet.

Can you post some pics of that? I have been thinking about giving that a try.

**Coffee** · 02-18-2007, 00:49

Originally Posted by funbun

Noob question: what is the point in whipping. Does it perform a stop for the other rope?

Ask away, that is why we are here.

The whipping hold the hammock shape on the ends and stops the rope from going off of the end. A knot would do the same thing. A knot is simple and basically fool proof. The knot is just 1 half hitch.

The advantage to whipping the end is that you can easily undo it and redo it later. After a few minutes to a few hours it is hard to undo a knot.

**blackbishop351** · 02-18-2007, 18:19

Originally Posted by hammock engineer

Ask away, that is why we are here.

The whipping hold the hammock shape on the ends and stops the rope from going off of the end. A knot would do the same thing. A knot is simple and basically fool proof. The knot is just 1 half hitch.

The advantage to whipping the end is that you can easily undo it and redo it later. After a few minutes to a few hours it is hard to undo a knot.

A small difference of opinion here - the whipping isn't really intended to stop the support rope from sliding off the end. The bulk of the hems/knot in the end of the body material does that. The whipping is really only there to keep the ends gathered the way you want them while there's no tension on the support. I've hung several times (while adjusting the tension on my hammock body edges) with no whipping at all.

As for the wire ties, they work well. One by itself tends to let the edges slip though, so I double over the 'pulled corners' and add another tie just behind the first one. This locks off the corners and keeps the edges taut.

I've used ties on two sub-freezing trips now with no problems at all. If set up properly, the ties (or whipping) don't take any pressure, so there's not much of a durability issue.

As far as getting them good and tight, you can get a wire tie gun ( ~ $10 at Walmart) or do what I do and just use a pair of needlenose pliers. Once you have the tie hand-tight, use the tip of the pliers and twist, which will let you tighten them another 5-6 'clicks'.