Zip Tie Whipping

[animalcontrol]

A little advice...I'm constructing my first DIY no net hammock and I have some questions about whipping.
I gathered the hammock in the "W" style and pulled the long ends about 2" and the center about 1" (starting small). I liked the idea using zip ties so I wrapped them as tight as I could, pull it tight using pliers. (material...double layer 1.1 RN)
I ordered some 7/64 Amsteel blue for the suspension but it won't be here till Tues, so I temporarily rigged it up with some 5 mm power cord (rated at 1200 lbs) and hung it in my backyard.
The power cord cinched down and slid up the material to the zip ties, the zip ties slid a bit, but then held (a little too close to the end of the gathered end)
Questions...I saw on JustJeff's website that his suspension line didn't even put pressure against the zip ties.
Do you think that 5 mm cord (not so flexible) doesn't cinch tightly enough to hold on it's own? If so, will the Amsteel? Are different RNs "slicker" than others?
I'm thinking of using the "bunched" end method ala Warbonnet BB instead of whipping at all...see here in this thread
Thanks for any advice

[Mrprez]

I had the same experience using a harder type of cord than Amsteel. I didn't ever give it a try using Amsteel though.

[GrizzlyAdams]

The two times I've done this (with Vectran, which is as slippery and as flexible as Amsteel) I've not seen slippage. So the Amsteel might just solve your problem. I also had sewed channels in the ends, but ended up not using them as such. But as a backup against slippage they serve to suddenly increase the amount of fabric a hitch that is slipping down the fabric would have to get past.

I've not tried the WBG method, but like the looks of it.

Grizz

[gunn parker]

Hi
We sell zip ties (we call them cable ties) at my work, just one of many lines.
I have seen a lot of these become brittle and break. Also if they spend a long time in the sun they can also break.

Just be careful with them.
Gunn

[animalcontrol]

The two times I've done this (with Vectran, which is as slippery and as flexible as Amsteel) I've not seen slippage. So the Amsteel might just solve your problem. I also had sewed channels in the ends, but ended up not using them as such. But as a backup against slippage they serve to suddenly increase the amount of fabric a hitch that is slipping down the fabric would have to get past.

I've not tried the WBG method, but like the looks of it.

Grizz

Yea, the more I think about it, the more I like WBG method also. That "knot" of material should remove any chance of slipping too far
We can review it at Mt Rogers

[Ramblinrev]

What knot did you use? When I have used a larks head I saw no slipping

As far as the cable ties breaking, if the suspension ropes are well secured the cable ties should be able to dropp off completely and the whipping still hold its place. My understanding is the cable ties are simply to stablize the whipping while you get the suspension secured.

[animalcontrol]

What knot did you use? When I have used a larks head I saw no slipping.

Larks Head...just as shown on Jeff's website

As far as the cable ties breaking, if the suspension ropes are well secured the cable ties should be able to dropp off completely and the whipping still hold its place. My understanding is the cable ties are simply to stablize the whipping while you get the suspension secured.

This was my understanding also...I still wonder if the stiffness of the rope matters

[T-BACK]

What knot did you use? When I have used a larks head I saw no slipping

My understanding is the cable ties are simply to stablize the whipping while you get the suspension secured.

I use a larks head with webbing and Amsteel. I have had no slippage other than the knots cinching down when weight was first applied to them. The cable ties are NOT structural. Like Rev said, they keep every thing nice and tidy until the suspension is attached. The added advantage is for those who experiment, like me. It allows you to quickly change out suspension systems without refolding and whiping the hammock every time.

[animalcontrol]

I change my set-up to resemble the Warbonnetguy gathered end style...worked great!
Hammock feels very stable with no slipping when hung.
In the interest of science, I should have waited till today and replaced the 5mm cord with the Amsteel and checked for slipping, but time is short before this weekend so I made the switch ASAP.
I will comment that the Warbonnetguy gathered end style allows no creative gathering options...such as tighter long edges...raised center line. It seems a little tighter around my shoulders so I put in some pull outs and it seemed to help.

We can review on the mntn top this weekend!

[froldt]

I think that the cord I used for whipping is hidden underneath my webbing. The bunch created by the seams on the end of the fabric actually "catch" the webbing.

It did worry me the first time I laid down on it, before the webbing really pulled itself tight. I didn't relaz and really enjoy the hammock until the slipping quit and the webbing "set" itself in place.