ok still looking for an easy answer SPECTRA

**Japandy** · 04-10-2009, 01:01

whats the lightest weight, safest spectra I can hang from? Ive been looking into a maze of options. web & forums. Im dizzy. just looking for a DIY hammock. I was just going to order amsteel blue, but wasnt sure if I could do it cheapers. and do I need to use a flat shoe string like line for the whipping or could I use reg round cord ( 2mm or something non load bearing ) ?
thanks.
is amsteel good for tarp lines too ???

**utilisateur** · 04-10-2009, 05:25

3mm Spectra or Dyneema should be far on the safe side
2,5mm is rated ~1200 were 3 mm is 2000 so i'd stick to the 3mm

I read on here Vectran rope could be lighter for the same load bearing ability but i cant find any Vectran rope in the appropriate size nor any charts except on the unfinished yarn, all i know is Vectran has a higher density and supposedly handles bending better (maybe an indication that it might not hold knots well) and doesnt creep ( Dyneema is said to creep as soon as you reach half of its breaking strength)

**Hooch** · 04-10-2009, 05:26

Originally Posted by Japandy

whats the lightest weight, safest spectra I can hang from?......I was just going to order amsteel blue......

You can probably work with anything in the 1200-1500 lb range, if I'm not mistaken. One of the mathletes will probably chime in on this, so wait for their expert calculations to be on the safe side.

Originally Posted by Japandy

......do I need to use a flat shoe string like line for the whipping or could I use reg round cord......

I like military 550 cord (also called paracord) for this, but there are certainly other things you could use. I'd be hesitant to use something flat, though.

Originally Posted by Japandy

......is amsteel good for tarp lines too ???

It could definitely be used for tarp lines, but, IMO, it's big time overkill. Simple mason line from Lowe's/Home Depot/local hardware store is pretty popular, as well as Speer No-Tangle guyline and other commercially sold guylines.

**Ramblinrev** · 04-10-2009, 05:50

Originally Posted by Hooch

Simple mason line from Lowe's/Home Depot/local hardware store is pretty popular.

Make sure it is the braided mason line. The twisted mason line is not suitable for much of anything in my book unless you want something that untwists easily into its component fibers. Braided mason line is what you want.

**Japandy** · 04-10-2009, 09:13

Great, im looking into it right now.
thanks.

**gonnadiehiking** · 05-07-2009, 17:51

Spectra 12 Strand has 1,800lb tensile strength and weighs 0.53lb/100' at $0.40 a foot at the following link.
http://www.sswr.net/index.php?option...products_id=56

I've been looking into getting some, but I was wondering if anyone can tell me the difference between tensile strength and breaking strength, if there is a big difference.

Thanks

**Cannibal** · 05-07-2009, 17:55

Welcome to the forum gonnadiehiking!

**Knotty** · 05-07-2009, 18:58

Defender (marine supply) has Amsteel Blue at good prices. $.38/ft for 1/8 and $.24/ft for 7/64. Best of all they are offering it in grey.

http://www.defender.com/category.jsp...4170&id=749705

**gonnadiehiking** · 05-08-2009, 00:14

Thanks Cannibal and Knotty! Sounds like a great deal, I'll check into it.

**warbonnetguy** · 05-08-2009, 00:21

www.apsltd.com has 12 strand braid dyneema and vectran, i like the amsteel better than the vectran, it seems to wear better, is about the same weight/strength, and is cheaper.

don't think creep should be a problem associated with hammock use.