WARNING: Don't try this at home.
I tried to use a Wal*Mart Carabiner on the Ridgeline of the DIY HH Clone that I am working on. It didn't work out so well. No, Not well at all.
I am looking for something small and light. There was an old thread about light weight micro biners, but the links to buy them were dead.
Still looking.
-Rice Gravy!
_______________________
"Humiliate your surroundings"
I am confused as to just where exactly that was used. Was it on the suspension straps? or was it the interior structural ridgeline? On the interior structural ridgeline I think it should not have failed that catastrophically if you were hanging with appropriate tension. There is not usually that much tension on the interior ridgeline. On the suspension ropes, the only biners to use are climbing quality weight rated biners. Currently Dutch is showcasing an alternative to biners for the suspension which looks really slick, small and light.
I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.
"Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn
We Don't Sew... We Make Gear! video series
Important thread injector guidelines especially for Newbies
Bobbin Tension - A Personal Viewpoint
He's talking about the ridgeline, but I agree that there isn't a crazy amount of force on the ridgeline. Those look like keychain biners and you said you got them from Walmart, so I'm not all that surprised by the failure. I had a similar biner snap under the weight of two gallons of water; that's only about 16.5 pounds. I'm sure there is more force than that on a ridgeline.
Trust nobody!
Some folks pull the structural RLs REAL tight before getting in, and we did have a rash of broken RLs reported especially after folks started using rings/cinch buckles or Hitchcraft devices.
The tension on the ridgeline is completely determined by how tight you pitch your hammock. I think most of us have learned that the ridgeline doesn't even really have to be taut to serve its purpose, but some folks yank them really tight.
in my experience those Walmart biners are worse than worthless. Flex the hinge a couple of times and that part is broken. I wouldn't trust one to keep all my keys together.
Grizz
Ok in looking at the carnage I can see what biner that is. I had mis-identified it at first. I would suggest the use of an adjustable knot system for either a releasable ridgeline or to play with the length of the ridgeline. There are a number of knots that allow for quick release and/or easy adjustment without the added weight and bulk of any hardware at all.
I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.
"Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn
We Don't Sew... We Make Gear! video series
Important thread injector guidelines especially for Newbies
Bobbin Tension - A Personal Viewpoint
Good thing you weren't using it for climbing!
http://www.camp-usa.com/products/car...-23-124503.asp
Lightest biner made! I use em on my Blackbird...they're sweet!
Daaaaaang!Originally Posted by GrizzlyAdams
I agree Ramblinrev!
Schneiderlein taught me how to tie a slippery Bowline. It is the knot that I am using right about now to figure out my ridgeline length.
_______________________
"Humiliate your surroundings"
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