A bit of help for the Scouts please.

[stalker42]

Hi all. I brought my set up to our Cub Scout camp out we held in conjunction with a local Boy Scout troop and sure enough they are looking to make some gear. I could use a bit of help in picking out the materials though. I have made a couple of bridges but I think price wise gatherer end would be better and easier and I am a bit out of my comfort zone here. Here are my questions so far.

1. I read a lot of people get blanks from table cloth factory. Is the best one to use tablecloth factory.com or tableclothsfactory. Com with a s?

2. Am I just looking looking at crinkle taffeta? If someone could post a single link to the blank they would use I would be appreciative. That way I know what to look for.

3. What size tablecloths? Would I be looking at the 60x126 inchers?

4. It looks to me that gathering and whipping the end would be easier to do yet take more fiddling while sewing a channel will take more initial work but less fiddle factor. Would this be true?

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[tjayblues]

Here is what I have used once in the past and it worked great ... http://www.tableclothsfactory.com/ta...shes-s/132.htm

Follow this video by Derek (of The Ultimate Hang fame) ...
http://youtu.be/VVyX0McICr0

[rgoettl]

I helped my scouts make some a few months back. Turned out great. Hope this helps:

http://www.tableclothsfactory.com/category-s/150.htm

The 60"x102" blanks work great. Sewing the end channels is the way to go. Just a quick straight stitch. The boys can do it easily. Even had them make their own whoopie slings. Just used some thin picture hanging wire to make several splicing loops. Easy and cheap. For the toggles I just stopped by our local Bass Pro shop for some free cut arrow shaft pieces. Search Harbor Freight for some yellow tie down straps. There about $6 ish per set. Just cut off the metal buckles.

For about 18 hammocks, the cost came out to about $25 each. Something the boys can handle easily. They loved it and have used them on several camp outs now.

Also search the forum for the unofficial hammock hanging merit badge. Makes for a good way to help them cover the basics.

Hope that helps! Have fun!

[rgoettl]

Sorry. Make that the 60"x126" tablecloth. I got the wrong link.

http://www.tableclothsfactory.com/ta...shes-s/132.htm

[zukiguy]

I'm laying in my crinkle taffeta hammock right now. No reason to worry about making the end that "pretty". I threaded some dental floss through the existing hem and used that to cinch up the end. Once I got it close a single heavy duty 1/4" cable tie holds the whole mess in place. Larks head your favorite suspension over the end and you're all set. The no-sew method hasn't moved and works fine for me. I'm considering doing the same thing when I get home for my kid's cub scout pack.