No Local Nylon, What next?

[jbo_c]

I can't find any nylon locally to make my first hammock out of. I know I can buy online, but I'm trying to stay on the cheap with this one since it's my first.

What is another good material choice to use? Will polyester work? Is all taffeta nylon? Cotton should be OK, but really hot I'm guessing? I suppose strength is the main real concern(with comfort second), but I don't know anything about fabric.

A little help?

If this works out, I'll order some and start working on my HH clone.

Thanks.

Jbo

[Perkolady]

IF you can find a Walmart that still sells fabric, that may be a place to look. You can find some ripstop for around $1.50 yd. Ripstop polyester works great too.

Keep hunting online- sometimes you can find some pretty good deals.

I would not recommend cotton- too stretchy.

[Cannibal]

I actually prefer Polyester over nylon in a hammock; less stretch and it 'feels' softer to me.

Taffeta is the type of weave, not fabric material.

Cotton is a no-no unless you're making it for indoor use. Won't last in the Great Outdoors.

Walmart is a great resource if you can find one with the fabric shop still in place. It will be hit and miss, but if you look every time you go in you should find some within a month. Otherwise, in my experience, ordering online is going to be cheaper than buying at a fabric shop. OWF & thruhiker jump to mind for good quality materials at a reasonable price, but don't forget about Speer Hammocks! Ed has some pretty good pricing on his fabric.

[jbo_c]

I've hit two Wal-Marts, Michaels(which had no fabric) and Hobby Lobby. None of them have rip stop nylon.

Once I "prove this out" to myself, I'll order some on line and do some real stitchery. Speer seems to have good selection and price. I'd just like to find something I can pick up local to make a quickie this weekend.

Is there anything specific I need to find in polyester to make sure it's strong enough?

Thanks.

Jbo

[Ramblinrev]

I have used just normal polyester fabric, thin, thin and thinner, and not had a problem. Any taffeta weave synthetic should be sufficient to prove the design. The only problem would be different fabric will exhibit different lay characteristics. Changing from one fabric to the other make make a subtle difference. I am not a designer but my expectation would be the synthetics would be more consistent than changing rom a cotton test to a synth finished model.

Cotton canvas will last in the great outdoors but the cost for making it do so is ridiculously high IMO. I can remember having tents drying in our living room as a kid so they could be put away absolutely dry. Never had a tent rot in over 40 years but sheesh you want to talk high maintenance....

[jbo_c]

OK. Bought some polyester at Wally World today. Too heavy to use right now, but so is anything else. Was 101F today, 111 with the heat index. Should be good for camping when it's reasonable outside again.

I'm going to make the HH clone. I'll let you know how it goes.

Jbo

[gRaFFiX]

post pics when your done please

[Topplestack]

Stopped in at the one of the local Walmarts in the area here after getting a tip from a friend. They are remodeling the store and getting rid of the fabric and sewing department. They had several bolts of 1.1oz ripstop for 50 cents a yard. Cleared out all the decent colors.

[Rosomaha]

My little opinion...
It is possible to make a bridge hammock using Oksford 120\150 gr.per meter square.
In such case you should have enought firm material and could make enought light hammock using less area of material.
For my assym i used analog of ripstop sylikonised nylon, that material is unbreathable,but enought firm.

[Ramblinrev]

Oxford cloth is a heavy but viable option. "Oxford cloth" os a weave and not a content. So you would do well to avoid cotton as it is subject to mildew and rot if not cared for meticulously. Nylon or polyester oxford cloth is heavier than other weaves but it would certainly be strong enough.