Page 1 of 5 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 49
  1. #1
    Senior Member darkbyrd's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Pisgah Nat'l Forest, NC
    Hammock
    WBBB XLC
    Tarp
    WBSF
    Suspension
    whoopies
    Posts
    374

    DIY vs purchased: Cost savings?

    So I'm looking to make a hammock, and put together a preliminary material list. Using the plans from the diy gear supply site, as well as their prices, I've come up with numbers that are close to what I would spend on new gear. Considering all the effort involved, and the risk of failure (I'm not adept at using the wife's thread injector), am I going the right route? Or am I missing some serious cost-cutting that I could be doing? Right now I'm looking at $100 for materials just for a single-layer hammock and tarp, and I'm not even warm yet!

  2. #2
    Senior Member Mountnman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Miamisburg, Ohio
    Hammock
    DIY
    Tarp
    HG Winter Palace
    Insulation
    HG TQ,UQ, DIY
    Suspension
    Whoopies or rings
    Posts
    1,939
    Can you give us a break down of items and cost?
    "I love not man the less, but Nature more."
    Byron

  3. #3
    Senior Member darkbyrd's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Pisgah Nat'l Forest, NC
    Hammock
    WBBB XLC
    Tarp
    WBSF
    Suspension
    whoopies
    Posts
    374
    Just going from the materials list from the DIY projects.

    3.5 yd rs nylon $14
    2 yd draw cord .50
    12' tech line 2
    6' amsteel 1/64 1.50
    thread 3.65
    Hammock total 21.65

    7 yd silnylon 43.75
    1 yd oxford nylon 4
    4' 3/4 nylon webbing 1
    6 d-rings .60
    Tarp total 49.35

    EDIT I forgot the straps
    30' 1: poly web $12
    4 Al rings 11
    Last edited by darkbyrd; 11-19-2012 at 22:23.

  4. #4
    Senior Member dejoha's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    So. Utah
    Hammock
    Most
    Tarp
    Sea to Summit
    Insulation
    Down
    Suspension
    Becket Hitch
    Posts
    2,184
    Images
    207
    Yes, provide some more information and we can help you sort through the project. Some materials are inherently most costly. I sourced out some fabric, netting, and a cheap 8x10 tarp to make hammock kits for my entire Boy Scout troop. Each "kit" worked out to about $30 _per kit_. It was amazing.

    BUT, those were using some pretty inexpensive fabrics. The goal was complete cost savings. Papa Smurf helped source the materials and he did a yoman's job finding deals, even sourcing some straps from a local Amish group.

    When I made my own hammock, using the same pattern but with better materials (lighter ripstop nylon, lighter no-see-um netting, etc.) the costs went up.

    Materials List

    1 20ft x 1in polyester webbing straps
    1 54 × 132" (1.4 × 3.4 m) no-see-um bug netting
    1 60 × 132" (1.5 × 3.4 m) ripstop nylon or polyester fabric
    2 ½ × 8" (1.25 × 20 cm) elastic ribbon
    1 6' (1.8 m) #3 YKK zipper (w/double pull)
    2 60" (1.5 m) of 3/32" shock cord
    2 36" (91 cm) 3mm Spectra rope
    — Outdoor polyester thread

  5. #5
    Senior Member BrianWillan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
    Hammock
    Martian Bridge (DIY)
    Suspension
    Whoopie Slings
    Posts
    2,078
    Images
    7
    In my particular case, the only way I've been able to justify DIY is when I want something that I can't readily buy or the project involved is pretty straight forward. Ie my 2 bridge hammocks that I made. There wasn't anything available that had 36" spreader bars and made from crinkle polyester taffeta material. So I had to bite the bullet and do it myself. Fun project, BTW.

    Unless you can get your materials very inexpensively and don't place a value on the time involved, DIY can produce some cost savings. For most it doesn't work out that way. For the time involved, some do if for the sake of learning a new skill, others do it because they have the time available.

    There are many threads on the merits of DIY vs. buying. It comes down to the points I mentioned above.

    Cheers

    Brian
    Good judgment comes from experience, and often experience comes from bad judgment. - Unknown

  6. #6
    Senior Member ibgary's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Colorado
    Hammock
    Dangerbird, (custom) thanks Papa
    Tarp
    10x10 DIY
    Insulation
    DIY insultex.
    Suspension
    Woopie, UCR
    Posts
    688
    I got my 1st hammock for fathers day and started using an old ground cloth as my 1 st tarp. Since then I've made a larger tarp and then bought a Kelty, Noahs tarp 12x12. So far the things I've made have been workable, but if I'm out by myself for 30-60 days next summer, either my sewing will get a lot better or ill buy what I need. I like making gear, I just hate spending money on diy projects that turn out, how shall I say???? I'm afraid my diy gear may fall apart after a week of hard use.

  7. #7
    Senior Member adkphoto's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Camillus, NY
    Hammock
    All of them.
    Tarp
    OES 4 Season,Cuben
    Insulation
    Downy Goodness
    Suspension
    Whoopies
    Posts
    355
    That's not bad. Although, if the Amsteel is for Whoopie Slings, you'll need more like 24 feet for two, six foot slings. You'll probably also need another spool of thread and seam sealer for the tarp and (optional) some no-see-um netting for a bug net. Also, zing-it or tech line for your tarp suspension.


    David

  8. #8
    Senior Member WetRivrRat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    In the woods
    Posts
    422
    Sometimes the experience is worth more than the expense.

    Sometime the expense is not worth the experience.

    The price you listed is not bad, and is pretty far off from a complete kit brand new from a vendor. Your tarp is the kicker, but you opted for silnylon, which can get expensive quick. I'd say the expense is right on par.

    The question becomes are you ready for the experience?

    I would offer that you buy a couple of yards of the cheapest fabric you're willing to buy (JoAnn's, Hancock, etc), and start out by making stuff sacks and the sort so you can get some lightweight work under your belt. That will help you figure out if doing the whole gig is worth it for you or not.

    My personal experience is that I enjoy sewing and making gear, but I absolutely hate putting in in-ground sprinkler systems - both of which are DIY jobs that I've tackled in times past. One of which I will never do again even if you paid me to...

    Good luck on your journey, oh... and pics or it didn't happen
    We all know of the original "Walk off the war" thru-hike - but, check out these guys, they're helping folks 'walk off the war' today -
    Donate to help fund gear for the warriors who are coming back home and need help walking off the war!
    WarriorHike.com

  9. #9
    Senior Member JohnSawyer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Hammock
    WB RidgeRunner
    Tarp
    8x10 DIY (speer)
    Insulation
    KAQ Lost River
    Suspension
    Straps
    Posts
    4,631
    Images
    108
    If you take DIY as a journey... play with this, experiment with that, etc... it's not cheaper.

    If you count your time as free, then it can be cheaper, but not by much... most of the time, our cottage manufacturers are buying fabrics, down, etc, at wholesale...

    John
    "Do or do not, there is no try." -- Yoda


  10. #10
    Senior Member firemedic's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Round O, SC
    Hammock
    WBBB 1.7 Double, DIY Table Cloth
    Tarp
    Mamajamba, Noah 12
    Insulation
    AHE New River
    Suspension
    DIY Whoopie Slings
    Posts
    334
    Images
    2
    To me the DIY is about pride.
    Yep I made that!
    Just the other day I showed one of the guys at the Fire dept my bud light beer bottle stove
    Tonight he had this big ol grin on his face because he made one also.

    My stove is not pretty by no means
    But I am happy with it.
    Palmetto State Hangers

  • + New Posts
  • Page 1 of 5 123 ... LastLast

    Similar Threads

    1. The Myth of Cost Savings
      By Ramblinrev in forum Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
      Replies: 87
      Last Post: 08-20-2013, 09:15
    2. Savings?
      By cbbr in forum Dutchware
      Replies: 8
      Last Post: 08-11-2013, 23:39
    3. Weight savings with 2\3 UQ?
      By koffar in forum Under Quilts
      Replies: 9
      Last Post: 05-26-2012, 17:39
    4. Weight Savings
      By xollox in forum Eagles Nest Hammocks
      Replies: 3
      Last Post: 04-30-2012, 08:49
    5. DIY weight savings?
      By SoftServe in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 2
      Last Post: 01-31-2011, 01:42

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •