Ripppppppp..... Flooor...

Since I built my indoor hammock stand about a month ago I have been sleeping most nites in a hammock. That is until tonite. Was just settling in trying to find the sweet spot when ..... rippppp..... floor. The fabric was 1.5 DWR ripstop and it tore right at the spot where the whipping was. My question to all that sleep on a regular basis indoors is, what weight of fabric do you use?
The bright side is that I had just finished a hammock sock and had it installed. The way it was tied it helped to slow the desent to the floor considerably, and didn't sustain any damage.:D

i use something in the neighborhood of 1.9ozs.
it's a good idea to inspect the hammock & supports regularly... i should start doing that:o
here's a hammock made of 1.1 from the $1.00 bin that let me down to the floor last year.
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery...ckfailure1.jpg

I'd at least have a couple of pads below you. Maybe even even one of these
http://www.mountaingear.com/pages/pr...m/640830/N/0:p

It looks like Slowhike's failure was at the whipping too. Maybe a better whipping or system for finishing the ends needs to be found.

I have never had this problem with a knotted hammock. I started in "92" and have yet to fall through one. I have had to patch a hole or two but never hit the ground.

I end up on my arse at least once per project.

Is it at the whipping, or where the hammock supports attach to the hammock? The whipping itself doesn't really take that kind of force. What were you using as suspension?

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Originally Posted by Just Jeff

Is it at the whipping, or where the hammock supports attach to the hammock? The whipping itself doesn't really take that kind of force. What were you using as suspension?

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mine wasn't whipped, it was tied w/ an overhand knot.
and the line that formed a lark's head around the hammock (at the point of failure) was about a 2 or 3mm accessory cord.
so you're right, that no doubt was putting a lot of force (cutting?) on the place were it failed.
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery...5/P9020028.JPG

if it had been whipped & i had used webbing to form the lark's head, it would have probably lasted a lot longer.

Same thing happened to me (different material, but same tear). Was the tear basically a straight line at the whipping. Stupid question: were the hammock edges hemmed? That's the mistake I made. Glad you're OK.

I've been using heavy sheet material with zero problems since that non-hemmed disaster.

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Originally Posted by slowhike

mine wasn't whipped, it was tied w/ an overhand knot.
and the line that formed a lark's head around the hammock (at the point of failure) was about a 2 or 3mm accessory cord.
so you're right, that no doubt was putting a lot of force (cutting?) on the place were it failed.
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery...5/P9020028.JPG

if it had been whipped & i had used webbing to form the lark's head, it would have probably lasted a lot longer.

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So, then, would webbing be safer, less likely to cut the fabric? Has anybody heard of a stock Speer giving way like this? I know Speer had one that gave up the ghost, after 5000 hours use. But I think it was different circumstances.

And what about the stock HH rope/hammock connection? More or less problems likely? Any opinions or experiences? I believe Neo had some problems, don't remember if he hit the ground. (We know there have been some hugger problems.)

Would making a double layer with the 1.1 help with the ripping problem?

i would think a double layer of 1.1 would do fine.
i think several people have made them that way & i don't remember hearing of a failure.

i suspect a person could do OK w/ a single layer of 1.1 for quite some time, even though it might be pushing the envelope some what.
i think a big factor would be the support choice.

i believe jeff found that the really small cord from BPL.com was cutting his hammock, but i don't remember what that hammock was made of.

seems to me that webbing would be easier on the hammock as you swing back & forth.

I use a double laryered hammock (patterened after Risk's zHammock) and has about 250-300 mi on it right about now and Is holding fine. AS for cord ripping the fabric, havent seen as issue yet, although I use 4mm Vectran so maybe the stuff JJ was using was smaller.

hummm - how about the idea of wrapping a small piece of cordura or other semi-thick nylon stuff around the hammock under the knot where the thinner lines might cut the fabric - could still use thin stuff for the hammock body and thin cords without the cutting / ripping problem

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Originally Posted by BillyBob58

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And what about the stock HH rope/hammock connection? More or less problems likely? Any opinions or experiences? I believe Neo had some problems, don't remember if he hit the ground. (We know there have been some hugger problems.)

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I doubt that the stock HH whipping would have the same problem. The stock HH whipping spreads the forces on the fabric a lot more than a simple larks head to the end.

yeah, the cord JJ was using was a bear bag type cord from BPL.com... really small.

and yeah HOI, i was thinking along those same lines.
if someone wanted to use a small cord for their hammock support, they could find a way of protecting the hammock from it like you said.

Granted I dont know what I am talking about.. but I would be afraid that pre-wrapping the nylon with cordura would slip.

Just checking in after work... Thanks for all the imput. I was using a spectra line with 2300 lbs breaking strength from a sailing shop as the larks head attachment and also for the whipping. Not sure of the exact size but it is no larger than a regular round shoelace. The point that it ripped at was right at the attachment point for the larks head.
The hammock was a top loading DIY and had a piece of 1" poly strap sewn to the side I get in from. It was the other side that ripped and I can't be sure if it started from the center to the outer edge or vice versa. The rip was exactly from the center of the hammock body to the outside.

I was concerned about the cutting action of using a thin line for doing the larks head and it appears that my fears were well grounded ( no pun intended) :D

The poly strap may have acted like wrapping the end with courdua and prevented any cutting action. The next hammock ( starting it in 10 mins ) will have straps sewn to both outer edges. The adventure continues.

As a further note: The hammock sock design is progressing and has turned out great. I took some ideas from JJ's post about quilt design and applied them to the design. The sock follows the contours of the hammock perfectly. ( Any 10 foot hammock) I first cut away the excess material from the ends, then cut a dart in the bottom to creat a close fitting bathtub shape. There is a zipper in the side for entrance capability. Was going to wait until I had all the bugs worked out of the design and then post some pics. Can also add matching shape synthetic quilts between the hammock and the sock which can be removed or added to for colder nites.

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Originally Posted by traviso71

Granted I dont know what I am talking about.. but I would be afraid that pre-wrapping the nylon with cordura would slip.

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that's very possible.
but what GREEN THERAPY said about sewing webbing (or grosgrain, or cordura) along the hemmed edges sounds like a good way of reinforcing against cord wear.