To cut or not to cut

Hello all, First post on this lovely place that has me hooked on hangin'!!! Every chance I get I come back reading posts here and always find something new. I had my first hang about 3 weeks ago in my HH expedtion asym. I wanted to get started and the wife got it for fathers day for me. So after hangin' the HH once (not even sleeping in it, just set up during lunch) I new that rings were the way to go. So I hit up Wally world for some tow straps and dremeled off the hooks and now I have 14 foot 1000 lb. working load straps (overkill I know). I have tied my HH stock rope to the rings using a clove hitch and a half hitch as a security stopper. I have the rest of the HH stock rope tied in a loop. So now, do I cut the stock rope or leave it? Also, is the clove a good option to attach to the rings or the there better options?

And since I love pictures, I have to post the first hang. Thanks in advance for any help.

Attachment 4959

That is the typical thing to do when swapping over to the ring buckle system. Cut them whe you can stand to make the no-return choice. BUT DON'T cut them until you know how much you want to leave and what you want to do with it. I have mine tied into some gear loops so I can hang stuff on them. I tied it up the way I wanted it and cut them when that was done. It is not something to be done lightly but also nothing to be afraid of. One other caveat... If you think you might want to go back to the stock system for any reason (like weight.. the stock system is lighter) then leave them coiled neatly. They won't wont hurt anything.

If you're worried about resale value, you could completely remove the stock cord and put it in a drawer somewhere. There are much lighter and less bulky options for suspension cord that can be cut to size. Swapping them out isn't hard at all. There is a thread about how to do it, but I couldn't find it. Basically, you would just cut the zip tie that holds the little black sleeve over the knot at the end of the hammock, pull the sleeve back, untie the stock cord and redo the wrap and knot with the cord of your choice. You can easily revert to the stock system if the hammock ever winds up on eBay.

Just coil it up and tie to the end of your hammock. It would be an excellent selling feature with still new or little worn "original" suspension.. like buying an old car with low miles on it. I really can't see the few extra grams/oz. issue bothering you that much, and the original suspension could come in handy in certain situations, big trees, big spread apart I really want to hang here locations, or if your other suspension broke., you have a back-up susp.ready to go.

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Originally Posted by vitamaltz

Swapping them out isn't hard at all. There is a thread about how to do it, but I couldn't find it.

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I think the thread you're looking for is here.

I agree with vitamaltz - don't cut anything, just swap it out. There's no need to carry around the surplus weight and bulk of two suspension systems. The process is almost the same whether you're changing to a webbing based suspension or a cording based one.

Thanks everyone so far. I am gonna read the thread about swapping out the ropes. I swore I found it before I even received my hammock, but could not find it. I was afraid on how much to cut because I have KAQ coming next week and wanted see what was needed for that. I do like the idea of keeping the originals for resale, I hope to just pass it on to my wife after I can get her converted.

Regardless of what I do, how about the know to the rings, is the clove gonna be a good option?

Thanks and now I am off to continue my perpetual research in this forum.

http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery...searchid=21087
I think this shows you what you are looking for. thanks grizz

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Originally Posted by spinkid

...So I hit up Wally world for some tow straps and dremeled off the hooks and now I have 14 foot 1000 lb. working load straps (overkill I know)....

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Uh, actually for rigging where human safety is involved, an oft-stated rule of thumb is 10-to-1 safety margin.

A nominal 1,000 lb strap gives you a 100 lb actual rating. So, "overkill"? Not at all. Just a word to the wise.

Rain Man

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gargoyle, thanks for that, that is perfect. If that whats under my covers on my Hammock, it should be fairly cake. Now to hunt down some good thin rope. EMS or REI??? I have some 5mm and 6mm sterling cord, but that seems much to thick, any recommendations? I would prefer to purchase locally, for my trip next week, but if not, I will have it for the next trip. Thanks again

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Originally Posted by Rain Man

Uh, actually for rigging where human safety is involved, an oft-stated rule of thumb is 10-to-1 safety margin.

A nominal 1,000 lb strap gives you a 100 lb actual rating. So, "overkill"? Not at all. Just a word to the wise.

Rain Man

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RM - I believe that if the straps have a working load of 1000lbs their breaking load will be substantially higher. Working load already has safety factor in it.

Alright, West Marine only had Amsteel instock. Will that work, or hold out for some 3.8 spideline? They had some that had a breaking strength of 1900lbs, and some that was 3800lbs. Will this be ok on the hammock? Oneof the West Marines can order the 3.8 spiderline and have it by Friday if I can get there in the AM which I cannot. I will hold out till after I get back from hiking this weekend if its not advisable. So please advise on what to do. Thanks in advance

1900 lb test Amsteel will be just fine.

In terms of strength per unit weight, Amsteel is stronger than Spyderline because some of Spyderline's weight is in the sheathing. The flip side (and there always is a flip side---no free lunch here) is that Amsteel is slippery and won't hold some knots that Spyderline will.

The knots you're likely to use for hammocking are fine though : buntline hitch, bowline, full turn with half hitches, figure-8.

Grizz

Grizz, Thanks for the quick response. I hope to mirror the Hennessy knot. Do you think the Amsteel will be able to hold a knot for that? I believe it was Gargoyle who posted your link with some air core. That looks like my config in the HH and I was hoping to mirror that. I have never worked with Amsteel, but when I walked in West Marine, my eyes lit up, I have never seen a wall of rope. It was like looking for electrcal wire at a HD or Lowes. Thanks

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Originally Posted by spinkid

Grizz, Thanks for the quick response. I hope to mirror the Hennessy knot. Do you think the Amsteel will be able to hold a knot for that? I believe it was Gargoyle who posted your link with some air core. That looks like my config in the HH and I was hoping to mirror that. I have never worked with Amsteel, but when I walked in West Marine, my eyes lit up, I have never seen a wall of rope. It was like looking for electrcal wire at a HD or Lowes. Thanks

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yes. That setup is just the cord looped through holes and around the stem 2-3 times, finished off in a bowline...the part of the rope that is leaving the hammock heading towards the tree is where you put the "hole" in the bowline's rabbit-round-the-tree story, the working end coming off the wraps is the rabbit. Be sure to first put a stopper knot like an overhead or figure-8 at the end of the working end, as insurance against being pulled through the loop in the bowline. Probably you'll want to do this after putting the cord through the holes though...leave enough room on the cord for the stopper!


Grizz

Grizz, thanks again and I will be stopping a West Marine tomorrow after work.

I made the start, one side support is removed and ready for finishing, but I want to be sure on how to attach the 2 ends of the Amsteel. Will a Double fishermans knot work if I use only one piece of Amsteel to make the wraps and then come back to meet the shorter piece for the knot? I won't pull both pieces at once like Griz did here:

http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery...ts-4_thumb.jpg

Or is the above way preferred (I think is the way Griz described in the post above).

Man, Only my second backpacking hang this coming weekend and this addiction will knot (pun intended) stop.... Thanks again and I will post the final product.

So I made the swap today while waiting for some software to load today at work. The first side took quite some time as I wanted to be sure I got it correct. I actually took it apart earlier and sat on it for a while to be sure I would get it right. Not nearly as difficult as I imagined. I absolutely love this and can't wait to use it this weekend along with my brand spankin' new KAQ (will review and photo after hike).

I can't for the life of me get my pictures to show up where I want them in this post, so please forgive me on that. They should be attached below though.

The first is what whas behind the HH covers. Then the final product which I believe is close to a figure 8 with a stopper on it. I did not trim the ends yet because I wanted to make sure that this would not slip and was how I like it. Then there is the last photo with the straps in the rings. The prusik really holds the rings tight. I don't even think the half-hitch on the straps is necessary other than a backup.

One minor issue was that the Hammock settled into the knots more than expected and I had to re-tie them a bit shorter so the rings were closer to the hammock.

Sorry, I should of took a shot of the entire setup of my from trailer hitch over truck to fence post hang for your enjoyment but I didn't even think about it. At least I got some quality time in it before I had to take it down. Gotta love slow software loads......

Thanks again to everyone for the help and I will post my special KAQ when I get back from the Catskills.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by spinkid

So I made the swap today while waiting for some software to load today at work. The first side took quite some time as I wanted to be sure I got it correct. I actually took it apart earlier and sat on it for a while to be sure I would get it right. Not nearly as difficult as I imagined. I absolutely love this and can't wait to use it this weekend along with my brand spankin' new KAQ (will review and photo after hike).

I can't for the life of me get my pictures to show up where I want them in this post, so please forgive me on that. They should be attached below though.

The first is what whas behind the HH covers. Then the final product which I believe is close to a figure 8 with a stopper on it. I did not trim the ends yet because I wanted to make sure that this would not slip and was how I like it. Then there is the last photo with the straps in the rings. The prusik really holds the rings tight. I don't even think the half-hitch on the straps is necessary other than a backup.

One minor issue was that the Hammock settled into the knots more than expected and I had to re-tie them a bit shorter so the rings were closer to the hammock.

Sorry, I should of took a shot of the entire setup of my from trailer hitch over truck to fence post hang for your enjoyment but I didn't even think about it. At least I got some quality time in it before I had to take it down. Gotta love slow software loads......

Thanks again to everyone for the help and I will post my special KAQ when I get back from the Catskills.

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looks great, congrats!

I still remember my sense of trepidation when I tore mine apart, and sense of accomplishment when I got it put back together again and it worked!

Not so much of a sense of accomplishment though when I did it the second time, made necessary by my neglecting to slip the knot cover back over the rope before finishing it off. Once the rings and prussik are on there and the cover isn't, well, I had what might be described as a topology problem :laugh:

Grizz

Nice work Spinkid. Thanks for including pics.

My Amsteel hasn't arrived yet but I can't wait to start. My plan is to go with an all line suspension using Grizz's single sliding descender ring method .

When I did this swap I left the knot covers off since I realized they were fairly heavy for what they were. I've had maybe 8 nights in the hammock this way with no trouble. It may not be as pretty, but it works. Two things the knot cover might slightly affect: 1) the zip tie bunches the fabric about an inch closer to the center of the hammock than the rope passing through the hole does 2) If you're using the stock rain fly attached to the hammock suspension, the knot cover may play some part in reducing the amount of water that runs down the line to the hammock body. Neither one of these were a drawback for me.