First timer, considering a DIY project, Fabric Questions...

I searched the forum and found some answers but certainly not all, so I turn to you for further enlightenment.


Hammock Fabric
Commercially it seems to be all over the map as well as cottage and DiY'ers. Evidently you can use just about any fabric to make a hammock.

So why do most cottages use ripstop nylon? Is it weight, cost, ...is everyone just trying to get the most weight capacity with the lowest weight fabrics?

ENO fabric is what? Is that the crinkle taffeta that gets referred to with the table cloth hammocks? ENO and GT use similar/same fabrics?

Pardon my ignorance here, but I am very interested in your thoughts, everyone's thoughts...

Thanks

Ripstop is thin light strong available affordable. A good all around choice. It's cold, stretches a bit and requires cut edge sealing to prevent fraying.

Crinkle taffeta is on use by some professionally as it has many good features and comes darn cheap from tableclothsfactory.com. It is heavier, doesn't stretch, a bit warmer than nylon but if a rip starts it will keep ripping. The fabric us cheap and comes in handy sizes for colorful hammocks. I think it is also LOTS easier to sew than ripstop.

There's lots of fabrics and variations I'm still trying to learn myself, but these two are good for starter DIY projects, so that's why you hear so much about them.

Hope this helps a bit.

Thanks Steve. Does your message state that crinkle taffeta is the material used by ENO/GT?

No. Sorry, I'm not familiar with their gear, except GTUL which isn't crinkle taffeta. Not sure what it is, really.

ENO uses some sort of parachute fabric. Thinner and lighter than taffeta.

Any thoughts on 100% polyester?

I made both of my hammocks from it, all from the $1/yd bin at Wal-Mart. It's smooth, cool, lightweight, doesn't stretch, and sews & cuts well.

I have one hammock that's single-layer, and one that's double-layer. Both seem quite strong. So far I'm lovin the stuff!

-Klauss

My thoughts are thumbs up on whatever works. I am trying to figure out if I need to be concerned about weight capacity when using something beside 1.1 ripstop. I read a lot of people buying tablecloth material, ripstop nylon, etc. but I don't seem to see anyone buying and building with the ENO type fabrics. They have a 400# rating and do not appear to be that heavy. Is there a supplier for that kind of fabric and what exactly do you call it? I'm guessing here, but I would think ENO and GT have the biggest market share and they do not use the same type fabric as the cottage makers. I am not sure where the market share is when you get into the more dedicated camping type hammock manufacturers. HH, Clark do lots of advertising. Just some thoughts on fabrics and who is using what. If I am making a DIY, I think I want to start with the ENO/GT fabric. It has a nice hand to it and will probably be a bit easier to sew. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

I have not seen anyone posting about the fabrics used on ENO or GT, is it not available, if so where? Why doesn't anyone else use it? Help please. Thanks.

The ENO fabric is a piece dyed nylon taffeta. Not readily available.
Closest you can get is probably the Antron Crinkle Nylon here.
http://www.efabricsupplier.com/category_s/59.htm

The GTUL is made of polyester taffeta.
Your best bet for getting something close might be here.
http://www.therainshed.com/unctd%20t...Nylon_Taffeta_

Now that I'm sold on this DIY venture, is taffeta fairly thick? In Louisiana, the state bird is the mosquito, and they're out and about this time of year. Would one need to double up on the fabric to keep from becoming a pin cushion on the bottom, or would a single layer be sufficient?

With that being said, if you're looking for material similar to what ENO's are made from, it's my personal experience that critters can bite you through the bug net AND the hammock if you're pushing up against the walls. Don't know if that's a factor for you Swank, but it's a priority for me. ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by barnabus1898

Now that I'm sold on this DIY venture, is taffeta fairly thick? In Louisiana, the state bird is the mosquito, and they're out and about this time of year. Would one need to double up on the fabric to keep from becoming a pin cushion on the bottom, or would a single layer be sufficient?

With that being said, if you're looking for material similar to what ENO's are made from, it's my personal experience that critters can bite you through the bug net AND the hammock if you're pushing up against the walls. Don't know if that's a factor for you Swank, but it's a priority for me. ;)

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Yes I know what you are talking about. I have been bitten thru the ENO fabric. My Bias has their bugnet, that hangs low and loose. I have yet to get a bite while in that one.

I am just thinking, naively, that the taffeta might be easier to sew than the ripstop. I plan on playing with several materials and getting it dialed in, then I will start my own hammock company to justify these expenses. I figure I can justify buying each and everyone else's models for personal use and write it off as R & D! It will definitely show a loss every year.

People use ripstop for a variety of reasons. One of them is the idea that it will stop tears from getting bigger. In the world it was intended for, garments and no load items, that is true. But for hammocks I think it is a false assumption. I can tear ripstop with my bare hands and do so frequently when I am working with it. I see no substantial benefit of ripstop for hammocks over the smooth taffeta used by many commercial manufacturers.

Ripstop is a lighter fabric than taffeta by and large. But I don't like the feel of ripstop against my skin. It is more abrasive than taffeta.

In fact, you can use just about any fabric for hammocks. China silk would be absolutely decadent. Cotton damask tapestry would be heavy but lovely. Satin is fun to use but don't expect a durable item that withstands abrasion. Satin is rather fragile that way.

For the DIY maker, ripstop and polyester taffeta would be my main suggestions.

Thanks, Rev. Is there much difference in nylon vs. polyester taffeta?

Polyester won't stretch like nylon does. Just an FYI, I wrote ENO 3 months ago inquiring about the fabric they used...no response.

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Originally Posted by Fish<><

Polyester won't stretch like nylon does. Just an FYI, I wrote ENO 3 months ago inquiring about the fabric they used...no response.

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What Fish<>< said. Also, polyester won't absorb as much water--though, honestly, with the thicknesses of fabric we're talking about, the difference is probably not noticeable.

For weight, go with ripstop. For feel against skin, go with taffeta. For mosquito protection, go with either a double layer or treat with Permethrin.

For a good starting point of ripstop weights versus comfort versus occupant weight, Warbonnet has an handy chart. 30d is roughly equal to 1.1 oz/sq yd ripstop nylon, while 70d is roughly equal to 1.9 oz/sq yd in most cases.

Hope it helps!

FLRider,

Thanks for the info!

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Originally Posted by swankfly

FLRider,

Thanks for the info!

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Not a problem!

Okay, I am getting there, slowwlllyyy......

Nylon and Polyester are the main fabrics we utilize in Hammock and Tarp construction, some cuben, m90 and other high performance products also.

Uncounted for hammocks, coated for tarps.

Taffeta and Oxford refer to a specific weave, that MIGHT BE USED in either nylon or polyester.

30D 70D 90D are measurements of the weight of the fabric.

70D 210T would be a 70 denier fabric or 210 threads per inch?

Now what the heck is calendared and down proof.

If all this info is compiled somewhere else, please kick me towards the door.

Thanks,

Wes

Quote:

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Originally Posted by swankfly

Okay, I am getting there, slowwlllyyy......

Nylon and Polyester are the main fabrics we utilize in Hammock and Tarp construction, some cuben, m90 and other high performance products also.

Uncounted for hammocks, coated for tarps.

Taffeta and Oxford refer to a specific weave, that MIGHT BE USED in either nylon or polyester.

30D 70D 90D are measurements of the weight of the fabric.

70D 210T would be a 70 denier fabric or 210 threads per inch?

Now what the heck is calendared and down proof.

If all this info is compiled somewhere else, please kick me towards the door.

Thanks,

Wes

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Mostly correct. Ripstop is another weave type; it's more often used in nylon, but can be found in poly as well.

Denier (the "d" in "30d") is actually a measure of the thread weight, not the fabric weight. However, in a ripstop pattern, most times there is a close correlation between denier and fabric weight. The reason for this is that ripstop is woven to industry standards (as much as the fabric industry has them, anyway), so the way it is woven is pretty similar between thread weights.

Not sure whether "210t" would be the thread count per inch. It sounds right, but I've been known to be wrong before...:rolleyes:.

Calendaring is a process in which a synthetic fabric is heat treated with high-pressure rollers on one side. This flattens the fibers out and locks them together (almost the same as heat sealing a cut edge does), making the fabric have a tighter weave. This makes it more wind- and down-resistant. It also makes the fibers weaker (so, the ratings mentioned above in the Warbonnet link may not apply to calendared fabrics).

Most downproof fabrics are calendared (though not all calendared fabrics are downproof). Make sure you check with the supplier before buying (most cottage vendors will know for certain; most big-box stores won't have any idea what you're asking--leastwise, that's been my experience).

Hope it helps!

Denier is yarn mass in grams per 9,000 meters, and originally was a comparison based on silk at 1 gram for 9,000 meters. It's used in a similar manner as tex, something I knew nothing about until I googled it after reading the thread. Tex is mass in grams per 1,000 meters. In practice it is common to see decitex, or dtex, which is mass in grams per 10,000 meters, so, numerically, it's almost the same thing as denier.

Note that the same system applies to the whole yarn as well as the individual strands making up the yarn. Wikipedia gives an example of a six-ply 20 tex yarn all wound together to make a 120 tex thread.

Thread count is another measure, but not as common for outdoor fabrics. Don't confuse thread, a cotton yarn measure, with thread count, which should be spelled out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Units_o...le_measurement

Just when I thought I was making some headway.... I see some fabrics listed as both 70D and 210T, I guess some people/industries use a different measurement?

It is possible to get so scientific as to lose perspective of what's important. To wit..

30D _roughly_ relates to 1.1 ripstop.

70D _roughly_ relates to 1.9 ripstop.

progressively larger numbers would _roughly_ relate to heavier fabrics.

For the average gear maker that's about as complicated as it needs to get. If you are doing commercial work it becomes more important. But the average person just needs to grasp that. 30D fabric in what ever fiber content would be _roughly_ equivalent in weight. Obviously the density of the weave and pattern of the weave would change the weight of the fabric, but not the denier of the thread. That's why all of this is _roughly_.

Anyone out there have sources for fabrics like ENO?

Thanks,

You can make a crinkle taffeta from tableclothfactory.com with a whoopie kit for 35 bucks :) I made 3 lol

Jeremy

Thanks, I am looking for a supplier other than pre cut tablecloths.

The fabric in the GT UL is very nice. I have really enjoyed it.

But if I was to make things from scratch I'd use this: "68 INCH WIDE ACU UNIVERSAL CAMOUFLAGE 30 DENIER NYLON RIPSTOP 1.1 OUNCES A SQUARE YARD, THIS IS A LIGHT WEIGHT RIPSTOP FABRIC WITH A PURE FINISH
Price: $1.25 A YARD. Temporary out of stock [sic]"

It's not available here: http://www.magnafabrics.com/category/camouflage.html

I'd make a double layer hammock, weather sock, and then a DIY silnylon tarp out of it.

One could do a pretty good business with lightweight and cost effective camo offerings.

Mike

Quote:

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Originally Posted by swankfly

Thanks, I am looking for a supplier other than pre cut tablecloths.

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If you want to make your own desired specs you could get a 90x136 for $17 and trim it to size and hem. DIYgearsupply.com and this place is good also http://www.efabricsupplier.com/category_s/63.htm

Jeremy