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Hammock ripping
Good thing I didn't quit my day job, I have only hung in the hammock I have made twice and it is already starting to rip down the middle. As anyone had this happen to them? I bought my fabric from Joanne's. I am unsure of the thickness, it didn't say anywhere on it. Could it be how I am hanging it? I didn't have trees so I hung it in between my kids play set. I didn't have all the supplies the first time I hung it so I just wrapped the webbing right around the playground. Yesterday, I finished it by sewing two rings into the webbing and just put a larks head around the whipped end. I still didn't have luck finding amsteel locally so this is what I did for now. Anyway, when I was laying in it I found a little hole, didn't think much of it, thought I could have dne it, but right down the middle you can tell that it looks like it wants to rip, like it was pulled to tight. I am just about 150, so my weight shouldn't be a factor. Any ideas? Thank. Good thing I ordered a WBBB.
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Probably a flaw in the fabric. I ended up on the ground late last fall when the bottom of mine literally blew out. A bad feeling, especially on a rainy, cold night in the mountains a little north of Big Timber, MT.
I'm also 150#. This was a professionally made hammock and was immediately replaced by the vendor. I sent them the torn one and they had never seen it happen before. I'm also very careful not to have anything sharp or rough attached to what I wear to sleep in. Had fleece pants on then.
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It could be your fabric isn't strong enough for hammock use. I had one blow out on me in Jan, in the snow, while it was sleeting. It was made from M50 which isn't a typical hammock material. If that hole is in an area that is under a lot of tension then you are very likely headed for a blow out. Especially if the fabric isn't ripstop.
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Ripstop will also blow out - it's just harder to do it. I really suspect the hole no matter how it got there.
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Thought I put that in my post but definitely ripstop nylon, just don't know if it is 1.1? It didn't say anywhere on it and the staff didn't know. The line that looks like it is starting to tear is right in the middle of the hammock, the hoe is a little higher and off center. Any other ideas on where to buy fabric? I checked all my local walmarts and they didn't have any. Joanne's is t he only fabric store around here and don't want to buy that again. Guess I will order online, then maybe I could get a cool camo print.
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I don't think any of the stuff at Joanne's is 1.1. I have made tarps with it (PU coated variety) but never a hammock. I would order some stuff from DIY gear supply or some such place that is specifically designed for that purpose. Lots of work to have it tear out. Keep at it, it will work. I made a DL hammock from the pattern on Scott's website that has worked great. My wife likes it so much, she is going to make three more for her daughter to have at work and take camping with her husband.
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FWIW...the normal Joann's ripstop nylon is ~1.9oz/sy.
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That's what I thought. Worked well for a tarp I take when I paddle, but not for the UL crowd for sure.
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My gut tells me that all fabric of identical specification is not the same...if corners can be cut, and it can be made more cheaply, someone will do it. Moreover, different mills will have different levels of QC in place, and some probably have none.
How do you differentiate between the good, the bad, and the ugly? Danged if I know.
And this: the fabric you buy today from a given vendor is almost certainly not the same thing that was on the shelf a year ago.
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Just ordered my diy set up from DIY Gear Supply. fabric, amsteel, poly thread, ridge line, etc all for $46. Everything but bug netting &tarp materials. The 1.6oz fabric is real nice. Joanne's couldn't tell me a weight for their ripstop when I went there either.