Whip ends vs channel end and other catastrophes

[jmdeacon]

Yesterday I finished making my first DIY hammock, I have 4 other professionally made hammocks. I followed the tutorial on here and made a whipped end. The end itself looks very similar to how my WBBB looks so I think I did that part right. I put my continuous loop around it and put in my ridgeline. I set it up in the garage and was very impressed with myself. It is huge, 12 foot long and 69 inches wide after hemming. It felt great. I did not notice any calf ridge. I have a WBBB XLC and while I generally like it, the calf ridge has been a bit annoying. I could just imagine the great sleep I would have on my next trip.

Today, I took it outside and put it between some real trees with my other hammock next to it for a comparison. Something was not going right. I could not get comfortable in it despite having a 30 degree angle and what seemed to be the correct stress on the ridgeline. I noticed that the ends were twisted a bit and could tell that was effecting how much slack was on the sides. I tried moving my continuous loop larkshead around to see if that would help. Next I got back in the hammock and tried repositioning and then the hammock tore about a 10 inch opening near one of the ends. Now I am not so impressed with myself. I'm not entirely sure why it tore. I'm not huge, only 180 pounds, but clearly something was not right with how I had the ends put together. Before it tore, the main issue was the sides were pretty floppy and they were not able to give my head support. The fabric was 1.6 HyperD XL and should be strong enough for me.

So, I am going to try again. Perhaps I should try a channel end and just put the continuous loop through that. My question is, is it easier to get the proper lay in a hammock with different ways of doing the end? Also if anyone can think of what I did wrong so I do not do it again, that would be great.

[SilvrSurfr]

I took one look at whipping, and decided that wasn't for me. It's too much of an art - too customizable. All my hammocks have a triple sewn channel with an Amsteel continuous loop. It's dirt simple, predictable, and above all reproducible.

[jadekayak]

Yesterday I finished making my first DIY hammock, I have 4 other professionally made hammocks. I followed the tutorial on here and made a whipped end. The end itself looks very similar to how my WBBB looks so I think I did that part right. I put my continuous loop around it and put in my ridgeline. I set it up in the garage and was very impressed with myself. It is huge, 12 foot long and 69 inches wide after hemming. It felt great. I did not notice any calf ridge. I have a WBBB XLC and while I generally like it, the calf ridge has been a bit annoying. I could just imagine the great sleep I would have on my next trip.

Today, I took it outside and put it between some real trees with my other hammock next to it for a comparison. Something was not going right. I could not get comfortable in it despite having a 30 degree angle and what seemed to be the correct stress on the ridgeline. I noticed that the ends were twisted a bit and could tell that was effecting how much slack was on the sides. I tried moving my continuous loop larkshead around to see if that would help. Next I got back in the hammock and tried repositioning and then the hammock tore about a 10 inch opening near one of the ends. Now I am not so impressed with myself. I'm not entirely sure why it tore. I'm not huge, only 180 pounds, but clearly something was not right with how I had the ends put together. Before it tore, the main issue was the sides were pretty floppy and they were not able to give my head support. The fabric was 1.6 HyperD XL and should be strong enough for me.

So, I am going to try again. Perhaps I should try a channel end and just put the continuous loop through that. My question is, is it easier to get the proper lay in a hammock with different ways of doing the end? Also if anyone can think of what I did wrong so I do not do it again, that would be great.

I never bother with a structural channel.

Use standard weight thread and sew your channel.
Thread and gather the channel as tight as you can and larks head a soft shackle or sour whoopie sling/UCR directly under the knot.

Simplest no slip method.

[hutzelbein]

You don't happen to have any pics? It's difficult guessing what might have gone wrong with just a description.

I have done quite a few whipped hammocks (Warbonnet-style) and haven't had problems. But I have to admit that I use either heavier fabrics (1.9oz and up) or double layer hammocks (2 x 1.0oz and up). SGT Rock posted his experience that whipping might not be such a good idea with lighter fabrics. While Warbonnet sells 1.1oz single layer hammocks, they are using a 6.6 nylon which seems to be extra sturdy. Maybe that makes a difference. When comparing 1.6oz HyperD with 1.0oz Robic (made from nylon comparable to 6.6 - see introduction post), HyperD doesn't feel as robust.

When I whip a hammock, I pull a dog bone and a polyester string through the channel. Then I hang the hammock from the dog bones, to ensure that the fabric is bunched up evenly. Then I tie off the polyester string to get the whipped end and pull out the dog bone. When I hang a whipped hammock, I always make sure that it's not turned - but then I do the same with normal gathered ends, too. However, when I loop the underquilt suspension over the knobs of my whipped hammocks, it often happens that the hammock gets turned around itself when not loaded (the shock cords pull up the hammock).

[jmdeacon]

Thanks for the advice on how to whip the hammock. I am not sure I fully understand what you mean by putting a dog bone through the channel. Could you expand on that in a bit more detail. My first thought is that your talking about something like a rod, but then I can't see how you would whip the string around the hammock.

[SilvrSurfr]

An Amsteel dogbone has a loop on each end.

[tsunamihazardzone]

I am a new hanger myself. I have made 3 hammocks now and I had a similar experience. The first time I whipped a hammock something just wasn't right I have tried the folded whipping, whipping with a sewn-non-structural channel, and a sewn channel. after some practice with whipping (sewn channel version was easier for me) I did get it to work. In the ended I liked the aesthetic of the sewn structural channel and found it easier to repeat. I'd say try 'em all

[jcksparow]

I never bother with a structural channel.

Use standard weight thread and sew your channel.
Thread and gather the channel as tight as you can and larks head a soft shackle or sour whoopie sling/UCR directly under the knot.

Simplest no slip method.

+1 on that. I'm deeply suspicious of hanging directly from the channel. Don't get me wrong, it gives you a clean finished look, and it's a method that sure seems to be working well for what may well be the majority of hangers. Being such a big guy myself, I just can't square myself with relying on a couple threads to hold my full weight. The best method I've found is to use a cable tie through the sewn channels to gather up the ends and give you a rigid bunch of fabric to larks-head your continuous loop underneath. I've made 3 hammocks using that method, and the lay has been extremely comfortable in all of them.

[jmdeacon]

I did figure out what went wrong with my hammock. I did not have the ridgeline attached to the correct center of the continuous loop. It was on the side which caused my whipped end to pull to the side. That put undo stress on part of the fabric causing it to tear when moving around. I have trimmed out the tear. It was small at the end. I resewed the end and put the ridgeline in properly. It is comfortable and I am back to feeling proud of myself. At least I hope it stays that way.

[Koolranch]

I have only purchased, made and used sewn channel hammocks. Triple stitched, I have had no issues. Never hang higher than You want to fall. Everyone always looks above them for widow makers, I also look at the ground to see what I may fall on.