Have fabric need help!

[Rapt]

My views are that polyester tends to do better for UV resistance... But in both materials the darker colours are more resistant to UV than light ones. No matter which you use. Black is most UV resistant.

Polyester doesn't stretch as much as nylon but in a hammock body some stretch adds to the comfort IMO. Also as was pointed out nylon tends to be more abrasion resistant

[Cannibal]

I personally think the poly is a little softer and feels better. I can't find ripstop nylon at my Walmart...ever! I can sometimes find the poly and have made my last couple of quick hammocks out of poly.

[jeffjenn]

Here are the pics: (Green fabric was pretty boring)

Green-1.jpg

Green-2.jpg

Tan-1.jpg

Tan-2.jpg

Tan-3.jpg

Tan-4.jpg

So what do you think? What is this?

[schrochem]

I think you have the tan one identified properly as a dwr ripstop.
The green is a taffeta but it looks like it might be another fabric (based on the pics). Is almost looks like cotton.
Also, yes, HH uses a tight weave taffeta.

[nogods]

If it is cotton I would not use it. I don't think that cotton would not be suitable for any outdoor gear - once it gets wet it'll stay wet for days. I've made the mistake of wearing cotton underwear on backpacking trips and then having it get soaked due to rain or taking a quick dip in a pond. It quickly soaks up water three times its weight and stays that way for the entire weekend.

[jeffjenn]

Tan appears to be ripstop nylon.
Green gets the vote for a polyester (didn't smell bad, melted, & hard black ash)

Now I will work on weights of these. I have a small digital scale I use for reloading. Will that work???

Once again thanks, you guys have been so much help!

[Rapt]

Those would have been my guess based on the photos...

The scale will work for weight, but you'll have to cut small enough pieces... I weigh my whole piece when I get it on a postal scale. Then divide over the whole area of the piece.