Mini-spreader bar on End Channel Hammock

[dirtwheels]

Look forward to hearing your results.

Got some beads, not easy on a Sunday
Diameter 14mm (approx 9/16 Inch)
Weight 1 gram

I used safety pins to prove my point.
Test is comming up.
Attachment 95632

[Snowball]

Failure, hmm not really but not the result I hoped for. Is it worth it? No not IMHO

The beads and the channel did not match well. The fit was too tight. I was not able to slide all the fabric channel onto the bead string because when compressed the fabric volume gets bigger. The channel needs to be 1/8” or so bigger.
The positive thing is the fabric does not slide on the bead string. It is pulled into the space between the beads when the hammock is loaded. It looks a bit like beans.
At first I tried without knots at the end of the beads. It does not work! The bead string slides on the suspension.
Next I tried with knots. Better but it is extremely difficult to make knots so they are just at the edge of the beads. The hammock will slide the distance between the beads and the knots.
What is very important is symmetry. Because everything is so close to the hammocks centerline just ¼” or less will make the hammock tilt sideways.
As I expected the edge by the channel will become a stress point so reinforcement is needed. Its only when you are getting in and out or sitting in the hammock.
Yesterday I tried with a reinforced aluminum tube with carbon fiber inside (approx 6” and 17 gram) inside the channel. The comfort was very much the same except with the beads the edges are pulled much more up not to my taste.
Please have in mind the tape measure on the picture is metric!
If I had to pick one of the two I would go for the tube but …………………..

In my experience the result with the beads could almost be made by sewing in grosgrain or thin webbing into the channel. It will add bulk and it will not make the hammock tilt. For this method to work you have to hang in the sewn channel not whipped gathering!

What to do/try next
chain.jpg
bean.jpg
IMG_20141026_151742.jpg
IMG_20141026_155805.jpg
IMG_20141026_165531.jpg
IMG_20141026_170456.jpg

[Snowball]

Could not help myself
Small changes can change the shape.
In this test I just pulled a strip of 1” webbing into the channel. No swing no nothing. I think it’s about 3” long + what is hanging outside with no effect.
If you x2 or x3 the webbing the difference will be even bigger.
Untitled-1.jpg

Untitled-2.jpg

[JnL]

Redoleary...On my latest tablecloth hammock I made a large continuous loop fed it thru the channel and pick up my SRL that comes thru a hole in the middle of the channel. Nothing new I show a similar setup a few pages back. But the continuous loop is larks headed to the ring on each end, rather than spliced thru the channel. I dont know if that makes sense, but I find it comfortable enough to not bother with the bar.

I was just wondering what length continuous loop you settled on? Is there a maximum length at which point you gain no more benefit?

Thanks.

[cncswiss1]

I've been browsing the sailing hardware sites and found a few interesting things to try:

http://www.layline.com/us/category/1...lta-Hooks.html
http://www.layline.com/us/category/1...-Shackles.html
http://www.layline.com/us/1-Ronstan-...RONRF637.html- APSLTD also has these
http://www.sailrite.com/Adjustable-W...er-2-by-Suncor
http://www.apsltd.com/c-1134-eyestraps.aspx wc9205

[Redoleary]

Redoleary...On my latest tablecloth hammock I made a large continuous loop fed it thru the channel and pick up my SRL that comes thru a hole in the middle of the channel. Nothing new I show a similar setup a few pages back. But the continuous loop is larks headed to the ring on each end, rather than spliced thru the channel. I dont know if that makes sense, but I find it comfortable enough to not bother with the bar.

I was just wondering what length continuous loop you settled on? Is there a maximum length at which point you gain no more benefit?

Thanks.

I don't recall the size of the loop exactly but it seems like is was probably around 8" diameter. Long enough to comfortably go thru the hammock and larks head to the ring and not so long that it will hang out in the rain by sticking out past the ends of my tarp. As long as your tarp is not really small I dont thing going too big would be a factor, regarding comfort at least.

[JnL]

Thanks, Red.

Ours are ~7.5+", so I'll give them a try.

[cjackson9357]

Resurrect the thread? Read through most of the pages and doesn't seem as though a final doable solution was ever achieved. I read this thread with more suspense than any movie.

[Artfuldodger]

Resurrect the thread? Read through most of the pages and doesn't seem as though a final doable solution was ever achieved. I read this thread with more suspense than any movie.

Sounds like me. Newby who hasn't slept in one yet. It appears the mini spreader bar was cast aside and some type of loop cord through the channel was favored. Usually on these long threads it works down to tow or three common solutions. I too thought that would of happened before I got to the end.

[Scotty Von Porkchop]

I tied it out so I could be comfortable in a 8.5' hammock, and even reducing the length of my tarp, and while it did work it was just so much easier to build a 10.5' hammock and keep it simple.