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  1. #1
    New Member
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    Inexpensive Line and where to get it...

    I just built my first hammock last week and hung it up over the weekend. I didn't get a chance to sleep it it, but it seems like it could be all sorts of comfortable. I also work with the local Boy Scouts and this has me thinking. Hammocking seems like a great way to teach the boys all sorts of fun sewing and knot tying skills without being really boring. So I'd really like to spend some nights building hammocks and then we'd try camping in them this summer.

    So the goal here is to make very inexpensive hammocks with really inexpensive suspension. The goal is $10ish for each setup. We'd probably do the $1 bin ripstop walmart special for the hammocks, modified Harbor Frieght tie downs for tree huggers, brings the total to about $5 each.

    Last weekend I just used some el cheapo harbor frieght rope and that did the job, but the stuff rated high enought is really quite large and bulky.

    What type of line should I use and where can I get it for cheap?

    Thanks for your help!!!

  2. #2
    Senior Member Brute1100's Avatar
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    Tagged for interest...
    Live, Laugh, Love, if that doesn't work. Load, Aim and Fire, repeat as necessary...

    Buy, Try, Learn, Repeat

  3. #3
    Senior Member
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    7/64" amsteel blue is popular to use for whoopie slings .23$/ft from redden marine. if you go with 6' slings that works out to about 5.75$ per pair not counting shipping. they also have a 5% discount code floating around here somewhere.

  4. #4
    Senior Member
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    Get a 300' roll of webbing for ~$35 w/shipping from Shipper's Supplies and make a set of 6' tree straps for ~$1.63.

    Redden Marine's discount code is "hammockforum"

  5. #5
    Senior Member olddog's Avatar
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    If you can get your hands on some muletape it will work. Check with your local telephone company. It is used to pull cables thru conduits. Before I retired we would have 1000's of feet piled in the dumpster. Maybe someone else can supply other sources.
    Most of us end up poorer here but richer for being here. Olddog, Fulltime hammocker, 365 nights a year.

  6. #6
    New Member
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    Awesome, thanks for the tips! I'll have to look into whoopie slings. For learning knots would it be possible to use Amsteel to tie tautline knots which would hold up a hammock?

  7. #7
    Senior Member
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    tying knots in amsteel blue is not recommended. 1/ significantly reduces the strength of the line 2/ amsteel is a 'slick' line and knots have a tendency to a/not hold very well b/collapse and distort or c/ fail
    if using amsteel you are best off splicing

  8. #8
    Member Simple Survival's Avatar
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    Doing a lot of survival camping i use 550/para cord for every thing. You can get the 7 stran and teach them to pull the small strans out to sew with and make fishing line with it. With the hollow para cord they can make whoope slings with. Around here you can get 100' for about $6. It has a lot of uses and last long time, any color, great to get knots out of, and great for the price. I am 150lbs and in a bind i have used it to repel with.

  9. #9
    Senior Member titanium_hiker's Avatar
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    The Wimmera, Australia
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    Paracord hasn't been recommended for hanging with, as it stretches a lot. If it works for you, great! However a lot of people find they end up with their butts on the ground if they use paracord.

    (it's designed for parachutes- the sudden jolt of the 'chute opening could snap non stretchy thread- great for 'chutes, not so great for hanging.)
    http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=52975 has some data.

    The webbing should be the best bet for simple hanging:
    http://www.imrisk.com/hammock/improvedknot.htm Simple, easy, can be swapped out later but it's CHEAP and LIGHT. (and has integrated tree protection.)

    What about tarps?
    blue old style
    tyvek
    black cat
    other
    How to pitch it: http://www.tothewoods.net/HammockCam....html#Pitching


    What about staying warm?
    Poncho Liner UQ (PLUQ) no sew or some sew might be a good project, or a SPE
    (Speer Segmented Pad extender)
    or here http://tothewoods.net/HomemadeGearSPEZipper.html
    Even the overlap pad:
    http://www.imrisk.com/overlappad/overlap.htm

    what about storage?
    snake skins (for tarps) out of mesh: http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ead.php?t=1408
    (with integrated pockets for guylines! )
    black bishop sack for hammock (and quilts?): http://tothewoods.net/HomemadeGearBlackbishopSack.html

    about the PLUQ- are people pronouncing these like "plook" ? If so this amuses me greatly.

    TH
    Last edited by titanium_hiker; 05-21-2012 at 04:38. Reason: added links
    my hammock gear weights total: 2430g (~86oz)
    Winter: total 2521 (~89oz)
    (see my profile for detailed weights)

    gram counter, not gram weenie!

  10. #10
    Senior Member oldgringo's Avatar
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    Awesome post, th!
    Dave

    "Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self."~~~May Sarton

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