OK - I've made a few DIY hammocks and think I've found the best end preparation for me so far: whipped ends.
Here's what led me to conclude that whipped ends are best for me so far... Originally, I made a channeled end DIY out of 1.4 oz rip stop. I looped amsteel through that and hung away. I also made a couple more hammocks out of 40D ACU, and a mystery heavier material from the Walmart clearance racks. Each was fitted with a chord through the quad folded channel. What I found is the chord draws the center of the hammock channel tightest into a very small radius and most of the tension applied when I laid in the hammock at this point. The material failed at this point - within the channel.
I tried the chord through the loop and wrapped it around the hammock end a couple times, kind've making a gathered end, and then hanging - similar failures in the material, but this time at the knots.
So far, the whipped end method is holding up and I think it's because the whipping helps spread the load into the material. I run a loop of chord over the whipped end in what I think is called a lark's head.
Does anyone else have any better ideas for keeping the ends intact for us bigger guys?
Bookmarks