Cuben Fiber SUL Hammock

[Oh-No]

Headchange4u asked about sewing Cuben Sailcloth.

I found the 0.47oz/Sq.yd. material easy to sew. I made a tarp out of it
(yes it makes a killer tarp) and sealed the center seam with Kenyon's
Seam Sealer 3 (it works, although other seam sealers would probably
work as well). It is 11' X 8' 7" and 6 3/4 oz with tie-outs.

I made another tarp out of aprox. 0.30oz/sq. yd. and sewing it was a
pain. Plus mild tension put on the seam resulted in the needle holes opening
to an alarming size. So I taped a piece of Cuben over the seam to water
proof and strengthen the seam. Since that debacle I only use seam tape from 3M. This tarp is 11' X 7' 8" and weighs 4oz.

I have used top entry hammocks for years and suffered the drawbacks of using CC foam pads because I'm too much of a gram weenie to make a double bottom hammock. The other day I took my large Cuben tarp, folded it in half lengthwise and created a double bottom hammock. It is 10' 7" long between the whipping, 52" wide and weighs 6 3/4 oz. It looks goofy cause I left all the tie-outs & reinforcements on in case it doesn't work out as a hammock. I will try it out with CC foam pads tonight.

For those looking for more info about Cuben fiber sailcloth.
Bill (gardenville) compiled a lot of info. in this thread.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-...346/index.html

Some of the info. is dated but there is lots of good stuff there.

Bill may have other useful links to add.


Paul's personal rules of hanging:
1. Don't hang higher then you care to fall.
2. Don't hang over anything you mind landing on.

[gardenville]

Hi Oh No / Paul,

Thanks for posting the references to some of my MYOG posts. I don't have a web site but do have a Blog that I post to.

http://ultraliteskunkworks.blogspot.com

I really like the idea of the double bottom when a pad of some sort is needed to help keep your backside warm, slide your sleeping pad in there and I would guess you don't have to worry about trying to keep it where you want it. Using Cuben fiber for the bottom layer might double the weight 2.36 oz + 2.36 oz but this is still a total hammock fabric weight of about 5 ounces.

My Hammocks are all of the Ed Speer design style and it seems like it might be easy to attach the bottom when needed and remove it when it isn't necessary. This is an idea I am going to play with.

Another thought is for me to try using the ground cloth I carry anyway and see if that might work for the double bottom.

I carry a very light GG brand ground cloth in case I sleep in a shelter or on the ground. I will try this first and see how it works. It would be the same concept but using something I carry anyway. The ground cloth is also a nice extension for my small poncho / tarp.

[warbonnetguy]

gardenville, i have some of the c3 sailrite tape, you mentioned not using any stitching in some cases.

say on a tarp, could you just use the c3 tape only for the pull tabs and no stitches? how bout the ridge seam?

[Oh-No]

I'm not gardenville but Ill try and help.

I could not find specifications for the c3 sailrite tape
but the ridge line and pull tabs (I'd use plastic D rings and
sailcloth) can be taped. Depending on how good the
c3 sailrite tape is you may want to consider 2 lines of
tape for the ridgeline. I would make the pull tabs with
Cuben fabric (not grosgrain or other woven material)
using D rings for tie-out attachment.

[warbonnetguy]

i thought the c3 tape was supposed to be the best, what do you use?

thats surprising about the pull tabs holding without stitches. i could definately see it working better with cuben to cuben.

i have only used the stuff for making ripstop patches. doesn't stick to sil although nothing does.

[gardenville]

Hi,

I only have one thing that I used the tape on. I used the tape once for the neck of my poncho / tarp to solve a difficult sewing situation.

I did try the tape on a long seam once and was all thumbs and had a difficult time with it. Then I weighed a few inches of Cuben with the tape on it and weighed the same amount of Cuben that was sewn. The piece that was sewn was enough lighter that I have never used the tape again.

I am committed to making my gear 100% as light as I possibly can so even a difference of 1 or 2 ounces is to much for me if sewing is lighter. Once I have gotten something as light as a can I always have the option to add back some weight if I have a good enough reason. I do have a different weight standard for the different seasons.

My first silk hammock had 17 foot of double side velcro tape on it for the bug net. Guess how I felt about that when I did the math to see how much extra that weighed. I really love that heavy (14 ounce) custom made Ed Speer silk hammock and still use it.

[Oh-No]

"i thought the c3 tape was supposed to be the best, what do you use? "

It may be the best, but I haven't found the specifications on it.
I use 3M Adhesive transfer tape 9485PC 1/2" X 60yds X 5.0 mil
I only use it for Cuben Fiber cloth and other spinnaker material.
If the C3 tape is better I will switch.

"thats surprising about the pull tabs holding without stitches. i could definately see it working better with cuben to cuben. "

I reinforce the pull tabs and so far I've had no problems.

[warbonnetguy]

reinforce with stitches?

[headchange4u]

MLD uses some sort of tape on their cuben products. IMHO, the tape would work best for making a really nice, waterproof ridge line seam. I would still sew the tie out reinforcements.

[Oh-No]

reinforce with stitches?

You could reinforce with stitches and cloth, but I reinforce with strips of Cuben and tape. I find it easier, although as Bill said it is a little heavier.