Table Cloth Hammock whipping

[Hegone]

Ordered a couple of table cloths to make some DIY hammocks. What kind of line do you guys use for the whipping? Thought I would do the whipping on one of the hammocks and sew a channel on the other one? Which of these two methods do you guys perfer and why? I guess I need to order some Amsteel continous loops next.

[Wanderlost]

I like whipping mainly because I'm lazy and I saw straight lines like a drunk man. I use Zing-it or one of its kin to do the whipping. I've heard of folks using paracord, but I don't trust my butt enough to paracord unless it's in riser form and attached to a chute.

[steveflinn]

You can forego the whipping altogether with cottons and polyesters and heavier camping fabrics. Full disclosure: I haven't played with this much with silnylons.

Gather as you would, accordion style, and tie an overhand knot. All done! It bites down real nice if you work at it and you don't need to waste a lot of fabric leaving a long tail. This was my method for 20 years or so. Now that you can get crinkle taffeta tablecloths hemmed to an ideal size you could make them right on site at a party or gathering. Takes so little time that you'll find it a challenge to explain about safety and tree straps and insulation before you're done.

You'll find you can work at it to make a small improvement here and there but it works terrific right out of the chute. Suspension has more to grab onto with other methods and so is even more secure...and every bit as swappable, when you decide you want to go lighter and try different suspensions.

[packeagle]

My favorite whipping method, to date. Its just so easy to get a comfortable hammock this away. I've always had to fiddle with traditional whipping to get it as comfortable.

[priller]

I have whipped with paracord and Lash-It.

The Lash-It is nice and light, but the paracord IMO can hold a knot tighter. You can remove the inner core from the paracord to shave some weight. Remember, the whipping cord isn't exactly weight bearing.

[Tijereyes]

I'm planning to whip mine up using this method (granted, not technically whipping) -- basically you tie a sheet bend around the hammock with your suspension; think fixed eye on a whoopie or UCR:



I want to play around with the length; I'm planning to try my hand at a double Vertex-style and I want to dial in the perfect lay for a single hammock first, so I'll be doing a lot of modifications (length/width) and I don't want to have to rewhip each time.

[gmcttr]

I prefer the cheap nylon cord available in the camping section of every big box store. This is one application where I think some stretch helps to get the lashing very tight and to keep it that way. Paracord is my second choice.

[nothermark]

I do not like nylon because it stretches and I associate that with loosening. ;-) Given the choices shown it would not seem to matter much for a straight whipping as that only hold the bundle together. On the other hand one stress's the material with the larks head knot or the hammock knot like Tijereyes video. For that I like something bigger than 7/64 amsteel so it spreads the load better on the material. If you look Tijereyes is using something like 1/4 in or 8 mm. Any soft high strength line will do. I use dacron or spectra because I have it.

The problem is that whatever line you use to be weight bearing needs to be strong enough to support at least 5x your weight. More is better. The other problem is to check for damage at the attachment point and see if there are any signs of stressing the cloth.

[metalhanger]

I like the waxed nylon line from the fishing section that is used for static trotlines. Smaller than paracord, very strong and inexpensive.

[krshome]

Zip-ties the heavy type for wiring works great and easy