Attaching Fabric to Bridge Suspension

[mrmike65]

For the record, it looks like Reddin Marine has the best deal on Amsteel, as well as a discount code for forum members. That extra bit of service deserves a shoutout . 40$ for 100ft of 1/8" Amsteel (black--everything must be black) shipped.

TCB
*I need to remember to not do anything stupid like try to break the stuff by hand when it shows up (I still have a scar from trying to do so with some fishing line )

Actually, www.backwoodsdaydreamer.com has it for .36/foot, but what's a few dollars

[SteelToe]

Does that include shipping? For some reason I didn't see it on BWDD, otherwise I'd have bought there since I've enjoyed their service in the past.

Are loop/end splices the only way to terminate these cords? The hammock will have a closed-loop suspension holding up the perimeter, and a structural ridgeline up top, both of which will have spliced ends. But the cables holding the legs/arms up will be simple short sections, and will need something at the ends to keep the cord from fraying.

TCB

[SteelToe]

My orders arrived today--much faster than I was expecting . My webbing from Strapworks smells suspiciously of fried chicken...

I must say I was a bit unimpressed with the 1/8" Amsteel; somehow I had come to expect a faint aura-glow and chorus song from the miracle fiber, but it was just rope . The only thing "special" I can tell about it is it seems to have a low specific heat (i.e. it's cool to the touch) which is kind of weird for a polymer. The tubular polyester webbing is, well, tubular polyester webbing.

Hopefully I'll get a section or two of this stuff sewn in place before the weekend. My plan is to sew ~1/2" of the 1" webbing to the edge seam of the hammock panel(s) with more rows of stitching than is probably necessary. I'm still undecided as to whether or not I should leave enough strap excess at the ends for tying to the Amsteel (in lieu of, or in addition to sewing the cordage in place).

Thanks for the advice, guys; hopefully I'll have some "progress" photos here in a bit

Semi-unrelated question: has anyone used Amsteel left-overs for bootlaces? The diameter and hand of the cable seems similar to braided nylon, but I know it's way stronger. It'd be kind of a waste of the material's capabilities, but the stuff seems like it would hold up longer and stretch much less.

TCB