ok still looking for an easy answer SPECTRA

[Coffee]

Spectra 12 Strand has 1,800lb tensile strength and weighs 0.53lb/100' at $0.40 a foot at the following link.
http://www.sswr.net/index.php?option...products_id=56

I've been looking into getting some, but I was wondering if anyone can tell me the difference between tensile strength and breaking strength, if there is a big difference.

Thanks

I'm more of an electrical guy than a mechanical guy, but tensile strength is the amount of stress that it can take before breaking. I'm always a little fuzy between stress and strain (one is measured the other is calculated from the other). At 1800 lbs I wouldn't be worried unless you weigh 400 lbs. The amount of force on the rope depends on the angle you hang at. I think a lot of people use 1200 lbs as a gauge. I think I used 1800 or 2200, I can't remember off hand. I used the 7/64 armsteel what ever that comes out to. Going strong after 150+ hangs at my 220lbs self.

[Knotty]

The 7/64 seems plenty strong and only 24 cents a foot makes it very affordable.

[TeeDee]

www.apsltd.com has 12 strand braid dyneema and vectran, i like the amsteel better than the vectran, it seems to wear better, is about the same weight/strength, and is cheaper.

don't think creep should be a problem associated with hammock use.

Vectran abrades easily and should never be used for any application where abrasion could be a problem. Like with knots under tension.