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  1. #1
    Senior Member gnarus8429's Avatar
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    Best cord for anchoring DIY hammock

    I'm extremely new to DIY hammocks but have been sleeping in a trek light for about a month now. Love it and it is a small miracle for my back. I have read and ordered the appropriate tablecloth for the DIY job but was wondering about the cord for the anchors. Cost is more important than weight or size but, low stretch and and at least a 500 pound (best to over build) working load is a must. I have looked at bluewater 5mm titian cord but, that isn't cheap. Any ideas would be great.

  2. #2
    A quick search will reveal a number of different cords on this forum but you might be looking for amsteel blue. Its a light but very strong cord which makes for great suspension lines. Check out the diy sticky sub forum to find a wealth of info on cordage, suspensions, and making diy hammocks.

    https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...play.php?f=129

  3. #3
    Senior Member gnarus8429's Avatar
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    Yup I understand. I was looking for something more home depot rather than a high tech or high dollar solution.

  4. #4
    Senior Member anvil440's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by gnarus8429 View Post
    Yup I understand. I was looking for something more home depot rather than a high tech or high dollar solution.
    Mason Line - You can get it in more than just yellow too.

    Coghlan's Camoflage Poly Cord (available in the camping section of most Wal-Marts) is some of my favorite cord. It's cheap and worthless (to some) but works fine.

    --- To "anchor" your hammock, or are you looking for suspension line?

  5. #5
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    here is what I am currently using. it is hollow braid just like the amsteel so you can make whoopee slings or splices. it even comes with the tool to do it. it has a 215lb safe working load so split that between both ends and you get 430lb.
    http://www.lowes.com/pd_349231-258-0...ope&facetInfo=

  6. #6
    Senior Member XTrekker's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 11x View Post
    here is what I am currently using. it is hollow braid just like the amsteel so you can make whoopee slings or splices. it even comes with the tool to do it. it has a 215lb safe working load so split that between both ends and you get 430lb.
    http://www.lowes.com/pd_349231-258-0...ope&facetInfo=
    Just to clarify the load is not split between the two ends. It's actually the same forces at each end. That is roughly based on a hang angle of 30°. The smaller angle will increase these forces, while a greater angle will decrease the forces at each end. Only if the angle is at 90° then the load is truly split in half.

  7. #7
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    thanks for clarifying that. I went to the hammock calculator and did some playing around. at 30° the cord tension is the same as the weight applied in the hammock. smaller angles the cord tension drastically increases. at 5° the cord tension is 1148lbs. could some one explain this one to me? thanks

  8. #8
    Senior Member gnarus8429's Avatar
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    Thanks for the suggestions. I look forward to trying those out.

  9. #9
    Senior Member Rain Man's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by gnarus8429 View Post
    Cost is more important than weight or size but, low stretch and and at least a 500 pound (best to over build) working load is a must.
    Most professional ratings are a minimum of 5-to-1 ratios, and many at 10-to-1, so if you want a 500 lb safe working load rating, the line itself (before knots, hardware, wear-and-tear, etc) will be up to a stated 5,000 lbs of strength. Make sure whatever you use does NOT contain the warning "not for use involving human safety" or "not for climbing" or some such.

    Quote Originally Posted by 11x View Post
    ... at 30° the cord tension is the same as the weight applied in the hammock. smaller angles the cord tension drastically increases. at 5° the cord tension is 1148lbs. could some one explain this one to me? thanks
    In a word, PHYSICS. Something I majored in my first year of college.

    However, without doing the geometric discussion and calculations, it's easy to demonstrate. Tie one end of a line to a sturdy tree. Run the line through the handle of a gallon milk jug, full of water. That weighs about 8 or 10 lbs. Now, stand back about 15 feet (however long your hammock hangs between two trees) and hold the other end of the line and pull horizontally on the line until the milk jug doesn't create any sag at all in the line. GOOD LUCK! It won't happen and you won't get anywhere near 5 degrees of sag.

    When you stand on a bathroom scale, your weight is measured exactly vertically. Change that vertical pivot point toward a horizontal pivot point and things changed dramactically. Think of how using a lever multiples your strength (actually, your effective weight) if you're trying to get a stump out of the ground using a long pole. Physics is a wonderful thing, sometimes.

    Rain Man

    .
    Last edited by Rain Man; 12-28-2013 at 09:30.
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  10. #10
    Senior Member Roadrunnr72's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by anvil440 View Post
    Mason Line - You can get it in more than just yellow too.



    --- To "anchor" your hammock, or are you looking for suspension line?
    I have mason line, and use it for tarp guy lines, but wouldn't even think about it for a hammock. I use 7/64 Amsteel and if buying something from HD or Lowes, I wouldn't go with anything less than a 3/8" rope. You would need to check the load rating of the rope before use.......RR
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