Different Amsteel gauges and their uses

[Corneilius]

I was about to buy some Amsteel from my local website and they are selling 7/64 is this a good gauge to buy or is there a better thickness for continuous loops for decender ring/webbing suspension?, also are there different uses for different thicknesses? If so what are they?
Thanks in advance!

[FJRpilot]

That's what you want.....

[Jsaults]

Amsteel is, I believe, not a good choice for threading descending loops as a cinch buckle.

I seem to remember reading posts that cautioned against that practice as it severely pinches the fibers.

Jim

[Corneilius]

Amsteel is, I believe, not a good choice for threading descending loops as a cinch buckle.

I seem to remember reading posts that cautioned against that practice as it severely pinches the fibers.

Jim

I meant as the connection between the hammock and the decender rings.

[FJRpilot]

Amsteel is, I believe, not a good choice for threading descending loops as a cinch buckle.

I seem to remember reading posts that cautioned against that practice as it severely pinches the fibers.

Jim

So 7/64th is good for continuous loops.. If your going to use the Amsteel to lock into descender rings attached to a carabiner, attached to straps, Jsaults is right, not a good long term solution... You need something thicker for that...

[Corneilius]

That's what you want.....

Thanks alot. are the other guages used for anything or is it a question of preference?

[Corneilius]

So 7/64th is good for continuous loops.. If your going to use the Amsteel to lock into descender rings attached to a carabiner, attached to straps, Jsaults is right, not a good long term solution... You need something thicker for that...

just to make it clear I was going to use the amsteel larks headed onto the hammock with descender rings attached, then the webbing from the descenders to the tree. that's the right way to do it isn't it?

[FJRpilot]

Thanks alot. are the other guages used for anything or is it a question of preference?

So I'm sure that others will chime in here but my take on this is that Amsteel is a really great replacement for thicker more heaver line used in hammock suspensions. It seems like most use it to build whoppie's to attach to tree straps using various methods depending on how light you want the final package to be. Although you can use it for hammock ridge lines and tarp ridge lines. Its really overkill from a strength standpoint. Some of the smaller gauge Dynema lines are plenty strong enough for those applications. I'm not saying you cant use it... you can use it for about anything.

I believe that the concern with the descender rings is that they can crush the fibers....

[Bubba]

7/64ths is the most common but some who are heavier or want more of a safety factor use 1/8th for weight bearing applications like hammock suspension.

[SilvrSurfr]

I keep some 1/8" around for soft shackles, continuous loops and dogbones.