DIY Hammock Cost

[APCP]

Hello everyone. I'm new to both hammocking and DIY, so bear with my newbie questions: I'm a little under 6 feet tall, and I want to build a simple gathered end hammock. Further, I need to put bug netting on my hammock--probably the entire hammock since my sleeping bag is often opened and thus won't necessarily protect me from those little buggers. About how much material (nylon, netting, thread, suspension cord or webbing, etc) would I need? Further, since I'm trying to keep the cost of my setup as low as possible, should I just go ahead and buy a hammock from eBay or something? I know these are pretty open ended question, but can anyone give me a general idea?

[Ramblinrev]

If you have to pay full retail for the fabric you might find it is cost effective to buy Grand Parachute hammock and work up a solution for bugnet. Or a skeeter beeter might work as well.I would figure at least 3.5 yards each of hammock fabric and netting. That's if you don't make a prototype first and go directly to the finish fabric. It can be done that way but it is often best to make some mockups so you can play around with various ways of gathering, lengths widths etc.

[Shug]

This will get you there!!!!....... JustJeffs HomeMade Hammock Site

[krugd]

This is a bit old, but Risk put up these prices a few years ago. It can give you an idea of cost.

How you decide to build the hammock can change the prices quite a lot. If you still have a Walmart with a fabric department, you can use $1.50 /yd material to make a mockup cheaply. Their ripstop and light polyester material will work for a body of you finished hammock, if you can get some nice looking stuff.

If you spend much time on these pages the cost will likely increase. So many good ideas, so little time.

If you decide to build, Speer hammocks has bug netting and other materials at 25% off right now.

[gargoyle]

APCP, welcome.
If your totally new to sewing and diy, I would say just buy a good hammock.
Learning and trying to save money at the same time don't work that well.

To answer your questions..
1 spool of gutterman's polyester thread
webbing and/or rope for suspension. approx. 20-30 feet total.
Fabric for hammock, 3.5 yds for single layer, 7 for double layer hammock.
Netting, same as fabric lengths, depending on style of netting you go with. (sock vs. sewn on vs. draped over or quarterweight.)
10 gallon bucket of patience.

Sewing machine, extra $100-600. Depending on style and type.

Prices on said items will vary, depending on where you shop. I'd say minimum $100 bucks for a new setup, considering you'll be taking countless trips back and forth to the store for extras. And patience gets really expensive after a while.

Brand new Warbonnet Hammock, $160-175, a week or two of anxiety waiting. Done deal.
http://warbonnetoutdoors.com/blackbirds.php Scroll down for prices.
Your choice, both worth it.

Good luck. And Welcome to the Forum.

[Trout]

ACP - Assuming you have your own sewing machine. You can go to Ed Speers website and buy everything you need except the suspension. It's the shipping costs and paying retail that kill you, so... Fabric at $5/yd - 4 yards + thread $10/spool + AHE tree $10 - 20 huggers + suspension from who ever is around $13 - 17 = $60+. If you want to make your own netting Speers sells it pretty cheap also. If you plan on making your own TQ and/UQ, purchase the materials at the same time and place as your hammock, so you can save $ on the shipping and the frustration of waiting.

[Mac25]

Good info here