So I've had my 2x4 hammock stand outside for about a month now.
Took a look at one of my uprights and it's got some cracking.
Is this the standard checking of wood, or cracking?
Probably should be replaced right? About half inch deep. Runs from top to about 3/4 of the way down.
I would replace it now. Are you using treated wood? I do for outdoor projects since I got tired of rebuilding them every few years.
I'm by no means an expert - but that pic makes me worried. I would change it ASAP
/Bomber.LTD
Member of the infamous "Hyperborean Hang Gang"
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"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."-Thomas Edison"If there is anything bigger than my ego in here, i want it dragged outside and shot"!!!-Zap Brannigan
To much time on your hands? Waste some time here
For peace of mind you might want to change it. Its hard to say whether it will break or not. If there's other members of the family using it you might opt for change. In post and beam construction things crack all the time but it doesn't fall down.
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Yup, treated wood.
Should be easy enough to replace. $4 piece of lumber and couple quick holes for peace of mind is a pretty good trade off.
Picture looks like a 4x4 and I seriously doubt it will fail.. but its cheap so replace it.. make it look better anyway
If you can go to a better lumber store and get Kiln Dried wood.
Home Depot and lowe's wood is generally really wet.
Yep, change it out for sure. Also, is your post for your stand at an angle or straight up? I can't tell from the picture, but just in case it is straight up, you may want to change it to the angle position. Good luck.
Fronkey
I would decidedly change that out ASAP. I would go so far as to say replace it with a 4 X 4 or at the very least attach to the narrow side of the 2 x 4 so the stress is being pulled against the 4" dimension. You want to pull against the grain,,, not across the grain. Pay some money for some good quality treated lumber. It should not have bleached out like that in a month.
I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.
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it definitely is showing signs of pending failure. it's hard to see what's what with that pic. but to me that peice of wood is oriented wrong to withstand the loads created by the hammock/occupant. i.e. the broad side is faceing the hammock
Safe > sorry
It's possible that the post would hold up fine, but in a hammock stand when you have a hard piece of lumber running down your center line, any type of hammock fail from even a small height will leave a lasting and indelible impression. I've had some high speed wipeouts in my charmed life, but the one that terrifies me most is the thought of a foot-and-a-half drop to the tailbone right on the center beam
By the way, just noticed the clamp/biner you've got connecting your hammock to the stand--talk about dual use. Never thought of that!
Last edited by timabababaluka; 06-25-2011 at 17:23. Reason: Thought I was done--wasn't
You're gonna need a bigger hammock
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