Locking stitch question

[Purpleorchid]

Newbie to the forum! Happened upon hammocks and decided that's what I want for my birthday. Husband and I went to REI last week and I picked up an ENO DoubleNest and Slap Straps. Discovered this forum and decided I needed to return the Slap Straps and make my own whoopie slings LOL.

Unfortunately I don't get to use my hammock until mid-August, so all I can do is look at it and not even open it.

So my 7/64" Amsteel Blue arrived last night. My descender rings and tree straps should arrive later this week.

I'm going to be making my slings tonight but I had a question about the locking stitches. What I've gathered so far is that I need to do a couple stitches using dental floss and then another couple stitches 90 degrees to that.

My questions are:
1) Where do I put the locking stitches, let's say on the fixed loop I'm making? Do I put them close to the newly made eye or do I put them close to the end of the bury? I read in one thread that you want to have the locking stitches just keep the rope in place and let the load do the rest of the holding...so in my mind that means I want the locking stitches closer to the eye so that the bury and the outer cord can lock under load. Or does it not really matter where the stitches are, just that they are somewhere along the bury?
2) Dental floss? Can I use something else? Dental floss is easy to chafe/cut. Do I really want to use dental floss?
3) Do I tie knots in the locking stitch ends or just do the locking stitches and cut the floss close to the Amsteel Blue?

Thanks for the help!

[Boothill]

or you could just do a locked brummel

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=13328

boot

[hppyfngy]

+1 what boot said. It's easier to do a locked brummel and no stitching required.

Welcome to the forum

[Canoexist]

Yes, what they ^ said.

[oldgringo]

I agree with them, but to answer your questions, the lock stitch goes on the loop end of the bury. I use dental floss, and finish with a square (reef) knot. You can also do this on your sewing machine, using polyester thread. Have fun!

[Catavarie]

Locked Brummel is good way to go IMO. But if you want to be super duper paranoid about it letting you go (such as myself) you can still stich the bury.

I use the threads of amsteel that I removed to taper the end of the whoopie. I figure I have them, and they should be, at least, nearly as strong as before I so rudely removed them from their friends.

[Purpleorchid]

Thanks! I will try that for the "real" fixed loop. So far, I've created the constriction part and then small fixed loops on the "pull" end of the constrictor (adjustment end?). So I'll do lock stitches there. When it comes to the real fixed loop that I'll be attaching to the descending ring by the hammock end, I'll try my hand at a brummel.

My first constriction part was hard but the second one was much easier. You guys are right, this splicing is addicting!

[hiker_DC]

Here is the official Samson rope splicing instructions as well for amsteel whoopies.

Doc

[gmcttr]

And just so you have it...Samson's Lock Stitching Instructions.

[Purpleorchid]

Thanks! I finished my whoopie slings Fri night. I used floss and happened to do my locking stitches very close to what the instructions said. I did three stitches. The only thing I didn't do is bury the ends of the floss after I tied it off.

So I'm all set. I made my whoopie slings, 4 soft shackles, 2 continuous loops with SMC descending rings larksheaded on. Now all I have to wait for my birthday next week so I can open up my hammock! I can't wait to lounge in it! I have a feeling I will need to buy some cord for that whoopie ridgeline so I can have a consistent hang...

Splicing is addicting.