Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 16
  1. #1
    Senior Member Northern Mike's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    French River, Ontario
    Hammock
    ENO DN
    Tarp
    Poly
    Insulation
    Winter fat
    Posts
    105

    Types of Fabric and terminology

    I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to fabrics and the terminology used to describe them.
    I'm currently looking to pull the trigger on a good length (30+ yrds) of rip-stop nylon for a few projects, but without being able to physically see and touch the fabric, I'm at a loss as to what I need or want when ordering online.

    Could some of the more experienced Hammock DIY guys give a quick break down of what fabrics would be used for what purpose?

    I'm thinking something like;
    Hammock: xx to xx denier rip-stop(xx denier preferred for lighter weight)
    Fly/Tarp: xx to xx denier rip-stop (xx denier preferred)
    stuff sac:
    backpack:
    etc

    This should help those with lack of experience figure out what we're looking at and or pricing.

  2. #2
    New Member Rothman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Fontanafredda, Italy
    Hammock
    DIY "Dirty Bridge"
    Tarp
    DIY "Snow Camel"
    Insulation
    DIY "Dirty Quilt"
    Suspension
    Whoopie slings
    Posts
    35
    Also, what the heck does callendered mean?
    If at first you don't succeed...
    You're doing it wrong

  3. #3
    Senior Member Ramblinrev's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Milton, PA
    Hammock
    Hennessey Explorer Ultralight
    Tarp
    Hennessey Hex
    Insulation
    HH Super Shelter
    Suspension
    ring buckle
    Posts
    7,945
    Images
    101
    The problem is there are no hard and fast guidelines that we would all agree on. For example, I like polyester taffeta rather than rip stop for hammocks. Others prefer ripstop. Cuben fiber has it's advocates. In reality, you can use just about any fabric you want for just about anything you want. If you are ordering from one of the cottage vendors here on the forums they would be a good guide. Let them know what you want to do and they can guide you with their own opinions. Just remember, an opinion is like a belly button. Everybody has one.
    I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.

    "Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
    Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn

    We Don't Sew... We Make Gear! video series

    Important thread injector guidelines especially for Newbies

    Bobbin Tension - A Personal Viewpoint

  4. #4
    Senior Member Ramblinrev's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Milton, PA
    Hammock
    Hennessey Explorer Ultralight
    Tarp
    Hennessey Hex
    Insulation
    HH Super Shelter
    Suspension
    ring buckle
    Posts
    7,945
    Images
    101
    Quote Originally Posted by Rothman View Post
    Also, what the heck does callendered mean?
    Calendared is a process of heating the nylon between two pressurized rollers. It helps stabilize and seal the weave helping to make the fabric down proof. It is generally used only on the lighter weight fabrics unless specs call for it from the manufacturer.
    I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.

    "Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
    Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn

    We Don't Sew... We Make Gear! video series

    Important thread injector guidelines especially for Newbies

    Bobbin Tension - A Personal Viewpoint

  5. #5
    PapaSmurf's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Fredericksburg, Ohio
    Hammock
    Dream Hammock
    Tarp
    UGQ
    Insulation
    UGQ
    Posts
    2,530
    Quote Originally Posted by Rothman View Post
    Also, what the heck does callendered mean?
    EDIT: Ramblinrev beat me to the answer and said it better anyway.

    Many hammocks are built with calendared fabric and there is nothing wrong with using this. Most often, I try to look for "pure finish" fabrics for hammocks because they are not calendared and are a little more breathable. I find that some heavily calendared fabrics tend to give me a wet, clammy, slippery feeling in the summertime. This doesn't seem to bother some users, though. Probably has more to do with the amount you perspire?
    Last edited by PapaSmurf; 04-10-2013 at 11:12.

  6. #6
    Senior Member awilder's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Louisville, KY
    Hammock
    Traveler
    Tarp
    Mamajamba
    Insulation
    Incubator
    Suspension
    Cinch Buckles
    Posts
    130
    RamblinRev:

    You keep saying Polyester Taffeta, but when I went to Joann's I found Crushed Taffeta and Crushed Satin, both of which are 100% polyester. I didn't find anything that was called Polyester Taffeta.

    Are these similar, same, different,...?

  7. #7
    Senior Member Northern Mike's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    French River, Ontario
    Hammock
    ENO DN
    Tarp
    Poly
    Insulation
    Winter fat
    Posts
    105
    OK, so that was a bit of a fail I guess.
    Going back to the OP thought process, can someone clarify the weights for me?
    I'm wondering what is too light and what would be too heavy.
    Looking at my ENO DD material vs. the coated ripstop I saw at the local frabric shop, they are not even close to the same density.

  8. #8
    Jimbo3b's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Lincoln, Nebraska
    Posts
    71

    Types of Fabric and terminology

    Polyester is the chemistry, taffeta is the weave. Taffeta is a plain weave. So it's polyester vs nylon for the hammock--I like them both. And then taffeta vs ripstop for the type of weave, and again, I like the both. For hot weather, my favorite hammock continues to be (my memories of) the heavy cotton one my grandad brought back from Brazil.

  9. #9
    Senior Member Pag's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Duluth, MN
    Hammock
    DIY headessey
    Tarp
    blackcat
    Insulation
    primaloft tq/uq
    Suspension
    whoopies & huggers
    Posts
    444
    Images
    4
    Like rev said - so much is personal preference. I can throw in some common fabrics/uses to help guide some. Please note that this isn't by any means a fits all guide - different uses require different fabrics. These are merely some common choices as seen by me - a pretty goofy observer.

    For hammocks I use 70-90 denier rip stop nylon (1.9-2.2 oz/sq.yd.) Many have gone with 30 denier rip stop nylon (1.1 ounce/sq.yd) and have been very happy, but it's too stretchy for me. I have no experience with polyester taffeta hammocks so I'll leave that for someone else.

    For tarps a good fabric for lightweight is 30 denier (1.1 ounce/sq.yd) silicone impregnated ripstop nylon. I have a couple of winter tarps made out of 50 denier, but if I did it over I would stick with the lighter 30 denier. For a really nice tarp I would recommend cuben fiber ct1k.08, but it's fairly spendy. You could use a polyurethane coated fabric but it will be heavier than the silicone impregnated.

    Stuff sacks can be made of anything - seriously just grab anything. I have seen stuff sacks made out of no see um netting, tyvek, x-pac, momentum, cuben fiber, nylon, poyester.....yeah, if it can fit through a sewing machine it'll work.

    Backpacks are another widely varied item. Some like a backpack that can repel velociraptors and carry a spare big block v8, and for those I recommend heavy cordura, terrain x-pac, heavy canvas, and similar fabrics. Others prefer to have a backpack that works when carrying 4 ounces, downhill, with the wind, in perfect weather...yeah..hyperbole - no flaming please. For those cuben works wonders. A standard material for an in between pack is usually a combination of a heavier fabric near the wear areas (400-1000 denier cordura, x-pac) with a lighter material in non wear areas (30-50 denier silnylon, taffeta, uncoated ripstop). My definition of wear areas is the bottom where it sits when not being worn and the points where straps attach. If you plan on putting something awesomely heavy/rigid (spare headers perhaps?) I would make a pocket out of a heavier fabric to cradle the totally useful - to a specific person - hiking cannonball.

    For most purposes of diy hammock tom foolery a good standard fabric is 30-50 denier nylon. Tarps should be waterproof (read coated/impregnated), down containing goodies should be calendared (or the down will leak out), hammocks should be uncoated (coated fabrics typically don't breathe).
    --If a cow laughs hard, does milk come out its nose?

  10. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    IN
    Hammock
    WBRR, Lots of DIY
    Tarp
    MacCat; Cloudburst
    Insulation
    Lynx, HG T/UQ, AHE
    Suspension
    Varies
    Posts
    8,464
    Quote Originally Posted by Northern Mike View Post
    I'm wondering what is too light and what would be too heavy...
    (Edit: Pag beat me to the punch.)

    Very generally speaking, 1.1 oz = 30D and is the lightest ripstop nylon widely used for hammocks and tarps. 1.9 oz = 70D and is the heaviest rs nylon widely used by the cottage manufacturers and DIY'ers for hammocks and tarps. These weights are for non-coated fabric...coating adds weight but is not normally included in the "advertised" weight.

    You want an uncoated material for hammocks and a coated/waterproof material for tarps unless you want to deal with DIY silnylon (I don't).

    RS nylon from Joann's, Hancock's, etc. is generally 1.9 oz.

  • + New Posts
  • Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

    Similar Threads

    1. correct terminology?
      By SquirrelGirl in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 35
      Last Post: 07-01-2013, 03:43
    2. types of carabiners
      By darkhawk424 in forum Suspension Systems, Ridgelines, & Bug Nets
      Replies: 12
      Last Post: 03-24-2012, 06:24
    3. Fabric types
      By Big Jim Mac in forum Fabrics
      Replies: 21
      Last Post: 09-09-2010, 06:09
    4. Bug net terminology
      By Grinder in forum Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
      Replies: 9
      Last Post: 06-04-2010, 10:29
    5. webbing types
      By wnnapddl in forum Suspension Systems, Ridgelines, & Bug Nets
      Replies: 2
      Last Post: 08-07-2008, 21:43

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •