Sew What Hammock

A very easy method for making a hammock for under $10 with no sewing necessary.

A couple of things to think about. First, although you don't need to sew the material, it will fray, so either sewing the ends or using an anti-fraying agent will help the hammock last longer. It won't affect the strength of the hammock either way.

And speaking of strength, I've read a lot of people saying that paracord should never be used to support human weight. Well, it works. I don't recommend using it for rock-climbing, but I included the scene with me hanging upside-down to show that one of my cords will support me. With 2 cords, I'm not the least bit worried.

The last thing to think about is the safety of the trees. The trees I'm setting up on don't seem to be affected by the cord, but you might damage a tree with soft bark using my method. I recommend using an extra scrap of fabric under the cord to protect the tree (and protect the cord from abrasion).

This isn't my preferred hammock setup, but if you don't have access to a sewing machine, this design will still let you "hang" out!

For more in-depth details, be sure to check out my full writeup at Instructables

http://www.instructables.com/id/Sew-What-Hammock/

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• DIY
• Hammock
• Paracord
• Easy
• Simple
• Cheap
• Backpacking
• Knot
• Double
• Fisherman's
• Figure

[srwilks]

Paco, you inspired this old dog to actually backpack Marion Lk with my tarp/hammock in tow. I just turned 55 and haven't backpacked since I was a kid. I made a lot of rookie mistakes... But had a blast doing it. I made my own pack frame from wood and extremely over packed it. For that I paid... (and am still paying lol) I used an old blue tarp, which was an experiment that I used at home first. Not recommended...but thank you, thank you. My son, (his gf) and I had a good hike (2 nights)

[PacoWarabi]

@srwilks

I'm glad it helped. When I got back into camping (after a 15-year hiatus), it was from looking at websites where people made their own gear, and I realized that you don't have to spend a bundle. I've gone camping and frozen all night, or forgot my lighter and had to eat cold, uncooked food (oatmeal and the like), or had homemade equipment break on me. But it's a small price to pay for getting back out into the wilderness.

[Supermassively]

I have a better technique for sealing the ends of Paracord. $2 scalpel handle from Amazon, $0.10 scalpel blade, $4 butane torch from DealExtreme.

Heat the blade with the torch until it is red hot (5 seconds or so), and just basically set it on the spot you want to cut and let gravity do all the work (it goes through like a lightsaber through Stormtroopers). You will get a PERFECTLY round, flat, and fused end with no ugly brown melted nylon globs like a lighter creates.

[PacoWarabi]

@Supermassively

Great idea! And bonus points for Star Wars reference!

I've got a butane-heated hot knife, but it always seemed to make a bigger mess than the lighter. Maybe I'll have to try the scalpel method. Thanks!

[srwilks]

@srwilks regarding using my old blue tarp. I did video it, but problems were:

* It rattled every time I moved.

* I am not light, 6'4" 215lbs. on second night fabric started separating where my shoulder was.

* the tarp is not as light as some other fabric would be and I doubled it for security.

* my rope was way to large for need.

Next trip I will video again and possibly share it.

[srwilks]

Paco, you inspired this old dog to actually backpack Marion Lk with my tarp/hammock in tow. I just turned 55 and haven't backpacked since I was a kid. I made a lot of rookie mistakes... But had a blast doing it. I made my own pack frame from wood and extremely over packed it. For that I paid... (and am still paying lol) I used an old blue tarp, which was an experiment that I used at home first. Not recommended...but thank you, thank you. My son, (his gf) and I had a good hike (2 nights).

[PacoWarabi]

Looking at the video again and comparing it to other videos, I'm pretty sure it's right. Anybody want to correct me if I'm wrong?

[Supermassively]

@PacoWarabi Yeah, the paper-thin blade heats up very quickly and cuts a straight line through the cord, producing a flat end, and because it goes through in a split second, it has no time to melt the nylon into a blob.

Works well for melting the end of a cord into the side of a knot, as well, as you can just press it against the tiny spot rather than burning a large area with a lighter.

Just make sure you do it on a surface you don't care about, because it will burn straight through wood too.

[Supermassively]

HAHAHA, the first few seconds... freaking hilarious.

[PacoWarabi]

@flamedrag18

That's what I figured as well. But it didn't stop me from being nervous the first time I set it up! That was five years ago, and I haven't fallen yet, so I'm not worried anymore.