Thai Hammock

[dtalbot]

Hi,
Just wondering if anyone has made and used the Thai hammock over in the diy section, if so what do you think of it, does it do the job or do you need to spend lots on one of the named designs to get a decent nights sleep?
Cheers
David

[giancarlo]

Neil was the one who wrote those instructions, so i guess he'll be the best one to ask.

http://www.bushcraftuk.co.uk/communi...topic.php?t=83

[Neil1]

They work very well and I know several people who use them all the time, in fact two other forum users are among them.
I noticed Trekdirect are selling exactly the same item for £20-£25.
They work well because they are so simple, to make and use.
Neil1

[dtalbot]

They work very well

Thats all I needed to know thanks, I think even my sewing (un)skills can cope with that design, but I'll leave the jacket to my wife's very capable hands!
Thanks
David

[dtalbot]

Got 5m of dpm lightweight ripstop nylon for a grand total of £5 from a shop called somthing like 'the £1 a yard fabric shop' in Dewsbury today, just got to pick up some webbing tomorrow and I'll have a bargain Thai Hammock, just need to figure out an equally bargain tarp to go over it!
Cheers
David

[Neil1]

Make sure the nylons not proofed?
Neil1

[dtalbot]

Make sure the nylons not proofed?
Neil1

Definatly not proffed, but thanks for the critical safety reminder. Sticking it over my mouth I could breath through it without any problem so no sufforcation problems there!
Cheers
David

[Ed]

just need to figure out an equally bargain tarp to go over it!

Are you going to make your own? Check out the pattern on the Hennassy Safari Delux. Its massive and hexagonal, you can get them for about £35+P&P from hennassy but its a good shape if you don't want a seam running down the centre/ridge line.

:-)
Ed

[dtalbot]

just need to figure out an equally bargain tarp to go over it!

Are you going to make your own? Check out the pattern on the Hennassy Safari Delux. Its massive and hexagonal, you can get them for about £35+P&P from hennassy but its a good shape if you don't want a seam running down the centre/ridge line.

:-)
Ed

Looks good, thanks for the tip.
David

[Buckshot]

Daft question time... ops:

What is a Thai hammock and how does it differ to a 'normal' one

Cheers

Mark

[giancarlo]

Mark, this one

http://www.bushcraftuk.co.uk/200/thai_hammock.html

[Adi007]

I don't think I'd ever get to the point of trusting my sewing enough for that!

[Buckshot]

ah ha, thanks Giancarlo

Mark

[bushblade]

Remember though, if you want to stay dry you'll need to set up drip lines to prevent rain water running down the support lines and soaking the hammock.

For those of you who don't fancy making your own, they can be bought from http://www.nomadtravel.co.uk/ they also do the mosquito net to fit, so you could put togethother your own eco sleep system for a lot less.

[dtalbot]

I don't think I'd ever get to the point of trusting my sewing enough for that!

My sewing skills are zero but my wife is a first rate seamstress (has been known to make pure silk wedding dresses for fun!) She says it will be a good project to teach me the basics on, and shouldn't take more than an hour or two.
If you can find someone who can sew ask for a lesson!
David

[Nigel]

Hi David,

Have you attempted the Thai Hammock? I have to date assembled 3 on a domestic sewing machine, and it was the first time that I had used one. Neil's design is very easy to follow.
And yes it is very comfortable. :-)

All The Best

Nigel

[dtalbot]

Hi David,

Have you attempted the Thai Hammock? I have to date assembled 3 on a domestic sewing machine, and it was the first time that I had used one. Neil's design is very easy to follow.
And yes it is very comfortable. :-)

All The Best

Nigel

Yep,
For less than a tenner which the supplies cost me it can't be beaten!
Cheers
David

[the naughty boy]

im v.interested in a hammock but couldnt be bothered running about looking for the materiels, are they just the same as hennesy type ones and are they big enough for a big boy like me,15 stone and over 6 ft?

if someone makes me one i will pay them.

pm me ,go on dont be shy :wink:

[leon-1]

The thai hammock is used quite extensively in the military (Jungle warfare Long Range Patrols and Jungle warfare Instructors). There are some quite large lads there also.

As long as the materials that you use are upto scratch then there should be no problem. :-)

[JakeR]

I reckon im gonna buy a hennessey ops: :wink:

[jason01]

I have plenty of material lying around mostly ultra lightweight spinnaker ripstop that I use for traction kites, all coated unfortunately, but Ive also got some heavyweight polyester that Ive never found a use for so I think I'll turn it into a hammock. Only problem is it'll run to about a a Kilo once its made up which isnt exactly lightweight!

I have a couple of questions though, why the envelope shape? Isnt the middle seam likely to be a weakness (Im assuming you lie inside the envelope)? Also, the Bushcraft plan leaves the cloth on the open edge of the envelope unfinished which might be a weakness long term, I tend to use a double french seam everywhere for this kind of thing for max strength and no unfinished or exposed edges. Also why use webbing for the end loops, wouldnt rope do just as well?

A quick web search turned up this design amongst others:-

http://www.uniqueprojects.com/projec...ck/hammock.htm

It looks like a simpler version with no compromises that I can see compared to the design above except for the omission of webbing reinforcements at the ends which I would probably add.

Id appreciate comments on the two designs from users/makers though before I get my old treadle out.

Also, has anybody made a string hammock? How easy was it to make, and any good plans? I had a lightweight commercial one years ago and it started falling apart after about two nights use!

Jason

[jason01]

Maybe worth adding, choose your thread carefully! These style hammocks appear to put a lot of strain on the stitching.

Cotton is obviously a no no and for max strength bonded nylon or polyester upholstery thread is the best but this stuff is quite abrasive, it'll eventually saw through the guides on modern domestic machines if they will sew properly with it at all, it can be lubed with silicon spray though.

Jason

[the naughty boy]

FANTASTIC link m8, just what i was looking for.

[Stew]

I have a couple of questions though, why the envelope shape? Isnt the middle seam likely to be a weakness (Im assuming you lie inside the envelope)?

I assume this is somewhere you can put some insulation (ie thermarest) if it's cold.

[jason01]

I have a couple of questions though, why the envelope shape? Isnt the middle seam likely to be a weakness (Im assuming you lie inside the envelope)?

I assume this is somewhere you can put some insulation (ie thermarest) if it's cold.

Ahhhhh I see! Thanks Stew, so you dont lie inside the envelope but the hammock is double thickness, I did wonder if that could be it but I dont see why you cant place a mat on top of a single layer hammock.

Jason

[Neil1]

You can sleep on it or in it (helps keep the bugs off). You can even make the top layer from midge netting!
Ahh! yes buy the Hennesy (much easier)
You can buy a gas lighter to light your fires, but the sense of achievment of lighting a fire by friction is almost beyond words.
The same holds true with making your own kit, something you have made (or designed, or both) that you can use in the field is a great feeling, its adds to that feeling of independence in the outdoors. Why settle for someone elses design, they are not you, they do not know what your exact needs are.
My knife sheath, leather possibles bag, ventile smock, hammock, stove bag, mesh compression bag and rucksack carry system (15-150ltrs) are all homemade, they all function as I want them to, have the pockets I need (where I want them) and its all in the colours I want.
And then theres the money you save - what I saved on my smock (£130) I spent on a new Mountain Equipment military sleeping bag and a new swanni (surely thats enough incentive in itself).
Neil1

[jason01]

I completely agree with you Neil!

Just looking for a bit of help understanding different aspects of the design so I can decide how best to make my own. The cloth Im planning to use for my first one is quite heavy so I wouldnt really want to double it, and its not big enough to double up anyway

Im afraid I dont do clothes though, Im reasonbly good with my old man powered Singers but I know my limits

Jason

[the naughty boy]

decided to give it a go ,so i went to a fabric shop here in lurgan and discovered an alladins cave of materiels, from camoflaged dpm cotton and waterproof olive colored materiel to make bashas from.even eyelets for guy lines :-D

so i bought some black taffeta and some black mesh like materiel to form a mosquito proof hammock.a couple of hours later with the help of my moms sewing machine i had a smashing home made thai hammock.i also discovered the possibilities a sewing machine opens up!

i can make my own basha and hammock for under 20 quid :-D
ps the taffeta comes in different weights so i made a single skin one to start with.

there seems to be a lot of loose materiel at the sides though and im wondering if you slightly rounded the line of stitching at the load bearing ends would this tighten up the edges and eradicate the posibility of rolling over and falling out? perhaps i,ll break out the sewing machine again and try it.

[jason01]

How wide did you make it naughty boy?

[the naughty boy]

the materiel was 65 inches m8 so i just made it that width.im going to try the arc effect stitching tomorrow to see if it encloses it slightly.

one other defect i noticed...one side is about three inches longer than the other and you definitly feel like falling toward that shorter side.it was a rush job im afraid but easily remedied i think.i,ll fix it and post a pic and review :-D