Rappel rings + Amsteel = Yeouch

[Hammockmadness]

I bought two sets of Omega Pacific rappel rings to use with tree straps and amsteel for my hammock suspension. I sewed the rings in a loop at the end of my tree straps with the intention of running the amsteel through the rings for adjustment. Granted, I do weigh 260lbs, but those rings really put a hurt on that 1/8" amsteel. They held without any slip with a double wrap through the rings, but I'm sure with constant use, it would degrade the line fairly quickly. I tried tying a short length of amsteel through the rings with a bowline and then tensioned it with the polyester tree straps, but needed to double wrap the strap to prevent slipping. I know there are other ways to do it (whoopi slings, cinch buckles, etc.) but I chose the rappel rings instead. I switched to 1/4 nylon and they work perfectly. I may go back to the line tensioner that I made back in the early 90's that works great. The old system on my beach hammock stand......

Line tensioner.jpg

[pgibson]

Amsteel is not made or intended to be compressed. You're using it in what's called a Garda Hitch and it's a pretty big no on it working with ropes of most types. The compression has been found to severely weaken amsteel ropes.

Switching the rings to the hammock end and running webbing through the same way works much better and was the standard suspension system used by many of us back in the day before Whoopie slings were introduced to hammock suspension systems. Because the webbing is already flat and wider it can handle the compression forces without compromising the strength of the system.

[nothermark]

FWIW take a look under a magnifier and I think you will find the hollow braid deforms but the strands remain intact and undamaged with the possible exception of samthane coating. It's almost impossible to to get anything to stick to UHMWPE so that is not a surprise. That leaves me thinking "severely weakens" is a stretch but "severely panics" the user is about right. Hollow braid deformation is a major reason why I am troubled by the way some folks run Amsteel out as the answer to a lot of things. I find that moving up a size in a solid braid dacron is often a better answer. It would be interesting to try dyneema a solid braid but I have not found one yet.

FWIW2 I also find it interesting that folks push using Amsteel Larksheads where one ends up with one or more tight radius bends when all the testing has shown that tight bends are what weakens Amsteel. ;-)