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  1. #1
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    Whoopie sling maintenance and inspection

    Howdy all, it's been awhile.

    I finally field tested my first proper hammock. Bought me a table cloth, whipped it with paracord, and used the amsteel whoopies and tree straps I had lying around from last year. Tested it while working an aid station at a marathon in the Uwharries. I had the best seat on that whole mountain.

    I'm noticing the whoopies aren't as pristine as I'd like, especially where the friction bury enters and exits. The weave is getting quite separated at those points. No threads seem to be damaged. I've also noticed that the cord has stiffened slightly.

    What do you do to inspect your whoopie slings or other suspension gear, and when should a whoopie sling be removed from service? Should they ever be cleaned, and if so, how and with what? Rinse with clean water? What is the lifespan of a whoopie sling?

    It should be noted that those whoopies held 150% of my weight with no signs of strain.

    Thanks gang!
    "I'd have to get a gold earring if I was going to look like Mr. Clean. Look, I just made it known that if the design of the vehicle is such that my own hair is a significant fire risk, I'd just as soon stay home."
    --Wally Schirra, From the Earth to the Moon, 1998

  2. #2
    Formerly octothorpesarus mudsocks's Avatar
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    Without pictures it's hard to say but some separation is normal. If no threads seem damaged I don't think you have anything to worry about. Never cleaned mine, I'm pretty careful to keep my gear off the ground but if I were to clean them I'd just use water. As far as life span I guess it all depends on how they are treated, exposed to sunlight and rough treatment. I'm sure someone here with better working knowledge of dyneema will have some insight.

  3. #3
    Senior Member
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    What you describe is normal. The strands have to "relocate" to allow the bury to exit.

    IMG_2314edited (Medium).jpg

  4. #4
    Senior Member dingbat's Avatar
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    Western North Cackalackey
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    Quote Originally Posted by av8r1 View Post
    I've also noticed that the cord has stiffened slightly.
    ?????

    This would start to concern me. Is "slightly" a little less of a silky feel as the coating starts to wear, or is there an actual change in the mechanical properties of the fiber?

  5. #5
    Senior Member
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    Amsteel undergoes constructional compaction when it is weighted giving it a slightly stiffer feel. A little flexing of the unweighted rope will soften it until it is weighted again.

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