Welcome to the forum! and thanks for asking about my stand! The thing to remember about my stand is that the primary design goals were that the stand had to be cheap, easy to assemble, and cheap! at $20 this is almost the cheapest way to build a tensa type stand. there are lots of "improvements" one can do by throwing more money and time in to the project.
Now to your questions!
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Like you, I am knot challenged. Basically I took a 6' piece of paracord, wrapped it around the two sticks as tightly as I could and then tied the ends like tying my shoe. I detail my lashing technique in the pics. There are probably scores of members who will say that this is the wrong way of doing it, but I was trying for quick and dirty to see if the poles would hold my weight and the lashing only had to last an hour or so. I didn't want to waste an hour lashing the poles together and then have the poles snap as soon as I got in it. so I took 5 minutes to lash the poles and then gingerly got in it. the poles held! the stand has now been set up in the front yard for over a month and the lashings are still holding. I only had to tighten a couple of the lashings since I initially built it. the proper way to lash the poles together is probably this way:
https://www.animatedknots.com/shear-lashing-knot, and I may switch to that in the future. but my method does have the benefit of being able to undo and redo the lashings at will. for example, I had to undo one of the lashings to take the above pics!!
as for weight, the poles I am using are the treated 2x2s from Lowes. they are actually 1.3x1.3 and they hold my 200lbs easily and wife said the poles don't flex as I get in and squirm around in the hammock. so they should be fine for you too. but you have to get poles that are nearly perfectly straight and no knots. knots in the ends may be ok as there is very little force on them there. if you want just a bit more leeway, go to the untreated 2x2s which are actually 1.5x1.5 which gives you about 25% more wood.
Did I answer your questions or did I miss the mark? feel free to ask more questions!!
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