Permanently attach Rings to my ENO

**jons4real** · 07-26-2010, 10:48

Ok guys so I have a ENO double and I want to permanently attack a set of descending rings. The eno's have some heavy cord and I want to replace it with something lighter. I just have no idea what to replace it with. I was thinking amsteel but if so what size? How long should they be? I've never held any amsteel and I've heard that it turms everything blue, will it turn my hammock blue? See... whithout having any rope on hand its hard to imagine excatly what I should do. Also I'm just using the hem on the ENO to attach my cord. I have plenty of 550 cord but I think it would have to much strech. I've also heard a story once it failing when being used to hang with. So what do you all think my best bet is?

**pgibson** · 07-26-2010, 10:55

7/64 amsteel would be best and it would be best to splice it. Yes the blue will bleed a little blue and the other colors will bleed a little as well, not super bad but still some. probably not enough for you to notice on your hammock.

**PapaSmurf** · 07-26-2010, 11:04

A simple "no fuss" solution would be ordering chain links & rings from Arrowhead Equipment.
Chain Links
Aluminum Rings
Simply thread the chain links through the sewn channel and secure with a lark's head. Then use another lark's head to attach a pair of rings to each chain link.
~~~~~
Sorry I was slow typing & didn't see Paul had already replied.
Anyway Paul could hook you up with everything you need to accomplish this.

**jons4real** · 07-26-2010, 11:26

Chain links seem like a good idea. They would solve the issue of knots slipping. I heard amsteel was good for that. So the chain links are just one solid piece of rope? They arent spliced or anything? They look as if they would be spliced, if so how strong are they? I see that they have a rating in the 500lbs area but why arent they as strong as a strait piece of amsteel.... so they are spliced...

**jons4real** · 07-26-2010, 11:28

If they are spliced how easliy can they can apart. What stops them from coming apart?

**jons4real** · 07-26-2010, 11:42

[QUOTE=PapaSmurf;291645]A simple "no fuss" solution would be ordering chain links & rings from Arrowhead Equipment.

Would'nt it work just as well and be cheaper to use the Suspension Extensions that arrowhead sells? Whats the benifits of not not doing it this way?

**PapaSmurf** · 07-26-2010, 11:49

The chain links are spliced. Each end of the rope is "buried" inside the opposing end and stitching is run through the spliced area to secure the splice from slipping when not under tension.

The extensions have fixed eyes on each end.

Yes, far as I know either solution would work well for you.

**Bubba** · 07-26-2010, 11:52

The chain links are plenty strong. Paul shows a video of him attaching one to a wall mount and him standing on the wall while he yanks on it with all his weight. To make it continuous the amsteel is spliced through itself and them buried in both directions. Like a whoopie sling, the constriction of the rope keeps everything secure yet they are easily taken apart and put back together if you have the right tools. You don't need anything fancy for tools. Many things people use are available at your local hardware stores.

What I have done in the past with my ENO was take off the stock cord and replace it with a chain link and descender rings. You don't need a very long bit of chain. The short ones Paul sells is fine (ten inches I think). The two descender rings then are use as cinch buckles. The amsteel chain is fed through the channel and then girth hitched to itself and that's it. I've had no problems when I did this.

If you are going to use webbing for your suspension it would be better to go with Paul's chain link and ultralight cinch buckles. Using two descender rings requires a slipped half hitch for back up. The triangular cinch buckles Paul sell do not require it. They are out of stock now but hopefully they'll be in soon.

**oldgringo** · 07-26-2010, 11:56

Originally Posted by jons4real

If they are spliced how easliy can they can apart. What stops them from coming apart?

They are locked together, by one of two methods, and will not come apart.

If you do this long enough, you will hit the ground. It happens. I can promise you this, however: It will not be as a result of the failure of a properly made splice. Promise.

**jeepcachr** · 07-26-2010, 12:01

Do not use parachute cord. As you mentioned it will stretch and it can fail. Amsteel 7/64 is rated to 1600 lbs. A hammock typically can have a load of 600-800lbs with a lot of varying factors.

I've used Amsteel 7/64" in Red and in Green. The red stained my hands while splicing with it but I haven't seen either color rub of on any of my other gear, YMMV.