how to tell the weight of a fabric?

**Coffee** · 11-14-2006, 22:24

TH

Don't worry about the hammock. My first homemade nylon hammock put me on the ground 3 times. One I didn't hem the sides, then I used sub par rope (I should have known better on this one), and then it ripped again when I used too big of knot on the rope and it wore a hole in the nylon.

Lets just say I am going to be pitching a little closer to the ground for a while. I spend the first night in the hammock 6 feet up.

**headchange4u** · 11-14-2006, 22:29

Originally Posted by hammock engineer

TH

Don't worry about the hammock. My first homemade nylon hammock put me on the ground 3 times. One I didn't hem the sides, then I used sub par rope (I should have known better on this one), and then it ripped again when I used too big of knot on the rope and it wore a hole in the nylon.

Lets just say I am going to be pitching a little closer to the ground for a while. I spend the first night in the hammock 6 feet up.

A wise man is a fool with many scars.

**titanium_hiker** · 11-14-2006, 22:42

now, my hammock packs down to about the size of a loaf of bread- maybe a bit bigger (shorter, but fatter). This is with straps, skins and bug net, but without the tarp.

(I should take some pics, eh?)

titanium_geek

**seuss** · 11-16-2006, 18:26

Itactually can be more complicated than that.

Traditionally, fabric weights referred to the weight of a Sailmaker's Yard from the days when weaving looms weren't nearly as wide as today. A Sailmaker's yard of cloth is 36" long but only 28.5" wide. I always assume that given fabric weights (especially from a manufacturer) refer to an uncoated sailmaker's yard unless unless I specifically read "per sq. yd." or some such. Some specialty retailers weigh their fabrics before writing a description or putting up for sale, especially if they're catering to gram weenies. The result can be that the 3/4 oz. ripstop that I order from a kite supply shop is often the same material as the 1.1 oz ripstop that I order from a hiker supply outlet and neither supplier was trying to short me.

Originally Posted by Just Jeff

1.1 oz weighs 1.1 oz per square yard before treatment - it's pretty thin. 1.1 oz silnylon actually weighs ~1.3 oz after treatment.

Same with 1.9 oz - that's the pre-treatment weight.

The easiest way to figure out what you have is to convert to inches.
- Length x width = XXX square inches.
- Divide that by 1296 to get your square yardage.
- Weigh the fabric.
- Divide that weight by the square yardage and there's your answer - it'll probably be close to one of the weights above if it's one of the common ripstops.