Fabric weight capacity?

[Rug]

My step-daughter and her friends have informed me that my WBBB is awesome, and they love 'chillin', talking & texting in it for all hours of the day. (and they got really mad at me when I took it down)

I informed them that I would make them their own hammocks and heard squeals of delight and instant requests for pink.

I have a rough idea of weight capacity of RS nylon, but I need to know what other materials I can use. I have seen (caught) 2 of them horsing around in my BB so let say the max weight would be 350lbs-400lbs.

Can I just get rolls of cotton? Do I have to stick with Nylon? What 'D' rating should I get? Help!! (I miss my BB, and don't want the teenagers to destroy it!)

[Captn]

My step-daughter and her friends have informed me that my WBBB is awesome, and they love 'chillin', talking & texting in it for all hours of the day. (and they got really mad at me when I took it down)

I informed them that I would make them their own hammocks and heard squeals of delight and instant requests for pink.

I have a rough idea of weight capacity of RS nylon, but I need to know what other materials I can use. I have seen (caught) 2 of them horsing around in my BB so let say the max weight would be 350lbs-400lbs.

Can I just get rolls of cotton? Do I have to stick with Nylon? What 'D' rating should I get? Help!! (I miss my BB, and don't want the teenagers to destroy it!)

You can get cheap polyester .... I've made several hammocks from that stuff and they are amazingly strong.

Get 7 yards per hammock, fold it in half to make a double layer of material, whip the ends, add suspension ..... Quick and easy hammock for the kids.

[Captn]

Or order some cheap kalisto hammocks ..... Thats what my boys use and they are 250 plus.

[Rug]

You can get cheap polyester .... I've made several hammocks from that stuff and they are amazingly strong.

Get 7 yards per hammock, fold it in half to make a double layer of material, whip the ends, add suspension ..... Quick and easy hammock for the kids.

But how do I know if its thick enough? Is there a weight or dennier rating I should look for?

[Ramblinrev]

But how do I know if its thick enough? Is there a weight or dennier rating I should look for?

That depends on where you shop. Most fabric store clerks will look at you as though you have two heads if you start asking questions like that. Outdoor fabric vendors have a better handle on that but you probably won't find pink in their inventory. 30 D ~ 1.1 ripstop 70 D ~ 1.9 and so on.

A better question for the fabric store people is "Where is the top/shirt weight polyester taffeta?" That stuff will manage about anything you want to throw at it unless you are throwing sharp objects. Double layer normally would be overkill, but might be a wise move for rambunctious teens. Or you could use a single layer of Oxford Cloth polyester. (Think fine men's shirts.. ala Brooks Bros and such.) You won't want to carry it very far but it'll hold.

[Rug]

Thanks Rev.