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  1. #1
    Member thejennabird's Avatar
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    Jul 2011
    Location
    Around Oregon
    Hammock
    DIY Hybrid "Switch-Bird"
    Tarp
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    Talking The Finished DIY Hybrid "Switch-Bird" Hammock

    IT LIIIIIVEESS! I actually finished this over a week ago, but couldn't get out to the park to take some pictures until yesterday. (It doesn't help that I live 2 miles from the nearest hang-able trees... stupid urban sprawl...)

    This is a hammock of my own design - a combination of the WBBB (gathering method, shelf, fixed bug net) and Switchback (asym shape, hammock body, foot tie-outs). Double layered because I'm a pad person. Suspension is whoopie slings and tree huggers, also DIY, with marlin spike toggles. AKA sticks I picked up from the ground.

    Why DIY
    Quite honestly, cost. I just graduated college, my rent runs out at the end of the month, and I don't have a job yet because silly Jenna loves birds and wants to be an Ornithologist of all things. SO, as much as I would love to own an HH, SB, AND WBBB - just to compare and enjoy, I cannot pay for them. So, DIY was the only option. I will say that it's a LOT of work - the project took me a full weekend to complete. So if you have the option, and don't value the pride and epic-ness of home-made gear, feel free to go for the cottage industry makes instead!

    What I Used:
    12" Size 3 Coil Zipper / 2 Double Tab Sliders
    10yd of 1.1oz Ripstop Nylon 2nds
    4yd No-See-UM Netting
    12yd 1" Grosgrain Ribbon
    1yd 70D Coated Ripstop Nylon (for Double-Ended Sack and extra for SPE)
    10ft Tech Line + 25ft Zing-It (just because I wanted to compare the two, really)
    4 Cordlocks
    7ft 3/32" Shock Cord
    14ft 1" Polyester Webbing (for Tree Huggers)
    30ft 7/16 Amsteel Blue (for Whoopies)

    Everything but the Zing-It was ordered from DIYGearSupply. Final cost including shipping was approx. $90. Woohoo!
    NOTE: I have left over materials. A good bit actually... so your own material needs may vary.

    What I Did
    1. Cut the material and sewed it together using This Self-Designed Pattern
    2. Sewed 1" double-reinforced channels into the top and bottom. Had some trouble with unwanted gathering here. Would like to re-do if I get the opportunity
    3. Strung about 3' Zing-it through each channel, gathered, and whipped according to the Warbonnet Whip method. Tied with temporary knots for testing.
    4. Made Whoopies and Tree Straps.
    5. Attached shock cord and about 4' of Zing-it to the tie-outs on each side, following the Warbonnet technique. Fixed with cord locks.
    6. Hung and tested hammock. Measured out ridgeline to desired length. Tied knots to keep in place.
    7. Pinned on bug net where I wanted it. Took the hammock home and un-whipped the ends to sew the bug net in place. (Bug net is attached directly to zipper with two rows of stitches)
    8. Used grosgrain to finish out the seams on the non-zippered edge.
    9. Re-gathered and whipped including ridgeline and bug-net in end "ball".
    10. Made accessory ridgeline pouch and double-ended sack.

    Finished weight is under 2lbs, but I can't get a precise measurement from my scale. Included a pic of the finished size packed away.

    How it Works
    Quite well! Very roomy, comfortable, and the two tie-outs on the foot end create a surprisingly roomie "faux footbox". One troublesome problem is that if I don't do the tie-outs just right, they sag and loose tension when I climb in. I've found that if I tie them out as far and horizontally from the hammock as possible, they work much better and give me plenty of room.

    The hammock IS a bit big for me, especially in terms of length. I'm only 5'6" and the hammock could easily fit a 6'2" comfortably. =/ Oh well! Better too big than too small.

    The most comfortable hang seems to be at about a 15-20 degree suspension angle (similar to what many people say about the Switchback). Gets me a nice flat lay inside. Have yet to put a pad in the double layer, will try to give an update on that when I do.

    I biked the hammock down to Meridian Hill Park for some pics. Plenty of staring from other park visitors! Check out the pics below (also in my gallery) for a view.

    Helpful Links
    The following are links I used to build my hammock. Many thanks!!
    Black Goat Gear's DIY DL Hammock
    The DIY "Warbird" Thread
    Discussions on a DIY Switchback
    Warbonnet Whip Method 1
    Warbonnet Whip Method 2
    DIY Whoopie Slings
    DIY Gear Supply
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by thejennabird; 08-06-2011 at 14:48.

  2. #2
    Senior Member myles to go's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    New Brunswick ,CANADA
    Hammock
    DIY "WARBIRD"
    Tarp
    OES STD,WB BMJ
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    Golite TQ/leigh UQ
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    WHOOPIES
    Posts
    406
    You did a fantastic job on your hammock jennabird! You should get years of enjoyment from it. Looks beautiful

  3. #3
    Senior Member Otter1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    FL
    Hammock
    DIY Hexon 1.0, Hexon 1.6
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    WB Mountainfly
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    HG UQ's, EE TQ
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    Dutch Mantis
    Posts
    2,669
    Jennabird,

    You got MAD skills, girl!

  4. #4
    Senior Member oldgringo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    On the Rez
    Hammock
    Varies
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    GargoyleGear Ogee
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    UQ-varies w/season
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    Dutchgear
    Posts
    7,335
    Awesome!

    I especially like the crazy woman with scissors.
    Dave

    "Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self."~~~May Sarton

  5. #5
    Senior Member G...Hawk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Glendale, NY/ NYC
    Hammock
    Hammecks, WBBBs
    Tarp
    WB Edge+SuperFly
    Insulation
    DIYIXUQ+TQ+SngFit
    Suspension
    webbing, whoOpies
    Posts
    630
    Beautiful job !

  6. #6
    Member thejennabird's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Around Oregon
    Hammock
    DIY Hybrid "Switch-Bird"
    Tarp
    WL Tadpole
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    Whoopie Slings
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    59
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    17
    Awww, thanks everyone!!

    Quote Originally Posted by oldgringo View Post
    I especially like the crazy woman with scissors.
    Yup, that's me cutting away all the hanging threads from the seams. Playing with scissors in a hammock seemed pretty crazy to me, too!

  7. #7
    Senior Member Timberrr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    On the road - fulltime RVing
    Hammock
    WBRR
    Tarp
    UGQ Winter Dream
    Insulation
    UGQ TQ and UQ
    Suspension
    Straps, D. Buckles
    Posts
    1,687
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    13
    I'm guessing you accidently sewed yourself into the hammock and you had to cut your way out! Whew, it's a good thing you had those scissors with you, huh?



    Seriously, job well done.
    Thanks for sharing.
    HangCon Sign Up:
    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...it?usp=sharing

    So many trees, so little time...


  8. #8
    Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Apple Valley, MN
    Hammock
    WBBB
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    OES Maccat Deluxe
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    yeti/burrow
    Posts
    91
    Looks very well done. Nice job.

  9. #9
    Senior Member leepingreenlizards's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Locust, NC
    Posts
    316
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    19
    Wow, very nice and I'll bet it's comfy too!
    It’s what we believe that makes us, as individuals, who we are. Suppress that and we all become the same…"sterile and boring." "Sir William Orville Martin"

  10. #10
    Senior Member Raul Perez's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Long Island, NY
    Hammock
    1.1 Blackbird or Traveler SL
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    OES Deluxe Cuben
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    Awesome job!!!
    "If you give a monkey a gun and he shoots someone, you dont blame the monkey"

    The end of the world is not coming in December, it is happening now in my living room. - TFC Rick

    http://watermonkey.net/

    Youtube Channel:

    http://www.youtube.com/user/RaulPerez1?feature=mhee

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