I thought I would share the process of making a set of woopies for your hammock. I'm sure I will miss a few steps but I will try to show all of the steps. The woopie sling works on the principles of a Chinese finger trap but on rope.
UW had mentioned he likes to use the UCR instead of woopies to save on rope. UCR could also be made by rearranging the skills in this thread.
Materials for this project:
Amsteel rope 7/64 size, 30 feet total
A piece of small wire about 30 inches
wire cutters
razor blade or sharp knife
a small pony plastic bead (optional)
Hope you enjoy this.
First you would need to cut the rope to the desired length to make the size of woopie you would need. For this woopie I cut the rope at 15 feet to make an approximate woopie sling about 6.6 feet. Next you measure for the Brummel lock loop which is the end connecting to the hammock. For the Skeeter Beater Pro you will need about a 3 - 3.5 loop and the bury after the splice, for this 5 inches is more than enough. To summarize a folded loop equals 6 inches + 5 inches for the bury.
Next you are going to bend your wire in half and squeeze the fold. then measure where you need to insert the wire to make the first loop. This next step is the hardest part, you need to push the rope together to open it up and insert the loop of your wire splitting the amsteel evenly with 4 sections above the wire and 4 sections below the wire.
Next you will open the folded loop in your wire and insert just the end of your amsteel into the loop and then squeeze the loop flat with your fingers or pliers. It sometimes helps to fold the small end back near the amsteel to create a fold in the rope. Note you can add a small welded ring to tie a structure ridge line or a line above you to hand other objects.
Next you will pull the wire back through the amsteel to form the first loop. Pull gently and it should flow through.
Another pic.
Part two of the Brummel lock loop. Next you will need to repeat the previous process but instead of the main rope you will need to do it the tag end that you just pulled through the running length of rope. Like such.
Another view when Spyder was making his woopie slings.
Now you need to pull all of the rope through to complete the second part of the locked stich.
Should look like this.
Different view.
Now you need to pull the two together to create the locking part of this and should look like this.
Now the final part of this Brummel Lock loop the bury. Place the loose end next to the rope to measure where you will need to insert your wire. I like to enter at least an inch below the tag end. So you will need to push the rope together to open it up and insert your wire and push it all the way to the end and then out. Now you need to open the fold in the wire and insert the end like before.
Now slowly pull the wire through the rope bringing the tag end inside of the main rope and then bring the tag end out of the rope. it is recommend to cut the end at a 45 degree angle to create a taper in the splice.
To finish this splice grab the rope by the loop and slid your hand down the rope to work out the compressed rope and you are done with end!
The next part of the woopie sling is the adjustable part of the sling. Place your fixed loop that we complete on your work surface, if you want to add the small plastic bead to keep you adjustable loop from closing on it's self add the bead on to the rope from the long end. Now you will need to measure a couple of inches from the previous loop and this spot will be where you will enter the rope with the wire for 12 inches and then exit the rope. Then reconnect rope end to wire.
Now you are ready to pull the running end through it's self to create the adjustable loop. You are a Pro at this now so pull slowly like before until end comes out.
To finish off the woopie sling it is nice create an end splice on the new tag end to make it fatter and less likely to get pulled back through the woopie.
Create about a 4 inch fold in the tag end and then insert your wire the same way as before about 6 inches from the fold.
Begin to pull wire slowly through rope as before. then pull end out and cut at a 45 degree angle.
Starting from the end squeeze rope and slide your hand back to smooth out the compressed rope and you are finished.
That completes one of your woopie slings. Go make another woopie, attach to hammock and enjoy your new lightweight and fully adjustable hammock suspension.
Connecting the locked loop to end of hammock. Run the lock loop through the sew channel by pulling the woopie through using the old rope. Once the end of the loop comes out of the hammock channel insert the other end of the woopie sling through the loop to create a larks hitch / cow hitch. Note in picture you can see the optional ring added to the fixed loop.
Spyder enjoying his hammock with his new woopie slings!
Thank you for checking this out and if you need any help or pointers let me know.
Average time for a first timer 20-30 per sling I would estimate.
