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  • What You Need To Know About Amsteel Rope

    What You Need To Know About Amsteel Rope

    What Is Amsteel® Rope?

    Amsteel® is a samthane coated, non-rotational, 12-strand single braid that is known for its low stretch and high strength. It has a similar strength to wire rope with 1/7th of the weight. In addition, the product is flexible, lightweight, durable, and abrasion-resistant and resists flex-fatigue.

    Is Amsteel® the Same Thing as Amsteel® Blue?

    Amsteel Continuous Loop Blue-7/64-8 Inch-0

    They are not the same thing but are often confused. As an example, the average strength of 1/4” Amsteel® is 7400 pounds, while Amsteel® Blue is 8600 pounds. Samson’s Amsteel® is made from Dyneema® SK60. Amsteel® Blue is made from Dyneema® SK75. What is being sold by cottage vendors today is usually Amsteel® Blue, even if they don’t always call it that.

    Does Amsteel® Blue have 8 Strands or 12 Strands?

    It depends. The 7/64, commonly used for whoopie slings, has only eight strands, but diameters beyond that have twelve. The Samson documentation invariably lists Amsteel® Blue as a class 2 12-strand product. However, that documentation often does not include the 7/64 size because it is too small for the marine and industrial use that Samson serves. Class 1 ropes are manufactured from polyolefin, nylon and/or polyester fiber. Class 2 ropes (including Amsteel®) are manufactured from high-modulus fiber, such as Dyneema® Composite Fabrics.

    What Is High-Modulus?

    Samson defines Amsteel® as a “high-modulus polyethylene” rope. The high-modulus part means that Amsteel® has “low elasticity elongation,” or in other words, it doesn’t stretch much. However, this also means that this type of rope doesn’t like to be shock-loaded, so ease into the hammock! Safe working loads do not apply to shock loading.

    What Is the Safe Working Load (SWL) of Amsteel® 7/64?

    Working load (WL) is the load that a rope is subjected to during normal use. WLs are based on a percentage of the breaking strength (aka tensile strength) of new and unused rope. They are calculated by dividing the rope’s breaking strength (BS) by a safety factor (SF). The breaking strength of Amsteel® Blue 7/64 is 1600 pounds. Samson recommends that the maximum workload should be 1/5th, or 20% of the quoted breaking strength (safety factor = 5), and recommends a higher safety factor for uses that involve “life or limb.” The Cordage Institute recommends safety factors of 5 to 12 for non-critical uses, and 15 for lifelines. Here is the weight that a typical 7/64 Amsteel® Blue whoopie sling is rated to support, using the minimum safety factor recommended by Samson: SWL = BS / SF = 1600 / 5 = 320 lbs. Note: I had originally posted a calculation based on plain Amsteel, which gave rise to some of the responses below. Don’t get confused.

    What Size Bury for Amsteel® 7/64?

    Samson specifies that a fid is equal to the diameter of the rope x 21, and that an effective bury for Class 2 rope should be three and a half fids. The diameter of Amsteel® 7/64 is 0.11 inches, so for this rope, one fid is equal to 2.31 inches. So the recommended bury would be about 8 inches. Bury = fid x 3.5 = 2.31 x 3.5 = 8.01 inches. Note that the length of the bury is dependent on the diameter of the rope. Counterintuitively, the smaller the diameter of the rope, the shorter the bury needs to be. For example, a whoopie made with 1.75 mm Zing would only need five inches of bury (if following Samson specs), while one made with 1/8 inch Amsteel® would need nine inches.

    To Stitch or Not to Stitch?

    The eye of the whoopie sling is usually made with a locked Brummel, which does not require stitching. The eye, made in a variation of the “utility constrictor rope” (UCR), does require lock stitches (I like UCRs better than whoopies).

    Why Use Splicing Instead of Knots?

    Knots degrade the strength of the rope by up to 50 percent. A good splice should not reduce rope strength by more than 10 percent.

    Dyneema® Vs. Amsteel®

    Dyneema® uses ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene in its construction. This material has thin fibers that are long and straight, providing strength for the material. The industrial fibers originally began with a Dutch chemical company called DSM. Since then, other companies have started to produce similar products. Many manufacturers use Dyneema® to produce consumer goods, including ropes, tarps, nets, and other durable materials for outdoor use and heavy wear applications.

    On the other hand, Amsteel® is a rope that consists of Dyneema® fibers. Because of their Dyneema® construction, lightweight Amsteel® ropes have a high strength-to-weight ratio and extreme resistance to water and UV damage.

    Where Can You Buy Amsteel® Rope?

    Dutchware sells a variety of Amsteel® Rope and Samson Rope. Shop by the foot or by the stool!

    Shop Samson Rope

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  • The Main Types of Webbing Material

    The Main Types of Webbing Material

    There are many different materials, types and widths of webbing used in the Outdoor industries. Webbing is a strong fabric woven as a flat strip or tube of varying widths and fibers often used in place of rope.

    a chart comparing the strength, cost, water-resistance, and UV temperature of polypropylene, polyester, kevlar, and nylon webbings

    The 4 Main Types of Webbing

    Webbing is a strong fabric woven as a flat strip or tube of varying widths and fibers you use for things like hammock suspension, securing tarps, and as tree straps. You can find outdoor webbing in several different materials, sizes, and styles. A lot of webbing today is constructed out of high-durability materials — such as nylon, polyester, polypropylene, and Kevlar — so they can withstand more weight, stretch, and abrasion.

    Characteristics of good webbing for outdoor gear include:

    • The ability to be sewn easily.
    • Strength and durability.
    • Compatibility with hardware.

    From your tree straps and backpack straps to your belt, there is rarely any person on a hiking trip without some form of this underappreciated material. The most significant difference between these types of webbing fabric is also one of the hardest to see — loads, stretch, and other required properties.

    Here is an outline of the webbing materials most commonly used in the outdoor industry.


    Nylon vs. Polyester

    Two of the most common types of webbing material are polyester and nylon. Both fabrics are lightweight and strong synthetic materials that share similar properties. They are stretch-resistant and easy to care for. Each material has its advantages, so the best fit for you depends on the intended application, like climbing or around the campsite.

    Nylon

    1/2" Nylon Webbing (by the Foot)-0

    Nylon is very strong and is available in several different types, including nylon 6 and nylon 6,6.  It is one of the most commonly used webbing fabrics in the outdoor industry. For this reason, you can easily find nylon in various colors, styles, and applications, including backpack straps and rock climbing safety equipment.

    It’s a popular choice among rock climbers because of its elasticity and durability. Nylon recovers well, even after extensive stretching. Nylon is also relatively UV-resistant, and as long as you don’t leave it exposed to the sun for months, you will not see much more than 30% loss of strength with nylon 6 and nylon 6,6.

    The same elasticity that makes it suitable for climbers also makes it a bad choice for hammock suspension. Nylon absorbs water and adds to the weight more than just surface moisture.

    Polyester

    Polyester Tree Straps (Pair)-5354

    Polyester is a common choice for webbing in the outdoor industry because it is strong, does not stretch, is UV-stable, and does not absorb water. It also comes in a wide range of widths and strengths. It is about 90% as durable as nylon, and it is one of the most UV-stable webbings available. It is also very resistant to abrasion. These properties make it an excellent choice for hammock suspension and backpack straps.


    Other Popular Types of Webbing Fabric

    Other popular types of outdoor webbing fabric include polypropylene and Kevlar. You’ll often find these materials used in hammock suspension systems, backpacks, and tree straps.

    Polypropylene

    2" Polypropylene Webbing (by the Foot)-0

    Polypropylene is much lighter than other types of webbing fabric and absorbs the least amount of water weight. It floats on the water and is mildew resistant, which might come in handy for some outdoor applications. It also holds up well against stains and damage caused by things like grease and oil. That said, polypropylene is also much weaker than other types of webbing. It has a lower melting point and is less resistant to abrasion than its nylon and polyester counterparts.

    Polypropylene webbing is a good choice for backpack straps and tarp tie-outs. It’s also suitable for tree straps wider than one inch because it is so low in weight and stretch.

     

    Kevlar

    10 feet of 1" Kevlar 2.2 Webbing-0

    Kevlar has a great weight to strength ratio. It is also abrasion and heat resistant. You may know Kevlar from its use in bulletproof vests, but it has recently become a lightweight tree strap alternative. The downside to Kevlar in the outdoor industry is that it has a very low resistance to UV degradation. With as little as 40 hours in noontime sun, Kevlar can lose up to 50% of its strength. Be cautious when using it for human suspension and avoid exposing it to too much UV light. It is recommended that you use it at night or in the shade, and do not leave it exposed to UV light while in storage. Despite these considerations, Kevlar is very lightweight and packs down very small.


    Get High-Quality Webbing at DutchWare

    To choose the best type of webbing for your outdoor use, consider the following:

    • Planned use: As you’ve learned, different types of webbing fabrics are better suited for certain outdoor tasks than others. For example, polyester webbing is ideal for a hammock camping trip because it is strong and doesn’t stretch. Some materials are dual-purpose, like polypropylene, which is great for tying tarps down at your campsite and on-the-water use for boating or kayaking.
    • Breaking strength: Some types of webbing, including nylon, may come with a breaking strength listed. Manufacturers determine this breaking strength through dry testing, and it’s an important value to note if you’re buying webbing for something like rock climbing.
    • Length and weight: Finally, consider the length and weight of your webbing before purchasing, especially if you plan to use it for hammock suspension or are trying to save space in your daypack.


    DutchWare has top-quality webbing, including straps made out of nylon, polypropylene, polyester, and Kevlar. Explore our site to learn more about our hammock accessories and outdoor gear.