sewing 7/64″ samson amsteel

I've spliced 7/64, but not sewn it…so just a guess here…you're best bet may be to splice a continuous loop and then sew through the splice into your belt. I would think a long straight stitch would be best, but I would go slow (amsteel has a low melting point). What size are are the loops?

loops would be about 1/2 diameter of unsewn material. How much tail length would be necessary? I am not in any way approaching the breaking strength of the amsteel. Just have some I can use.

How to finish the tails to look nice?

I am not sure the proper term for it but check out the last two photos in this tutorial: http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php?t=9349

You measure back on the 7/64 and the run it back through the center of itself and at the exit point trim the line and milk the outer line hiding the end. Makes for a very nice finished end with no melting required. It would give you more to sew into as well.

You could try "whipping". Google "line whipping" or something similar to find how-to pages. It involves sewing and wrapping the end with strong thread to give a neat, ravel-proof end. I would recommend melting the ends a bit in addition to whatever other method you choose, just because the UHMWPE fibers are so slippery, even with the amsteel surface treatment.

I thought the whoopie sling idea was good and the whipping is also a good idea.

However, I just tried to sew it and cannot reach the area on the hip belt with the sewing machine foot and needle.

Looks Like I am going to have to come up with a better idea or hand sew something.

Rick

I was fiddling with Kevlar pulling tape the other day and you can't melt the ends. I was going to try polyurethane glue or Seam Grip, but I found my hot glue gun on the way to the other glues and that worked great. I slathered it on and cut it back a bit when cooled to make a neat end. The hot glue works in around the fibers well and locks it all together.

If you have a bitter end on a piece of Amsteel, you can tuck it back inside the end for a clean finish.

This video shows how to make an Amsteel "chain link:"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K78fsM5BJQQ&feature

This one shows how to make whoopie slings and to finish the bitter end at about 6:30 minutes or so: