Amsteel Blue 7/64 Fid

[michael_p]

Hi all.

Just wanted to pass on a tip.

I obtained some Amsteel 7/64 from the recent group buy organised by Bluegum Mic (huge thanks to Mic for doing this, you are a champion). While in Spotlight I noticed they sold a set of mattress needles, one of the needles being 20cm long. At the cost of a few dollars I decided to buy a set.

I was very happy to discover that the 20cm needle is perfect as a fid for the 7/64 Amsteel. Even though the Amsteel is very easy to work the mattress needle made it even easier.

Mattress needle as fid.

Hope this is of use.

Cheers,
Michael.

[Marwood]

I've used a slightly smaller needle for splicing thinner hollow braid like Zing-It and Lash-It. For 3mm and 4mm hollow-braid like Amsteel, I've used an empty ballpoint pen refill (like this one) with the plastic top cap removed. Although I was too cheap to buy them, Whitworths sells "real" fids.

[Bluegum Mic]

Looks excellent Michael (and no problem at all for organising).

Yes I've just been using a parker pen refill too Marwood. Works well but the needle looks good too.

[andrewa]

I just spliced some dyneema (???hoping it is similar to Amstell Blue) for my hammock setup, using bent coat hanger wire. Haven't yet tried my "woopie slings", but they seem OK in concept. If I end up with a sore bum, they didn't work!!

A

[Rob A]

With regard to the dyneema, larger diameters, and the type of splice you need to make, model shops stock small diameter brass tube which you can easily cut, file and give a directional sand. Was looking at fids, and kits were all eighty to a hundred and something bucks, nice chrome or stainless and great if you are mid atlantic on some single handed and you need stuff that wont ever let you down ... but for a couple of bucks ... these will do me fine. Slide through the catchy soft fine thread really nicely.

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[michael_p]

Rob,

What a good idea. Will have to check out some model shops now and see what they have.

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,
Michael.

[Rikall]

You can buy hollow knitting needles that can easily be converted into a fid. Cut it to length on an angle and bend the cut point over towards the inside to form a hook. You can now insert the end of your amsteel into the hollow of the fid and the hook will hold the amsteel in place while you work the fid through the bury.

Rick.

[mjcussen]

This has been a great help! I wrestled with thin needles, pieces of wire, fishing line, sticky tape, "how to.." whoopie slings on Youtube for days. I just couldn't pull the end through!! I managed to get one through after using a thicker needle to open up the weave, then slide the end back through the bury with a sticky taped end. But, overall, far too hard. I thought that a hollow tube would be ideal, so I'll give that a go next time I'm in town. I'm using the Amsteel whoopie slings on a hammock tent and I'm still not sure that the thin Amsteel Blue 7/64 is best for the gathered end. I've tied the sling around 3 times in an attempt to spread the stress. Does anyone else have some hammock tenting expereince with this?

[michael_p]

Is this what you mean:


You may also find this thread at Hammock Forums useful (it goes with the video): http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php?t=15205.

A thread on bpLite Forum may be worth a read as well: http://www.bplite.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=4531.

Opie has a video on attaching a whoopie sling to a hammock:


Cheers,
Michael.