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Barrel-Stave Hammock: Notched Staves Held by Ropes Twined Round Their Ends (Boy Mechanic, 1913)
A hammock of barrel staves, "more comfortable than one would think", from The Boy Mechanic (1913): smooth staves notched at the ends and strung side by side on ropes, which are gathered and tied to two trees. It can be left out in the rain.
The book gives no sizes: the length of the staves sets the width of the bed.
Beginner
About 2 hours
Instructions
1
1
Read The Boy Mechanic
Read The Boy Mechanic
"A hammock made of barrel staves is more comfortable than one would think, considering the nature of the material employed in making it."
2
2
Choose and smooth the staves
Choose and smooth the staves
Select good, smooth barrel staves, enough laid side by side to make the hammock as long as you are tall (our rule). Sandpaper them thoroughly; he says this makes a great improvement.
Materials for this step:
Barrel Stave12 pieces
Sandpaper1 piece3
3
Notch the ends
Notch the ends
Cut half circles out of the edges of each stave near both ends, as at AA in his drawing, so the ropes lie in them. Mark them at the same place on every stave so the staves line up. Boring a hole on the edge line and sawing it in half is our way of cutting them.
Tools needed:
Pencil
Brace and Bit
Hand Saw4
4
String the staves
String the staves
Lay the staves side by side and pass the ropes round their ends through the notches, twining them between the staves as at B, at both ends. The weight then hangs on four ropes at each end, so small ropes such as clothes lines will do.
Materials for this step:
Clothesline1 piece5
5
Hang it
Hang it
Gather the ropes at each end and tie them round two trees or posts, leaving the hammock a little slack so the bed curves as in the drawing.
Materials for this step:
Clothesline1 piece6
6
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting
Hammock troubleshooting.
Flow
Loading...
7
7
History and honest limits
History and honest limits
From **The Boy Mechanic**, edited by H. H. Windsor, Popular Mechanics, Chicago, 1913, p. 75, "Barrel-Stave Hammock", sent in by H.G.M. of St. Louis (Project Gutenberg 12655). He gives no sizes or number of staves; the count, the length rule and the way of cutting the notches are ours.
Materials
3- 12 piecesPlaceholder
- 1 piecePlaceholder
- 1 piecePlaceholder
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