Night of the Iguana again... the dreaded Hammock. Portable hammocks are of course ridiculously huge. I'm building a deck and cubicles but the director doesn't want the hammock to attach to them she wants it free standing. But free standing hammocks are 12+ feet long and the ends stick up about 4.5' off the ground. Plus you can't see the actor's face when he's in the hammock. The Director is wondering if I can build something smaller and on a slant so that we can see the actor better. (I need a smilie where the guy is shocked and has steam coming out of his ears to insert here).
So this is what I'm thinking. No welding gear available.
Point #1
I've got a spare rope hammock without a stand to play with. There's the main "basket" area of the hammock that the person lays in. Then the ropes all go through a piece of wood to fix their distances apart. Then they travel about 2 1/2' before they are all woven together at a single ring. The director wants me to shorten the whole thing by tying the lines together about 6" from the wooden spacer instead of 2 1/2'. I'm worried that will make it highly unstable. Anyone agree?
Point #2
Director is wondering if we can use the existing metal tube stand and build a rake to it at one end. My feeling is this would look weird and would alter the way the forces act upon the stand possibly causing a collapse. Again thoughts?
Point #3
The director is wondering if I can build something shorter. Ok, I've got a nice beefy 4x6 for a main back bone, some monstrous bolts, and a bunch of 2x6 kicking around for the uprights. I could throw a frame together. BUT, if it's lower, I'm afraid that the actor will hit the ground when he gets in it. The ropes stretch. That's the reason for the height of the frame in the first place. If I drop it down to 3' high supports on the ends, the actor is likely to hit bottom getting in and out.
ANY suggestions on how to make a hammock that will still work but is smaller, has better sight lines to the actor, and can be built from wood?
About the only thing I can come up with is building a 4 post hammock that is raked. But that seems like it would look a little weird.
So this is what I'm thinking. No welding gear available.
Point #1
I've got a spare rope hammock without a stand to play with. There's the main "basket" area of the hammock that the person lays in. Then the ropes all go through a piece of wood to fix their distances apart. Then they travel about 2 1/2' before they are all woven together at a single ring. The director wants me to shorten the whole thing by tying the lines together about 6" from the wooden spacer instead of 2 1/2'. I'm worried that will make it highly unstable. Anyone agree?
Point #2
Director is wondering if we can use the existing metal tube stand and build a rake to it at one end. My feeling is this would look weird and would alter the way the forces act upon the stand possibly causing a collapse. Again thoughts?
Point #3
The director is wondering if I can build something shorter. Ok, I've got a nice beefy 4x6 for a main back bone, some monstrous bolts, and a bunch of 2x6 kicking around for the uprights. I could throw a frame together. BUT, if it's lower, I'm afraid that the actor will hit the ground when he gets in it. The ropes stretch. That's the reason for the height of the frame in the first place. If I drop it down to 3' high supports on the ends, the actor is likely to hit bottom getting in and out.
ANY suggestions on how to make a hammock that will still work but is smaller, has better sight lines to the actor, and can be built from wood?
About the only thing I can come up with is building a 4 post hammock that is raked. But that seems like it would look a little weird.
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