Hanging and Care for your new product
Hanging your new product;
Where's the best place in my yard to set up my new hammock?
You'll need a space that's at least 1½ feet longer than the total length of your hammock. Be sure you measure the entire hammock, and not just the hammock bed (a single-size hammock is 12 feet long, a double is 13 feet long and an extra-wide is 14 feet long). Remember, each of our Nags Head Hammocks has about 1 foot of chain at either end.
Hanging a hammock from two trees just sounds so darn romantic, but actually doing so can often prove tricky - not every yard has two sturdy trees the right distance apart. The space between trees needs to equal the total length of your hammock, plus 1 foot. So for a 13-foot hammock, the trees would need to be at least 14 feet apart, and so on.
Another option is to hang your hammock between a tree and a single post, or between two posts. In either case, the same spacing rules apply as when hanging a hammock between two trees.
For posts, be sure you use treated wood or some other material that will resist rotting. Posts should be 6 inches by 6 inches in diameter, set 2-3 feet or deeper into the ground. If you know your hammock will be getting a lot of use, it's not a bad idea to add quick-dry cement to the bottom half of the hole around your post. Follow package directions for mixing the cement.
If your trees or posts are correctly spaced, then the hooks for hanging your hammock should be screwed in about 4½ feet up from the ground. To install the hooks, begin by creating starter holes using either a drill or a nail that's 3/16 of an inch or smaller. Once you've gotten a hook started in your post or tree, slide a durable screwdriver through the hook's eye to give yourself more leverage for tightening. Hooks need to be screwed in all the way up to the eye.
When installed correctly, our hammocks will support up to 450 pounds.
Hanging your hammock indoors
A lot of people actually do! You'll first need to find the studs within whichever wall you want to hang your hammock from; studs are usually set about 16 inches apart. Hooks can also be screwed into solid-concrete walls and hollow-bloc masonry walls. Your local hardware store should have appropriate fasteners and recommendations on drills and drill bits.
Hammock stands
A free-standing hammock stand offers the widest options for setting up your hammock, whether indoors or out. Several quality stands are available through our website.
Unpacking your hammock
The rope in your hammock or swing may look a bit rumpled or drawn-up when you first remove it from its packaging - not to worry! Once you've used the product a few times, the rope will stretch to its full length and the weave will begin to straighten out. If a piece of rope happens to get pulled a few inches out of its weave, work it back into place and then shake the whole hammock or swing body vigorously. That ought to take care of it!
Fine-tuning
If your hammock seems prone to tipping once it's hung, then it's probably hung too tightly. On the other hand, if it seems to sag too much, you'll want to hang it a little higher and tighter.
Don't be surprised if your first experiences getting in or out of a hammock prove a little awkward - it'll get easier in time. Teach yourself to get into your hammock by sitting down as close to the center as possible, then lifting your feet up. Of course, many hammock owners enjoy stretching out in their hammocks while still keeping their feet on the ground, in order to rock themselves.
Overall care
A shady spot is best for hanging your hammock. The less direct sunlight, the longer the life of both the rope and the varnish - not to mention the less sunburn you'll experience when you nod off in your hammock at midday! During winter months and other lengthy stretches when you're not using the hammock, store it in a dry place away from where mice or bugs can get to it. Periodically check the metal chains and hammock hooks for wear and possible rust. The hanging hardware bears the brunt of the stress put on a hammock, so replace any parts that no longer seem sturdy.
Caring for the rope
It's surprisingly easy! Wash the rope using warm, soapy water and a soft-bristled scrub brush; a mild liquid detergent will do the trick nicely. Spread the hammock on a deck or concrete surface and soak it thoroughly with a garden hose, then pour on some soapy water and scrub away! Be sure to rinse everything thoroughly before allowing the hammock to dry. If the rope is cotton, it may shrink a little in drying, but will stretch back out with use.
Caring for the wood
Over time the finish will start to dull and wear off from normal outdoor weathering. To ensure maximum life from your hammock, refinish the wood once you notice this happening. Taking the hammock apart is not recommended; leave everything tied together and just work carefully around the rope.
Repairs
We take genuine pride in the craftsmanship that goes into our hammocks and other products. If any problems should ever arise due to a manufacturer's defect, we will gladly replace or fix the hammock at no expense to you. However, should the rope be damaged due to, for instance, an overly frisky dog insisting on getting into the hammock with you or some manic squirrel deciding to polish its teeth by gnawing through your spreader bars, then we offer reasonably priced repairs at our Kill Devil Hills store; call (252) 441-6115 to arrange for a repair appointment. You can also buy replacement parts by calling us toll-free at (800) 344-6433.
Under normal use, your Nags Head Hammock should last you for years - and hopefully the memories it will create will last you a lifetime! We hope you enjoy your new hammock to the fullest, with our sincere thanks for trusting us to help meet your relaxation needs.
Cleaning and maintenance for your Nags Head Hammocks product;
White polyester rope and DuraCord rope hammocks
Place your hammock in a kiddie wading pool or bathtub, soaking the rope thoroughly. Try to keep the wooden spreader bars and galvanized O-rings out of the water as much as possible; you may even want to use a plastic bucket or other container to prop up these parts. Add some OxiClean to the water, though a mild liquid detergent such as Wisk will also work; whichever you choose, follow the instructions on the cleaner container for amounts. Let the rope soak in the soapy solution for about an hour. To begin cleaning, take a handful of rope in each hand and rub the pieces together; use a soft-bristled scrub brush to work on any stains. Once you've cleaned all of the rope in this way, rinse the whole hammock using a garden hose. Finally, let the hammock air-dry on a flat surface so that the rope doesn't stretch while drying.
Wood and wooden furniture
Over time the finish will weather and start to wear off, and that's something to watch for, since protecting the wood's finish will lengthen the life of your hammock, chair or swing. We don't recommend taking our hammocks apart; instead, leave everything tied together and just work carefully around the rope. With our chairs and swings, you'll need to remove the rope before refinishing, careful to keep the rope body from coming apart on you. As a precaution, slide a separate piece of rope through the end loop, as you see in the illustration below, and tie each end of the rope together. Do this on both sides.
With the rope removed, you can now safely remove all nuts and bolts from the wood, using a 7/16 ratchet and key. Some screws are going to be hidden by wooden plugs, which you'll need to remove first. Use either pliers or a small flathead screwdriver for that; if any wooden plugs become damaged while being removed, don't worry. Nags Head Hammocks has replacement parts for sale.
Once all hardware is removed and safely stored, sand the wood using 120-grit sandpaper. Note that some of the grey color close to the bolts will not come off. To refinish the wood, you can use any shade of polyurethane marine-grade varnish; we originally used high gloss, available at any hardware store. We applied 3 coats of varnish, but 2 coats should be sufficient. In between coats, lightly re-sand the wood pieces with 220-grit sand paper after the wood has air-dried for 24 hours. Refinishing is the perfect time to also replace the nuts, bolts, washers and screws, all readily available at your local hardware store.
Cypress wood stands
Follow the same instructions as for our other wood furniture, except that we recommend using boiled linseed oil instead of marine varnish to finish your freshly sanded wood. Though marine varnish will do the trick, linseed oil is particularly nourishing to cypress wood, and offers superior protection.
Metal stands
Metal stand may begin to rust after years of use, made worse by scratches to the finish and foreign particles sticking to the stand. Since our metal swing and hammock stands are powder-coated, there's no specific touch-up paint available. For small blemishes, you should be able to match the stand's color pretty closely to a rust-resistant metallic paint at your local hardware store. To completely refinish the stand, lightly sand the metal poles, repainting with your choice of rust-resistant outdoor spray paint.
Pillows, swing cushions and hammock pads
Don't put any of these in your washer or dryer; hand-wash only, letting them air-dry on a flat surface. Wash pillows with warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. With furniture pillows, remove the pad inside before cleaning; for hammock pillows, the pad should stay inside. You can use a garden hose and mild soap to clean the cushioned fabric we use for our swings and hammock pads. |
