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Frequent Questions About Nicamaka® Imported Hammocks |
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| • | Can the Nicamaka® hammock be used outdoors? |
| Of course, it is made to use
wherever you want to be comfortable and safe. |
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| • | Can it be also used indoors? |
| Of course; inside is where you
have to most opportunity for enjoyment - food, music, AC, heat, TV & privacy. |
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| • | What happens when it gets wet? |
| The polyester fibers dry very
quickly. Best not to leave anything out in the rain too long. |
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| • | Is it easy to relocate? |
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Yes, move the decor loop to the
middle of the hammock, unhook one end from the support eye, pick up the
centered loop with the "S" hook and either hang the doubled hammock to
one side or engage the other hook and relocate. |
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| • | I do not have trees in my back yard, do I need a stand? |
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Forget an unwieldy stand
that takes up space, breaks toes and
instead use one or two posts where you want the hammock. If you use
one of the low-attach, up-from-floor stands you will then have to get an
unsafe spreader bar hammock. |
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| • | I live in a condo and want to put the Nicamaka® on the balcony, do I need a stand? |
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Two eye bolts in the overhead
concrete or wood supports eliminate the need for a stand and open up your
floor space. |
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| • | How do I install a Nicamaka® in my house? |
| Into the wood or concrete
structure in the wall or ceiling. (not into plaster board) We have
convenient install kits for either wood or concrete structure. Must be
structure, not dry-wall or plaster. . |
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| • | .I have a rope and stick hammock in a stand, can I replace it with a Nicamaka®? |
| Yes, we make the "Playa"
spreader-bar Nicamaka® that is more comfortable than the rope and stick, and
safer as well. |
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Questions About Fabrication and Materials (Sprang-weave process, imported garment-grade yarns) |
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| • | What is the sprang-weave process? |
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Sprang weaving is one of
civilization's oldest weaving methods. It is a simple method of interlocking
parallel cords to produce a strong, flat fabric that is fixed in one
dimension and expansive in the other dimension. The process does not use a
loom and can be done between any vertical posts or small trees.
Go Here For Sprang-Weave
Details |
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| • | Why is the sprang-weave process more expensive than cross-weave methods? |
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It is labor intensive with no
machinery. It requires a lot of walking around posts while adding and
interlocking the cords, for example, 1.5 miles to create the bed for a
"Couples" Nicamaka®. This is important as it adds comfort that is not
possible with cross-weave methods.
Go Here For Sprang-Weave
Details |
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| • | What is the importance of better materials and why do they have to be imported to Nicaragua? |
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Just as in clothing, better
materials yield better finished products. Nicaragua lost its textile manufacturing during the communist reign so for now it is necessary
to import quality yarns. |
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| • | Why are Nicaraguan hammocks the best of the Central American type? |
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They have generations of
continuous experience and a more consistent production history. The
quality range is narrow and tends to range from good to excellent. |
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| • | What about colors and yarn choices? |
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We have about 16 colors in stock
plus we achieve other colors by blending two color yarns and create different textural
effects and patterns.
Go Here For Some Color Choices |
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| • | Which came first, the so-called traditional rope & stick type or the sprang-weave type? |
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The sprang-weave has been around
since man first decided to get off the ground and stop being part of the
food chain. In the Americas we would guess thousands of years. |
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Questions About Spreader Bars And Safety (Spreader bars and fallout) |
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| • | I thought all hammocks needed spreader bars and think they are pretty. What is their purpose? |
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Two basic purposes: first, for
old time sailors to scroll canvas hammocks for drying and to allow some
shoulder space in tight spaces; second, for shoulder space in hammocks hung
tight in low-attach stands or in constricted space situations. |
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| • | The wider the spreader bar the better, right? |
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Wrong. There are two laws in
play - gravity & physics. This means the wider the bar, the less
stable the hammock. Falling on your face is bad, wide spreader bars
cause people to fall out, ergo wide spreader bars are not the best of
things. |
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| • | If a bar is to be used for low-attached, is there an ideal bar width? |
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Yes, avoid thinking that bar
width equates to hammock size and realize that the bar only needs to be wide enough to
provide a little shoulder room. We find that 28" - 30" works well.
Width is needed in the center of the bed portion of the hammocks for the
occupant(s) and a bar-less hammock with enough length will naturally provide
this space. |
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| • | If I do need to use a low-attach stand is there a Nicamaka® that can be used? |
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Yes, the "Playa" spreader
bar model is much more comfortable because of the sprang-weave construction
that tends to keep one in the center. It's still is not as comfortable
as those without bars as the bar gets in the way when using as a recliner or
as a reading support. |
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| • | Why not make a "Playa" Nicamaka® with a shorter bar? |
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We are working on it, but most
people who want a spacer bar hammock think bigger is better and that the
size of the bar determines the capacity of the hammock. They like the
look of the bar and are less interested in safety or comfort. |
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| • | What is good about a spreader bar? |
| Mainly it is pretty and fits the
"Gilligan's Island" slapstick image of a hammock. It allows
for shorter hammocks to be used in low-attach up-from-floor stands. If the
bar is shoulder width it is safer and comfy. The center width is
determined by the amount of material in the bed, not the width of the bar.
If hung high with lost of slope ("smiley-face" profile) it is safer. |
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| • | What else is bad about a spreader bar? |
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It breaks windows if used on a
balcony, it makes it difficult to take down and relocate, it is an
"attractive nuisance" for children who see who can be flipped out and when
they flip out the bar can hit their head like a Ninja numchuk. Also if
in a low-attach stand with cross bar supports, it offers convenient tripping
and toe break possibilities for the unwary. |
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Questions About Care and Maintenance (Washing, drying, avoiding damage from pollution, weather, animal or tree detritus) |
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| • | How do I take care of my Nicamaka®? |
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First, care for it as you would
your blue-jeans - keep them from getting dirty in the first place, do not
leave them outside for the elements and wash when necessary. Wild animals
and rodents are not good for textiles. |
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| • | Can I use my washing machine? |
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Better, is about 6" of warm water in
your tub with some mild detergent, wash by hand, drain and rinse.
Leave in tub a couple of hours to drain as hammock would be very heavy with
water soon after rinsing. Take outside and hang to dry. |
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| • | What about dry-cleaning? |
| More expensive than the tub
method. Many times simple is better and less work than complicated. |
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How To Use A Nicamaka® (Getting in & out, reading, TV, sleeping, coverlet, social) |
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| • | How do I get into a Nicamaka® |
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As you would in a chair,
sit down onto the bed section with your feet beneath you, and rotate your
head and shoulders toward the hammock end, and move your feet into the bed.
You do not have to back into it as necessary with a spreader bar hammock |
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| • | How do I get out? |
| As you would a chair, put your
feet underneath and stand up. |
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| • | I like to read (watch TV, work on my laptop, read to my children,) what is the best position? |
| Sit up high (to support cords),
with small pillow under head, feet either in hammock or on floor and enjoy
life! |
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| • | It feels good with my feet high but for longer periods I want to lie flat when sleeping, is this possible? |
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Yes, get in the center and find
an angle (about 45 degrees) with head and feet in hammock and find your most
comfortable position. Everyone has a different angle or position, but you
know when you have found it. |
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| • | What is the crochet coverlet border for, other than decoration? |
| It is an Afghan quick cover.
Just flip it over and you have a little cover-up when your skin cools down
from the relaxation. |
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| • | What about social events? |
| Yes. Another reason why
true hammocks / hamacas have been around for thousands of years. |
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Relaxation Hammocks • Information
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shopping and availability, please visit online stores: