I was at home depot today looking for some non-hiking related items and came across their mason's line - 100% nylon, pretty cheap really. Anyone ever use this stuff for tie outs or other little jobs (stuff sacks etc)?
Strenght was not listed, durability unknown, etc, I have no need for it at this point, just wondering if it has a use and if anyone has any past experiences with it.
cheers

I recall someone using mason's line for their bear bag. The stuff is pretty durable as it is designed to drag across bricks, blocks, etc.... I would think it would work well for tie outs or what not.

i've been experimenting with it on my tie outs for a few months, maybe closer to a year. still not sure what i'll go with. it is light and strong, and once it gets dirty, it sort of blends in with things... however, it is a bit 'tangle-prone', but that also depends on which tarp i use it on.

with the stock Hennessey Hammock tarp, there are only 2 tie out points, and i have little pockets in those corners that i can roll it up into. it never tangles there.

on my 8 x 10, it's more trouble. i've yet to figure out a way to keep all the strings separate (6 tie out points), aside from sticking them in between the various layers of cloth as i fold it up... but that's a major pain.

as far as strength goes, there are two or three different weights, with strengths varying between 100 and 300 lbs, but don't quote me on that. all i know is that i'm using a medium weight one (not the thinnest, not the heaviest) and it's held up in all kinds of wind and rain without breaking.

i tie an overhand on a bight in one end, then thread it through a tie out and run the free end through the loop, so it's easy to undo from that end.

at the stake end, i use a tautline hitch. it's not too hard to undo, though sometimes it's a challenge when it's wet and muddy. but it holds when i set it, so i'm happy with that part of it.

i've tried it for bear bagging too. it's a bit hard on the hands if you're pulling more than a few pounds, but you can always wrap it around a stick and use that for a better grip.

I set up a shelter tarp for my outdoor workshop with the stuff. It got tied real tight to a tree and it got the worst of what nature could offer. Finally the poly tarp ripped. Its kind of a pain with unraveling if you don't melt the ends.
TB

I use Mason's line for just messing around with tarp designs/pitches etc. works pretty well, but being that the one i use is three strand, so if you dont burn the end right, unraveling is a problem. overall, i've had good success with it with no breaks. However, i wouldn't use it for a bear bag with 10 pounds of food, you might get some chainsaw action on that tree.
mike!

Be sure to get the woven type and not the twisted type. The woven mason's line is a lot stronger and will resist unraveling.

Bobby

You'll have to excuse me for bringing this thread out of the basement... :p

I went to Ace Hardware and looked at the mason line they carried. All they had was the twisted kind. The "medium stregth line" was rated at 10 lbs and the "Heavy Duty" 13 lbs. I have used the twisted line in the past and I don't like it.

There was also mention of woven mason's line that may have a breaking strength of 100 + lbs. I normally use Speer's No Tangle guy line but mason's line would be lot cheaper and easier to get.

Anybody know what stores carry the woven mason line? Lowes or Home Depot maybe?

Good to 'see' you again headchange. I bought some of the woven in dayglow yellow / green at Lowes. It will unravel if ends aren't sealed, but I've never had it break - even in a 45 MPH wind with a badly-rigged poly tarp attached.

You'll have to excuse me for bringing this thread out of the basement... :p

I went to Ace Hardware and looked at the mason line they carried. All they had was the twisted kind. The "medium stregth line" was rated at 10 lbs and the "Heavy Duty" 13 lbs. I have used the twisted line in the past and I don't like it.

There was also mention of woven mason's line that may have a breaking strength of 100 + lbs. I normally use Speer's No Tangle guy line but mason's line would be lot cheaper and easier to get.

Anybody know what stores carry the woven mason line? Lowes or Home Depot maybe?

Warbonnetguy over at hammock forums talked about using mason line. I got mine at Home Depot. The brand was Marshalltown. 150lb. strength.
Make sure it says #18 braided nylon. The neon yellow looks nice. Better than the Speer orange IMO. $10 for 500'

Agree with the tangle issue. Home Depot has it here. Look at EMS type places for small diameter, less tangley cordage. I find knots come out of the mason line poorly. Might be the stretch.

Agree with the tangle issue. Home Depot has it here. Look at EMS type places for small diameter, less tangley cordage. I find knots come out of the mason line poorly. Might be the stretch.

The slippery clove hitch ties and unties nicely with the mason line.

Try that wet. I am 3/4 stupid when cold anyway.

I'm Home Depot bound.....:)

Thanks for the info!

I put Mason line on the middle tie-outs on our Rainshadow Tarptent. It seems to be working fine. I didn't met the ends I just tied a knot at each end before using the length I cut off the roll.

I didn't met the ends

Opps, I mean melt, not met :o

I managed to pick up some woven masons line. Here is a picture compared with Speer's No Tangle guy line (orange):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/headchange4u/MasonLine002.jpg

How did you find the stuff for knots, tangling, compared to the Speer stuff?

How did you find the stuff for knots, tangling, compared to the Speer stuff?

It knots well but is more prone to tangling than the Speer. I don't think tangling would be any concern at all if wind you cords up before packing them.

Not to flog this to death, but unknotting? My manual dexterity is poor, maybe.

I do think the pink mason line is special.

The knots are pretty easy to get loose if you had to.

I struggle with some things.

Yep, I use it for guyline. The kind I got at Home Depot is 150 lb. test; more than enough strength. I've also used it for bear bagging to good effect. It's a lot less bulky than the para cord you get at REI and a lot cheaper. Mine is a hi-vis yellow color. I only wish they made a reflective version. :-?

Haven't seen to many masons working at night, lol!