Cord cutter?

ThinkOfTheChildren

ThinkOfTheChildren

Joined
Jul 7, 2000
Messages
1,556
The last time I was in an EMS (maybe a couple years ago) I was buying some cord. I remember the clerk using a small device to cut it cleanly. It was a switch on machine that would heat up and cut through the cord using heat and pressure to make the cleanest separation possible.

These days I'm using a lot of paracord and as it stands now, I've been cutting it with my knives and then melting the end with a lighter. This is sloppy and can sometimes leave me with a gobbed up end. I'm trying to find out if anyone knows what one of those little machines is called and where I might get one. If it's expensive, forget about it, but if it's affordable it could really help me out.

Barring that, anyone have any foolproof methods for clean paracord ends?
 
I think this is what you are refering to:

Rope Cutter

I have also seen hand held cutters for around $40.

You could use one of the old trigger soldering irons?
 
Paracord is tiny, so it won't unravel much...

I cut with knife or scissors... and simply burn

sometimes, when I need the ends to be real small, I'll melt the ends slightly, lick my fingers and give it a quick, light squeeze. Then, I'll heat it again and squeeze it the other way... it takes a little practice, but it works.

Last method, I'll take a wood handled paring knife and heat it on the stove till it turns red. Then, wearing heavy leather gloves, I'll cut the cord or rope with the knife.
 
Thanks for the link, clint. I'll have to be on the lookout for one of the cheaper hand-held versions.

Mutt,
Yes, I do some of the methods you describe. Namely, I heat up the cord and then squeeze it (with fingers or pliers). This often becomes messy however and sometimes results in burnt fingertips. I was just looking for a more graceful solution :D
 
X-acto makes a soldering iron combo hot knife that takes standard x-acto blades.My wife bought me one for 12.95 at a hobby shop. This is great as it makes a clean cut and burn at the same time on paracord.I have been braiding lanyards for everything.Funny though, my wife dosent like the lanyard I put on her toothbrush.:D Here is a link to one http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/xac/xacx73780.htm
 
I've got one table knife I use for that -- heat it on the stove. That makes a neater end than cutting and then melting with a lighter. I bet if you look through your kitchen drawers you'll find a knife you never use. If you have other knives that look the same wrap the handle with tape so you'll always use that one ... no sense in ruining more than one knife....
 
Good call blackeye. Never seen that one before.

Cougar, good idea also, I will have to try that.
 
Originally posted by Cougar Allen
I've got one table knife I use for that -- heat it on the stove. That makes a neater end than cutting and then melting with a lighter. I bet if you look through your kitchen drawers you'll find a knife you never use. If you have other knives that look the same wrap the handle with tape so you'll always use that one ... no sense in ruining more than one knife....
Click to expand...

Isn't this just what M2 and similar steels were made for? No M2 AFCK, Stryker, Nimravus or Axis lying around?
 
It's true high speed steels can take the heat, but melted plastic gets stuck to the blade -- and it doesn't have to even be sharp. I use an old table knife and don't bother to clean off the plastic that sticks to it. I only use it for that purpose so it doesn't matter.

For only $12.95, though, that exacto tool looks like it could be more convenient for people who do a lot of that.
 
Now that I have used my hot knife/soldering iron more the only thing I can suggest is buy a couple of different blades when you buy it. The blade that comes with the tool is a bad angle to cut para/spectra cord and is a little long.Because this is an inexpensive heat source it takes longer to heat longer blades and to reheat after a couple cuts.I found that with the longer blades I would have to use the base of the blade or wait.A shorter blade that runs horizontial to the length of the iron/knife work best.Once you find the blade best for your use it makes clean sealed cuts.You still have to let the iron/knife have time to heat up in the begining.You can also buy cheap wood burners that come in different wattage's that will accept X-acto blades and heat up faster. Have fun,RB
 
blackeye4you, you put a lanyard on your wife's toothbrush?! :eek:

Helps with the quick "tactical" indexing, doesn't it? :) And I thought I was bad with putting paracord on everything.
 
Truthfully, Yes. I have been on work comp with a busted back for going on five years and quite a few well most of my knives and weapons,flashlights and some tools have been wrapped or lanyard's made for them. Alot of things got plasti-dipped before I learned how to make lanyards and such. My wife is just as into hobbies as I am, and she got just as good a laugh out of the toothbrush thing as I did(well maybe) Hell before I found out how cheap paracord was I put alot of bucks and countless hours into model muscle cars and that's something I havent had an intrest in for thirty years.You can put a bunch of cash in a model real easy.:) RB
 
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