Paracord

L

Lucky Bob

Joined
Mar 31, 2006
Messages
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I have a couple 100ft bundles of 550 Paracord, which I'm planning on using part of to wrap my new Spyderco Mule Team.

Problem is, I can't melt the ends right! I'm using a jet lighter, since I figure the higher heat will help... but it just seems like the outer sleeve is melting, not it melting all together. Any ideas? Or suggestions on wrapping tutorials? I'm currently using this one.


Thanks all!
 
I just bought a couple of lenghts of 5 strand, black and gray. I use a bic and just wet my fingers and mash the ends. They turn out black with a little effort. Not sure if that helps.
 
Well I use a bic. That happened too me too when I just started using the stuff but I found that the trick is to just burn it for alot longer than what you think you need.
 
3wolves said:
Well I use a bic. That happened too me too when I just started using the stuff but I found that the trick is to just burn it for alot longer than what you think you need.
Click to expand...

Even if the outer sheath seems to be melting/burning away? >_>

As for wetting fingers... GOOD IDEA!
 
The Jet is likely too hot for easy controlled melting. I find paracord reacts much better to a regular flame than the one from a windproof lighter.
 
Doberman_Dave said:
The Jet is likely too hot for easy controlled melting. I find paracord reacts much better to a regular flame than the one from a windproof lighter.
Click to expand...

+1 on that one.

The paracord is plastic. If you get plastic too hot it decomposes without having time to melt.

Ideally, you want to get it to the melting temp without getting it to the decomposition temp. So you want a cooler flame and you want to slowly move the end toward the flame rather than just jam the end into the middle of the flame. You may get some burn anyway, but a cheapo cigarette lighter is the way to go. I've used the flame from the kitchen stove on ocasion as well.
 
Hot knife it! Get an old butterknife (use a good one out of the silverware drawer and the wife will kick your butt), heat up the tip 3/4" and cut the paracord. The hot steel melts everything nicely. Cut it at an angle and you'll get a nice, low profile end without the melted flare if you want it easy to feed through holes or cordlocks. You can also hotknife cut the end flush to the wrap if you're doing a handle wrap.

The butterknife tip needs to be pretty hot, yellow or orange. You probably need more than a lighter. I use a plumbing propane torch.
 
When I cut paracord, I fuse the outside where I'm going to make the cut, cut it, and fuse the ends. The first fuse keeps the ends tight instead of ending up with a big ball of melted plastic on the ends.
 
knarfeng said:
+1 on that one.

The paracord is plastic. If you get plastic too hot it decomposes without having time to melt.

Ideally, you want to get it to the melting temp without getting it to the decomposition temp. So you want a cooler flame and you want to slowly move the end toward the flame rather than just jam the end into the middle of the flame. You may get some burn anyway, but a cheapo cigarette lighter is the way to go. I've used the flame from the kitchen stove on ocasion as well.
Click to expand...
BUGGER! I bought this jet lighter (or at least justified the purchase) just for this purpose! Oh well, live and learn... when I tried a normal lighter, the ends of the individual sub-strands just curled in on themselves, and there was no overall fusing. I guess I should have just left it there longer.

That, and getting a "junk" butter knife (I was trying to think of what metal object I could try to get sufficiently hot without pissing off SOMEBODY) are good ideas.


Thanks all, and feel free to chime in more!
 
The butter knife technique works great. I use a putty knife that is dedicated to cutting para. Put the cord down on a scrap of wood and cut like butter:)
 
kjbenner said:
When I cut paracord, I fuse the outside where I'm going to make the cut, cut it, and fuse the ends. The first fuse keeps the ends
tight instead of ending up with a big ball of melted plastic on the ends.
Click to expand...
*
Good tip I'll have to try that.
IUKE12 said:
The butter knife technique works great. I use a putty knife that is dedicated to cutting para. Put the cord down on a scrap of wood and cut like butter:)
Click to expand...
Another good idea. What do you heat the putty knife up with?
 
I make lots of bracelets and monkeyfists. I use an old cheap 10v soldering iron to cut and fuse the ends at the same time. Keep it clean, and it will not discolor the end of the cord (I use several colors, including white). You can place the tip (mine resembles a flat tip screwdriver) at an angle to the cord and cut a pointed tip to aid in getting it through eyelets or smaller holes.
 
Before sealing the end, pull out about 1/4" of the core and cut it off. Pull the core back in then heat seal the end. I've used a jet lighter, I just hold the cord near enough to the flame so it doesn't melt too much or burn. If you want to shape the melted end after it is melted, I give it a 1-2 count (if it is too hot it does stick to human flesh, wetting you finger will help too) and roll it between my fingers before it solidifies. With this method, the core doesn't show.

Remember, you just want to melt it enough to fuse the loose fibers together. It soesn't need to burn and bubble:D. There are other funner things to burn.....



"Fire is our friend."
Gene Hackman in Young Frakenstein


Ric
 
db said:
*
Good tip I'll have to try that.

Another good idea. What do you heat the putty knife up with?
Click to expand...
A simple propane torch. Gets the putty knife glowing red hot in less than a minute. The putty knife does not transfer heat to the handle the way some all metal butter knives will. Once you get a good red glow you are good for many cuts.
 
Along the same lines as the butter knife/putty knife technique. . . I've got a cheap Swiss Army Knife knockoff that I use to do the same thing, but usually only for larger diameter cord or rope. Usually I just heat up the blade on the stove and use a scrap piece of 2x4 as a cutting board. For para-cord I usually just use a bic and roll the end between my fingers to avoid having a big blob on the end. I try to heat it fairly slowly and make sure that the inner strands fuse too.
 
Lucky Bob said:
Even if the outer sheath seems to be melting/burning away? >_>

As for wetting fingers... GOOD IDEA!
Click to expand...

yes, you will lose a centimeter or so but it is the only way I know of efectivly fusing everything together. as for hot knives etc. who really has the time to heat up a blade and cut paracord with it :confused:. bic is convenient and easy.
 
Umm, I never did think of it before for some reason but the knife tip on a woodburning kit. Now where the heck did the wife put that thing. :)
 
Phydeaux said:
Before sealing the end, pull out about 1/4" of the core and cut it off. Pull the core back in then heat seal the end. I've used a jet lighter, I just hold the cord near enough to the flame so it doesn't melt too much or burn. If you want to shape the melted end after it is melted, I give it a 1-2 count (if it is too hot it does stick to human flesh, wetting you finger will help too) and roll it between my fingers before it solidifies. With this method, the core doesn't show.
Click to expand...

+1

Cutting part of the inner strands works great. Good luck.
 
I am braiding my own barrel reins and the ends come out to 9 strands of paracord that all needs to be melted together. I cant seem to find any answers online how to do it.. Any advice?? If you look really close in this attached pic by the gold buckles, does that look like all they had to use was a soldering iron to heat all the end strands into one?
imgres
 
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