For quite a while I'm looking for the mechanical solution, which could help me to rewind the paracord into the spool shape like this:



That is the best way to store it, IMO. I know the spool like that is winded clamped at an angle, but I guess there is an up down motion guide arm of sorts in effect as well. Can't find any schematics or clear image how it's done.

Otherwise I prefer over the elbow, then fold in half, around the middle and through thhe loop method. Makes a very tight bundle, but still prone to entanglement when unwinding...

Even better, for either climbing rope or long lengths of cordage, is to stuff the rope in a rope bag or similar. I have been doing this for years and have never had a failure to feed smoothly, either in climbing or setting up a rappel. While in the bag, your rope is well protected from potential contaminants

I understand Yosemite SAR has a 3000' rope which is stuffed in a duffel bag (with many successful deployments).

I think the bag will not work for paracord, as it's not stiff enough, compared to any climbing rope.

A bag would work for paracord if you begin the stuffing by attaching one end inside the bag somehow, stuff the bag, and then attach the other end outside the bag. There would be zero knots. Also, there would less twisting than the figure 8 method on the hand.

I have stuffed both climbing rope, static rope, paracord, and mason twine successfully. Don't know about sewing thread....I think stiffness is immaterial.

Stuffing a bag works well. Although for climbing rope I generally just laid it out on the tarp attached to my rope bag. carefully fold the tarp with the rope and roll it in too the bag for transport.

Big disadvantage of stuff rope or laying it out with a rope bag; it takes a bag and is rather space inefficient.

I haven't tried it but stormdrane has a video tutorial of winding a spool like that, its in his blog post here

Thanks. Yes, I understand the manual zigzag weaving, even tried that once but due to the uneven tension it came out not ideal. But I have two about 300' hunks, which I want to rewind that way. Also I have a thin (~1/8") cord which I had deployed during an emergency once from a similar neat spool, I doubt I have enough temper to wind those manually The idea is to replicate the machine used for that at the factory.

Ah, sorry for the misunderstanding.

If you are thinking making some kind of device to wind the reels, I think you might want to take a look at some of the vintage sewing machines such as a Singer 99.

Some of these have the "back and for" arm mechanism you mention and are about as simple as you can get. I don't know if it would do exactly what you want but it might give you a starting point.

Forty years ago my father the Scoutmaster taught me to cut paracord into 15-20' lengths, and melt the ends.

A 100' length of cord makes six 16.6' cords. The size is perfect for using with tents, storm tie-downs, backpacks, lashings, ... and lengths can be combined if needed.

Storage was simply wrapping each length around the four fingers until the "tail" left is a bit more than 1 foot, and then bundling it in the middle with a few loops that are locked down by two locking loops (like a clove hitch).

Its fast and simple.