I would like to attach some wrapped(?) paracord to my keychain for emergency purposes, but I'm not sure what length to begin with or how to go about wrapping it to make it suitable for keychain carry. <br><br>Does anyone have any opinions on how/where I can begin?<br><br>Thanks

You could simply make a small coil , self wrap with additional paracord and tie off. This is merely the way most small quantities of rope cordage is sold. Another option is the rescue belt, an actual using belt of braided paracord. The link is www.slatts.freeserve.co.uk/slatts-knot.htm Minimal length is dictated by what your comfortable carrying. I like to have enough on hand to make a expedient shelter tautline. Thats an easy 12'

How about some sort of macrame do-flotchie made from paracord to use as a fob to dangle from your keyring?

I have about 10' of paracord wrapped around my PSK and I would think that any formation of knots or bundling that actually held that much paracord would be about twice as large as your keychain and might be a bit of a bundle to carry that way. For any usable length of cordage that is reasonable to carry attached to your keychain you might want to think about a smaller diameter cord. Sure it is less strong but you really don't need 550 lb test cord to guy down a garbage bag shelter which has a tensile strength of about 1.5 lbs. something like a 20' length of 60 lb. test nylon cord might be much more usefull and still fit in a tightly wound bundle on a keychain without much more than doubling the size of the keys themselves.<br>Just a thought.

There is a knot that I saw in a book that allows you to make a ball out of any piece of rope. It looks kind of nice on your key chain. Yes it will take a long time to unwrap but it allows you to carry a longer amount of rope with you. <br><br>Matt

Monkey Fist

The monkey fist is actually not that hard to make. There are a number of sites on the web that provide directions to make it. It doesn't take that long to take apart either. I've used monkey fists to make bolos by having small stones as the center of the fist. You could theoretically make a small monkey fist out of some smaller lighter cord, and then make a larger monkey fist out of paracord and use the smaller "fist" as the center for the larger. That way you could have two lengths of two different sized ropes attached to the keychain.<br><br>I've also tried slatt's rescue belt and was fairly successful with it the first time round. I estimate that I used approximately 80 plus feet to make a 1 1/2 inch wide belt and it just barely fits my 36" waist. <br><br>Whenever I travel I add an additional mini-biner to the one that already carries my house and car keys. It carries a micro mag-lite, small knife sharpener, a few other things that I can't remember off hand, and a 3' length of paracord tied up in a hangman's noose.

I have made several "fobs" of paracord for key rings, etc., using a brading or plaiting techinque that my daughter learned at girl scout camp. I just did some web searching, and this is the best set of instructions I have found so far...<br><br>To make a round braid: <br>1. Remove tangles from the braiding material and divide it into four or more equal strands. <br>2. Weave the left strand across to the right. <br>3. When that strand is on the right, pull it across the back of the braid to the left side and go under the strand there. <br>4. Now take the next left strand (that you just passed the first strand under) and weave it to the right. Then, pull it across the back and under the left side strand. <br>The braid will begin to form a round, rope-like shape. <br>5. Continue weaving the left strands to the right, across the back and under the left strand.<br><br>You begin with two pieces of cord the same length, crossed in the middle to give you the four strands needed. You can make the thing as long as you want, mine usually end up around three inches when done. I have never measured the starting length, and it has been so long I just don't remember...If nothing else it gives you something to do in the evenings...<br>

Here is a better site...<br><br>http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/3375/braid.html

You can make a lanyard like the lifeguards use to wear their whistles. Start with a round braid. When you get twice the lenth you want to end with, loop the working end back over a few inches from the beginning a weave a square braid with the beginning round braid end inside the square braid. You usually see this done with plastic craft strips and the square braid can slid up and down so one can adjust the loop. But with other material, the square braid doesn't slide.