Paracord Terminations

I've been busy cutting and tying up paracord these past few days. What I don't have is a good clean way to terminate the cut end of paracord. So far I've been using a flame from the stove top. Usually I'm left with a hard discolored ball of plastic(?).

Any suggestions for terminating the cut end on paracord?

Alan

You can turn the frayed edge inside on itself with the point of a knife or something sharp. If you trim the inner cords or stretch the sheathing past the cords, it will look much nicer but then you'll have to cut it again if you need to pull out the inner stuff.

I generally cut any synthetic line with an attachment to a heavy duty pistol grip soldering iron. It's about a 2 inch long blade, which melts through the line, fusing the ends as it goes.

I bought it at a marine supply store on the waterfront, but, if I see it online somewhere, I'll post it. I bought it when I was making up a bunch of mooring lines, using 5/8 inch braided nylon. The "blade" is really just a flat plate about 2" x 3/8". When you heat it, it goes through the syntheric line like a hot knife through butter. You can even use the flat part of the blade to taper the end of the cut so it will pass through things better. I'll try to find a pointer to it somewhere online.

Here's a picture of the handheld cutter. There are also benchtop models where you actually push the rope across the blade.

http://www.cableorganizer.com/images/handheld-hot-knife-big.jpg

Double wrap the cord in tape (duct or electrical will work just fine), make your cut, melt the end LIGHTLY, NEAR, not IN a lighter flame, give it a minute or two to cool, remove the tape. You should have an end that looks very similar to a "factory" end.

Troy

The best way I've found is to heat the cord with a lighter where you want to cut it, then - before it cools - cut it with scissors.Makes a nice termination and also makes it easier to thread through a lanyard hole, etc.

-- Laura

Put superglue on the paracord before you make the cut: Perfect cord ends!

As long as you're not a smoker, I've found the best tool for sealing the ends of nylon cords and rope is the cigarette lighter in the dashboard of the car.

This also ensures that nobody will use it light up in the car.

"This also ensures that nobody will use it light up in the car. "

Not twice, anyway. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Sue

Susan, I odn't think my car even came with a lighter. They have started leaving them out. All the little receptacles are now for cell phone chargers and XM radio add ons:)
BTW, heat an old knife on the stove and cut the ends of the paracord! Cheers!

PlastiDip
http://www.plastidip.com/consumer/index.html

For an end/whip finish you want to look great for a long time. I don't bother if there is no "cosmetic" necessity. But on (e.g.) bootlaces, etc. this stuff is cool.

Actually we could start another thread on the uses of Plastidip!

Thanks to all for the great suggestions.

Alan

My knot book says to burn the cord at a spot back from the end and then cut at that spot. You'll get a clean end.