Equipped To Survive Equipped To Survive® Presents
The Survival Forum
Where do you want to go on ETS?

Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
Topic Options
#40548 - 05/08/05 01:31 AM Paracord Terminations
KTOA Offline
Journeyman

Registered: 02/08/04
Posts: 86
Loc: SoCal
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

Top
#40549 - 05/08/05 02:18 AM Re: Paracord Terminations
Anonymous
Unregistered


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.

Top
#40550 - 05/08/05 02:37 AM Re: Paracord Terminations
Be_Prepared Offline
Addict

Registered: 12/07/04
Posts: 530
Loc: Massachusetts
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.
_________________________

- Ron

Top
#40551 - 05/08/05 02:44 AM Re: Paracord Terminations
Be_Prepared Offline
Addict

Registered: 12/07/04
Posts: 530
Loc: Massachusetts
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
_________________________

- Ron

Top
#40552 - 05/08/05 03:10 PM Re: Paracord Terminations
Anonymous
Unregistered


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

Top
#40553 - 05/08/05 04:02 PM Re: Paracord Terminations
LauraQ Offline


Registered: 05/04/05
Posts: 15
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

Top
#40554 - 05/08/05 04:57 PM Re: Paracord Terminations
03lab Offline
dedicated member

Registered: 01/30/04
Posts: 121
Loc: berlin.de
Put superglue on the paracord before you make the cut: Perfect cord ends!

Top
#40555 - 05/09/05 01:55 PM Re: Paracord Terminations
Frozen Offline
Journeyman

Registered: 01/07/05
Posts: 86
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.
_________________________
“Expectation strolls through the spacious fields of Time towards Opportunity.” Umberto Eco

Top
#40556 - 05/10/05 01:16 AM Re: Paracord Terminations
Susan Offline
Geezer

Registered: 01/21/04
Posts: 5163
Loc: W. WA
"This also ensures that nobody will use it light up in the car. "

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

Sue

Top
#40557 - 05/10/05 02:44 AM Re: Paracord Terminations
widget Offline
Addict

Registered: 07/06/03
Posts: 550
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!
_________________________
No, I am not Bear Grylls, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night and Bear was there too!

Top
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >



Moderator:  Alan_Romania, Blast, cliff, Hikin_Jim 
March
Su M Tu W Th F Sa
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
Who's Online
1 registered (chaosmagnet), 292 Guests and 26 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
GallenR, Jeebo, NicholasMarshall, Yadav, BenFoakes
5367 Registered Users
Newest Posts
What did you do today to prepare?
by dougwalkabout
Yesterday at 11:21 PM
Zippo Butane Inserts
by dougwalkabout
Yesterday at 11:11 PM
Question about a "Backyard Mutitool"
by Ren
03/17/24 01:00 AM
Problem in my WhatsApp configuration
by Chisel
03/09/24 01:55 PM
New Madrid Seismic Zone
by Jeanette_Isabelle
03/04/24 02:44 PM
EDC Reduction
by EchoingLaugh
03/02/24 04:12 PM
Using a Compass Without a Map
by KenK
02/28/24 12:22 AM
Newest Images
Tiny knife / wrench
Handmade knives
2"x2" Glass Signal Mirror, Retroreflective Mesh
Trade School Tool Kit
My Pocket Kit
Glossary
Test

WARNING & DISCLAIMER: SELECT AND USE OUTDOORS AND SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND TECHNIQUES AT YOUR OWN RISK. Information posted on this forum is not reviewed for accuracy and may not be reliable, use at your own risk. Please review the full WARNING & DISCLAIMER about information on this site.