How do I Stop fraying ends on Para-Chord?

WinDancer

WinDancer

Joined
May 15, 1999
Messages
720
Thanks in advance

Dave Evans
Tenino, WA

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The best way I've found to melt the ends and not end up with a big uneven blob is to use a micro torch. I have a butane torch I use. I bend the cord about 3 inches from the end about 70 degrees. Just enough to keep your fingers outa the flame. Then put the cord into the flame with the tip pointing straight at the nozzel. The cord is paralel to the flame I guess you could say. Keep an eye on it and once it just starts melting remove it from the flame and hold it end up to let it cool. It really makes for a clean professional look.

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Another option is to go to a boat supply store and get a little can of glop designed for keeping boat ropes from unraveling. The stuff I've used in the past is called "Whip It" or something like that.
 
Heat an old flatware kitchen knife with a propane torch. Cuts the cord neat and clean. You can also make angled cuts.

Selwyn
 
I second the last notion. A super cheap kitchen knife that has been under heat will cut the cord very clean.

And if simple is the key, just use a lighter on it and pull it out with your fingers. Either way works fine.

Nick

And if anyone says a word about the hot cord on their fingers I'm going to assume they've never ever made a knife...
wink.gif
 
Here's my method. The best thing I've found for cutting synthetic materials is a weller pistol type soldering gun. They make a wide flat tip for it. I grind a bit to make it a bit sharper but that's realy not necessary.
I like to cut on an aluminum plate.
Timing how fast to draw the tip across the material to make a nice clean well sealed cut comes quickly with a bit of practice.
I've used it to make countless thousands of cuts on webbing that i use for a product that i make.
It sure feels great that i've reached a point where i do enough volume to order straps pre cut from the supplier. :-)
 
Originally posted by cjensema:
Another option is to go to a boat supply store and get a little can of glop designed for keeping boat ropes from unraveling. The stuff I've used in the past is called "Whip It" or something like that.
Click to expand...

It is indeed called "Whip It." It works, but not as well (or as pretty) as actually whipping the line (rope, to the landlubbers). Do a search for "knots" through your preferred search engine, it shouldn't be too hard to find a page that has both written directions and an image or two to help. Of course, paracord is pretty thin to be whipping - I (usually) just melt the ends.

Jon
(Thinking to self - "Wow, another Shop Talk Q I have an answer to!!")
 
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