Paracord question

C

Chuck289

Joined
Mar 23, 2006
Messages
196
I just got my 550paracord in the mail today from supply captain. 2 100ft lengths, orange and gray. I was wondering what you guys find is the best way to cut the cord without it fraying too much, and what is the best way to melt the ends. I tryed using a match and the core didnt melt as much so it stuck out farther than the outside lining. I was thinkin maybe something like a soldering iron would work, or maybe I just need to practice.

PS.
I also heard that paracord will shrink. Is it best to soak the paracord and shrink it before making a lanyard or wrapping a knife handle?
 
I have good luck burning the ends with a lighter , smells kinda funny , If you want a tight fit on a knife handle wet it first and it will shrink when it drys, but the water may rust the handle , I treat mine with Thomson water sealer , keeps it clean.:D
 
The really cool way is to cut it with a hot knife. I use an old table knife I don't care about, and heat it at the stove holding it over a burner on high. I use a stack of old newspaper for a cutting board.
 
Cougar has it right, I use a putty knife. You are cutting and finishing in one step.
 
I haven't tried the putty knife, but, I make military paracord bracelets and after alot of practice, I got the hang of it. First, I cut the cord with sharp scissors. Next, I pull the inner threads out of it to make it thinner. Then, I just burn the edges with a small Bic lighter and it does nicely. If you want the cord to be alittle thinner, I recommend pulling out the center strings, what I call "the guts" of the rope. Again, burning them my way took me some practice to get them looking neat and clean. -------Michael
 
I just use sharp scissors and a barbeque lighter under the kitchen stove's fume hood. I hold the end of the cord horizontally and the lighter vertically, and I hold it next to the yellow part of the flame. Just enough heat to melt the frayed edges. If you trim off any frayed threads, it'll probably be really clean, but I haven't gone that far (it's clean enough for me.)

The hot knife trick sounds like it's worth a shot. I might try that the next time I attempt a lanyard.
 
This is how I handle paracord to make my bootlaces and lanyards:
I just cut the cord with either knife or scissors. I melt the ends with a lighter, holding it to the flame until it is nearly dripping. (Be careful not to get the dripping on yourself. It can burn a hole in your skin, it's that hot.) (If it ignites while holding it to the flame, carefully blow it out and proceed.)
With several layers of paper towels, so I don't get burned, I grab at the melted mess and pull it. This should elongate the molten nylon into a needlelike shape in which it will harden. I trim that needle shape down to size with wire cutter on my multi-tool.
I end up with ends that won't fray and are easy to thread through my boot eyelets. If it's for a lanyard, I cut the end flush and leave no pointy part. Paracord boot laces should last the life of the boot.
 
I just cut it with scissors then use a soldering iron to melt it, it takes some skill but you get nice flat clean burns

Heres a message i got from a customer over at CPF:

"Hi, i bought a paracord lanyard from you several weeks ago and thought it was really cool so I decided to try and make my own. I have figured it out, but how do u burn the ends so perfectly, I follow Lighthounds directions and leave a little sticking out and burn it but it makes a blob. Yours were like prefect and not visible. So if you dont mind giving away your secret I would like to know."

Thanks
Kam
 
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