Paracord

J

Johnny_Z

Joined
Jun 11, 2004
Messages
201
Silly question, but I've seen several pics of member's knives where they have bits of multi-colored paracord as lanyards. All I can ever find is black and OD. Where can I find the stuff that's got more color in it?
 
Go to an outdoors store ie) REI, EMS, Joe's Hiking and camping store. Go look in the area that they sell rock-climbing stuff. Or just ask someone who works in the store. They'll point it out to you. Good stuff and not too expensive (though moreso than standard OD 550 cord.)
 
I have a question about paracord:

Why does everybody seem to have a big woody for this one type of special-purpose designed cordage and think it is the answer for every conceivable employment of cordage?

Keep in mind that these same folks will debate endlessly about obtaining the single best knife at any cost for an obscure task that they may never perform, and some have huge collections of special purpose knives.

Line and cordage is, in general, considerably less expensive than knives. There are many kinds of construction and many materials employed to meet different tasks.

Just wondering, not dissing everyone (well, maybe a little).

But mostly wondering.
 
http://www.ubraidit.com/paracord.htm

I've never ordered from them, but they have a wide selection. I got some nice multi-colored stuff from EMS once too.

Why does everybody seem to have a big woody for this one type of special-purpose designed cordage and think it is the answer for every conceivable employment of cordage?
Click to expand...

Can't say I've ever seen that sentiment expressed. :confused: I've seen different types of cord used for lots of different purposes; hell in five years on these boards I've seen pictures of and heard of just about anything being used as an accesory or enhancement to one knife or another. Para-cord is popular because it works; best reason I can think of.
 
Well, I own this book, and several others on marlinpike seamanship, and have made a few elaborately knotted items, including knotted coverings for tool handles.

The kernmantle construction of paracord is in my experience the worst constuction for such projects. The core shifts within the jacket, which is stretchy, susceptible to kinking, and separation.

This type of construction is intended to protect a core of long parallel fibers which exhibit specific desireable properties under tensile stress, that's all. The parallel fibers may exhibit properties of elasticity, as in parchute cord or those climbing ropes intended as protection against falls or extreme strength and resistance to stretching as in fixed climbing ropes or lines used for many sailing purposes.

Suitability for knotting, wrapping or splicing are entirely secondary, and in some cases special techniques and limitations apply.

Like I said before the same folks won't accept only "works" for knives, why insist on using this stuff for everything?

Still perplexed.
 
When I make my knives I always have a lanyard hole in them and put 20" of 550 chute cord on each knife I sell. Plan and simple reason is for safety. By wrapping the cord around your wrist you are less likely to drop the knife while cutting. I make knives mainly for the hunter and if you ever dropped your knife inside the chest cavity of a animal while field dressing you know what I mean. Don't want to reach in there blind, you'll probably get cut. 550 cord comes in handy for all sorts of tie down situations. It's real handy to have in your BOB or pack.
 
Try The Happy Camper. He has an array of different colors and his prices are great.

I'm also moving this to Gadgets & Gear.
 
I have to Mercop made lanyards hooked to my keys... one is toxic green and black and the other is blue and black... Love them...
 
Here´s an old picture of some knots and lanyards I´ve made, the color fobs and the cat o´nine tails are climbing accessory cord, the big white fob is simple cord normally used for curtains, all lanyards are hand braided cord made by "finger looping" nylon crocheting thread.

Other material can be used for lanyards and fobs, leather, sisal, boot laces, cord made for macrame, horse hair, braided yarn, etc.

If you braid your own you can make lots of interesting things in a variety of materials, round or flat cords, tassels, incorporate beads, etc.

You can get as fancy as your imagination permits, paracord is good but definitely not the only thing.

knotknives1.jpg
 
firkin said:
Like I said before the same folks won't accept only "works" for knives, why insist on using this stuff for everything?

Still perplexed.
Click to expand...

Because its alot more fun to collect knives than it is to collect rope...

Mark
 
Nice stuff Don Luis!

Roadrunner,

Another place to look for ideas is tack stuff for riding. Very nice stuff, often made from leather strips or laces. Haven't tried that myself.


For smaller diameters the best stuff I found was very tightly single-braided (as opposed to stretchy and tubular) green synthetic line sold for making or repairing comercial fishing nets. Seine twine it seems to be called. You want the real stuff, lots of places call anything siene twine. It is made to be knotted and hold the knots, water resitance is obvious. Not a lot of color selection, typically white or green. This may be hard to find some places. Look on the 'net (hee-hee), or go to a marine store, and there may be some other choices than the jacketed (kenrmantle or double-braided) modern lines employed for rigging.

This place has the seine twine up to diameter of 0.125 inch, and tells you what the size numbers used to describe this product mean.
http://www.sterlingnets.com/twine.html

This site describes some different ways of constructing cordage.
http://www.industrialrope.com/slctguide.html

A hard, very tightly woven or twisted line is easier to tighten and work in my experience, and when waxed it is possible to draw the knots up really tight and permanent creating a surprising hard and tough covering or braid. For a handle covering, even good old hemp could be used followed by a couple dips in thin epoxy instead of the tar or pitch that used to be used. "Hempcarta"?

As far as lanyards or fobs go, good old twisted lines provide the opportunity of employing knots tied with the separated strands-many are quite decorative and designed to prevent the ends of the line from unwinding. They can also be tied with multiple strands of other kinds of line.

Don't have a camera, but here are a couple pix -- I'm suprised that I don't see much of any use of what are known as coachwhipping or needle hitching for knife handles.


http://www.igkt.net/galleries/tools.html

tools2.jpg


tools3.jpg




[urlg]http://www.knotwork.ca/knots/knots/page3.html[/url]

walkingticks.jpg


Any of the techniques use for making bellropes or chest beckets (handles) could (and were) adapted to make knife handles (or fob-like lanyards). Just knot around the tang (possibly previously built up by a simple wrapping) instead of a piece of large line.

This site has some nice examples of bellropes or beckets for sale so you can get an idea.

http://www.marlinespike.com/order.html
 
If you want genuine mil spec paracord 1sks.com sell it (They also pay for this forum)
 
But what are some good resources if I want to learn more about decorative knot tying what what's been shown here?
 
Johnny_Z,
The Ashley Book of Knots,which firkin linked to in his second post,is an excelent resource.I lost my first copy somewhere along the way and my second copy is over thirty years old.It is also a fun read,if you like that kind of stuff.

I haven't done any decorative knotting in decades,but when I did,the chapter on turk's-heads alone kept me busy for a couple of years.I always used net twine,usually tarred nylon,simply because it was ubiquitous and "free".It works very well.
 
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