some cordwrap advice

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wannabemarine

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Feb 28, 2006
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ive decided to cordwrap a tanto fixed blade ive made, i know how to wrap it but i was wondering what is the best kind of cord to use? and where could i find it outside of the internet. i noticed that a few of the cordwraped knives use a epoxy coating to give the user a better grip, and the cord a longer lifespan, any ideas on how to do this?
 
I use 550 cord, or reasonable fact simily! It is readily available on the net, in just about any color you want. I don't epoxy mine, simply because if something happens to it, or if you don't like it, it's real easy to change! Even leather works well.
 
Here is a new DVD available:
http://www.knifekits.com/store/s-pa...e.htm?kk_products_books-vids_dvdpwb.htm~smain

Some other info at www.knifehow.com

Searching under paracord handles on this site and others will find more.

Most people use paracord.If you want some,I'll send you 10 meters of so to play around with.Send me an email.
You can use anything from shoelaces to macramé cord, depending on what you are trying to achieve.Paracord is tough and good looking.You can impregnate it with epoxy to make the entire handle solid and more durable.
Stacy
 
550 paracord works best. If you have a local surplus store, they will likely have it there.
As far as the epoxy coating goes. I thin the epoxy with acetone to get it to soak in nice and deep. It makes the handle ultra strong and resistant to moisture.
 
wow thanks guys this is going to help allot, i think ill try both epoxied and un epoxied cordwraps on some blanks i have. ill check out the local surplus store today or tommarow, hopefully ill be able to show you some finished pics.
 
Robert,
I rolled off about 20 meters.I'll send it out in the morning.There are several ways of using it. One is to pull out the center filler and use it like ito on Japanese handles.Give that a try and see how you like it. I pull the core on any paracord handles I do,even the very simple wraps.
Check out the Tsuka Make links on www.knifehow.com if you don't know how to do tsuka make.It makes the most stunning handles....and it is not hard at all.Forget about using the hishi game, that is not necessary for paracord wrapping.The finished handle makes a so-so tanto look like a custom nihonto.
The best part about using paracord is that if you don't like the way it is going,just undo it and try again.There is no right or wrong way,as long as it ends up tight.The thinned epoxy will insure that it stays that way once you have it the way you want it.
Stacy
 
i recently helped my grandfather do some work on a samurai sword he captured during the war, we ended up giving up and sending it to some pros in japan but at elast ill have some good books laying around, thanks do much for the link hopefully ill be able to figure out haw to aplly it to my tanto, as far as looks go it needs allot of help,:D
ill post some pics one im done, thanks again
 
This is a re-print of the advice I got. However, here is a supplier of the type of "ito" you need to tie a swod handle

http://www.shadowofleaves.com/cotton_ito.htm

I got the paracord DVD (and have used the heck out of it for more than knives). If you look at

http://www.knivesby.com/knifemaking.html

They have some ideas to embelish it a bit further. Also, if you take a look at

http://pages.prodigy.net/tlbuck/tsuka/tsuka.htm

They'll show you how to tie the Samurai Sword style handles. I used it as a reference on my first two knives, and it turned out reasonably well. You need some patients, because it's a bear to get everything lined up right (especially without epoxy which I wanted to do in case I screwed up).

I got all my paracord at the local Army/Navy store. They not only had plenty of it, there were a ton of colors to choose from. If I ever learn how to include a picture in a post, I'll put up a copy of a warncliffe blade in O1 tool steel with a black IMF-3 coating and an Orange Paracord "shoelace" wrap. It's looks very halloween.
 
here is the finished product on my first hand made knife
i used slim white cord for the underwrap, this kept the width of the grip down and went well with the green paracord(thanks again to stacy)
the knife itself isnt all that great, but i put allot of time, sweat and blood into it
length 10 1/2
width 1/8
materiel 410 steel
i heat treated it myself(a huge bonfire outside, i got it de magnitized and squelched it in used motor oil)
blade style modified tanto (added a serated section, and a false edge on the back)
898941047_l.jpg
 
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