Survival Cord...Which type do you carry?

I keep 550 cord and 60' of 24lb spiderwire in my kit. As for the flat rope, you can get some 1/2" wide stuff that is 2500 lb test from electrical supply houses. They call it smud tape, and it has no lube. I used to keep 50' in my kit. To me the drawbacks were that it liked to roll one edge to the other, frays easily in use, and could be torn like tape across a flat edge, though with much more force. You could tie specialty knots around pipes, metal poles, etc. with it, and it would grip them well.
 
In addition to 550, I use nylon trotline cord which can be found at walmart in different strengths and is inexpensive.
 
Doc Canada, here is a wikipedia link to Paracord.

Military issue paracord is specified by MIL-C-5040H in 6 types...

Type I (4 to 7 inner strands) is specified with a minimum break strength of 95 lbs. Type II (4 to 7 inner strands), 400 lbs. Type III (7 to 9 inner strands), 550 lbs.

There is also type IA with no core and a 100 lb break strength, type IIA with no core and 220 lb break strength, and type IV with 11 inner strands and 750 lb break strength.
 
I use 550 as my main cord, however I use Jute Twine also. Jute is a great cord for lightweight things as well as making a birds nest.
 
I have some jute twine in my hunting pack. But I have some 550 cord, that I've been meaning to put in there.

actually, I do have a key fob I made with 550 cord, which I edc. And I have a king cobra bracelet, that I don't.
 
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Genuine paracord I cut from a military parachute and lots a green hairy string. I use the hairy string the most, either raw or ran upside a block of beeswax first. I find paracord too much for a lot of things and it is a lot heavier especially when it is wet. Hairy string readily degrades or burns so it's a lot more friendly to get rid of when I'm done with it too. They excel at different things so I have both. It's often a lot easier to whip and lash stuff I might make with some waxed hairy string than paracord. It bites down nice and tight. I find bits of paracord a rather crude for those kind of things.
 
I don't want to use relatively expensive 550 for frapping poles and shelters , so I use mason's line.
I disassemble my stuff before leaving in most cases , so all I have to do is cut the line and throw it in the fire for disposal. Most of the balls I see are like $5/200 ft. Way cheaper than para. Another thing I noticed about the mason's line is that the skein is smaller, easier to pack , and I have to use a lot less than Jute or similar stuff.
 
Pretty funny that this thread was revived by some spammer selling cord. I always thought 550 was the only way to go, but some of the Canterbury videos show how bankline may be more practical. Not that I base my judgement on any video, but I plan on checking it out.
 
Dacron has more static strength than nylon, and is less stretchy. Nylon is good for parachutes because the stretchiness helps absorb shock, but for many purposes stretchiness is a disadvantage.
 
You can use the stretchiness to your advantage. Soaking the 550 in water and stretch it to the limit. Wrap what you desire and allow to dry. You have yourself a modern version of rawhide. Great for wrapping wooden handled tools. Like any WS&S item, its your knowledge of its use that is as important, or more so, than the tool itself.
 
hlee said:
Doc Canada, here is a wikipedia link to Paracord.

Military issue paracord is specified by MIL-C-5040H in 6 types...

Type I (4 to 7 inner strands) is specified with a minimum break strength of 95 lbs. Type II (4 to 7 inner strands), 400 lbs. Type III (7 to 9 inner strands), 550 lbs.

There is also type IA with no core and a 100 lb break strength, type IIA with no core and 220 lb break strength, and type IV with 11 inner strands and 750 lb break strength.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much, hlee. This has to be some kind of a record for the longest time between a question and answer in this forum. The question was posted 1-6-07. Of course, I never got any other reply in that time, either. :D

Doc
 
I carry a hank of 550 paracord, but actually have rarely used it. In my PSK and in my travel toilet kit I carry spiderwire. I've saved several empty dental floss containers, and I spool up high test spiderwire on the empty bobbin (using my wife's sewing machine bobbin winder). I put them back into the dental floss package, with the built in cutter.

I've used the spiderwire to sew up tears in luggage and packs. Also to lash poles for shelters (stronger than you can imagine). Sure... you have to be careful not to cut your hand, and to tie a proper knot.
 
Beware 550 cord, not from cutting you, but from rope burns. Use gloves if it might slip ;-) Burns so fast you barely notice it, but burns pretty deep, fast.

I use it often for suspending wire antennas and while tying it to a water bottle neck and throwing it, the cord caught my non throwing hand opposite wrist and burned me but good...and I never noticed it until later on.
 
It's been mentioned that the small diameter of 550 can really cut into your hands when pulling hard.

A quickly tied knot, can assist when pulling on 550 in many instances - it's called the Marlinespike Hitch. The Marlinspike can be a stick, pen, flashlight etc.

Try it, it may come in handy.

MarlinespikeHitch.jpg


Doc
 
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