what! paracord this cheap!!??

theamazingdrew

theamazingdrew

Joined
Nov 18, 2009
Messages
1,258
went to the dollar store today.....
saw some cordage that looked like para cord, 50 ft for .99$?
worth a shot, got home cut it open, 7 strands inside.
Hooked up a force guage tied one end to my truck the other to a tree then drove.
It broke at 520lbs!
I could not beleive it I went back and bought all they had, which wasnt much but I got about 8 spools, Ill be checking back soon for more.
So guys check your dollar tree, you may be in for a suprize.
 
Should it have not broke at 520lbs? Instead at least 550? I have never had paracord.
 
dipbait said:
Should it have not broke at 520lbs? Instead at least 550? I have never had paracord.
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I'm going to guess that it's not "mil spec", meaning it looks and acts like 550, but may not quite be up to full military specification. Since 99.9% of us don't use it for anything approaching 500lb of load, no big deal, the cheaper the better...
 
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remmmm said:
I'm going to guess that it's not "mil spec", meaning to looks and acts like 550, but may not quite be up to full military specification. Since 99.9% of us don't use it for anything approaching 500lb of load, no big deal, the cheaper the better...
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also if you put pressure on cordage knots are a weak point.
 
dipbait said:
Should it have not broke at 520lbs? Instead at least 550? I have never had paracord.
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I doubt that the individual's force guage can measure to within an accuracy of less than 5.4% which is the difference between the actual and stated breakpoint. That performance is as good or perhaps even better than what would be expected from the milspec stuff.

As others stated, nobody uses this stuff under that kind of load. Great score!
 
kgd said:
I doubt that the individual's force guage can measure to within an accuracy of less than 5.4% which is the difference between the actual and stated breakpoint.
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Err.. why dont you tie one end to a branch of a tree (or anything else) and stress the other end with objects whose weight you're aware of? (maybe a few people?) This way it shouldn't be that hard to get an accurate measurement...

//edit: @ theamazingdrew: ok, i guess i referred to kgd's statement about 'the individual's force gauge' - it's probably even easier/more practical to increase the force continuously with your method - but: i guess reducing the error could be easier with a vertical rig. ;)
[besides i wouldn't have a force gauge i could use for that - at least not at home (maybe i could find one at the university but.. what do you need one at home other than testing the bail pull of paracord? :D)]
 
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s_f said:
Err.. why dont you tie one end to a branch of a tree (or anything else) and stress the other end with objects whose weight you're aware of? (maybe a few people?) This way it shouldn't be that hard to get an accurate measurement...
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becuase I think my scale is accurate enough.
 
theamazingdrew said:
It broke at 520lbs!
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Sounds good enough for 99.99% of uses we have for the stuff. The only thing I wouldn't use it for is actual parachute rigging - for anything non-life & death it should do fine.

LOL at those that wonder if cord that breaks at ~520lbs is safe enough for making a lanyard or bracelet or tying down a tarp.
 
I hit two different Dollar Trees today and came up empty. :(

I found a box of chocolate covered cookie dough candy, though. :)
 
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Scott Free said:
I hit two different Dollar Trees today and came up empty. :(

I found a box of chocolate covered cookie dough candy, though. :)
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That's what I'm afraid of - I won't find any cord, but will still leave with 20 different things...
 
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