Why 550 paracord?

I trusted my life to 550 cord jumping out of C130's, and I'll trust it for a multitude of other tasks...

And for starters, it is 8 pieces of cord in one convenient package.
 
Joezilla said:
its a cool cord, but truth be told, it stretches quite a bit.
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Work with it while good and wet. When it dries it will stay tighter. This is especially good for wrapping handles and whatnot.

550 cord isn't the be-all and end-all of cordage, naturally. But it's not as popular as it is just because a magazine said so or because it's cheap. 11x11x has a good point, too... ask and make sure it's up to spec with 7 inner strands. If it doesn't say so on the package, it's probably a cheap knockoff.
 
Ive used marine rigging rope before. No stretch and real strong. But paracord is way cheaper and does anything that I need it to do just like the expensive rope will do. Tarp riggings, hanging boars and tying the boar into a backpack are about all I use it for. I most likely will not need to use my ropes as climbing ropes anyways.
 
Another reason it is popular is that some of the original survival manuals were written by military for downed airmen who would have paracord (aka 550) from their chute.
 
Ebbtide said:
...and makes it hard to get knots out after they have had a heavy load on them.
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That depends on the knots you use.

Ebbtide said:
There is much talk of making a fishing net with it, but that doesn't strike me as a practical use of your time in a survival situation.
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That would depend on the circumstances of your survival situation. You'd be hard pressed to outproduce a net with conventional fishing gear. If you're only in a short term situation, maybe not so practical, but what about long term? Also, nets are the marine counterparts to traps and snares on land. They work 24/7 and free you up for other things. They also can be used on land for birds and other critters. Nets were and are very useful for carrying things. Netting is a very fibre efficient method of construction for belts, straps, sashes, etc.

And besides, the psychology of survival is that you keep your mind busy - in a survival situation your mind is your greatest tool, but it can also be your worst enemy. By filling up your time with various and sundry tasks it helps to combat the 'what if's, and the 'what's thats?'

Netmaking is a very useful and fun skill. Try it, you might like it. :D

Doc ( a fledgling net maker) :D
 
I use it because it's what I have, it's super easy for me to get my hands on, I have about 4-5 1000" rolls of it in my garage

and if you use the right kind of knot hanging a clothes line shouldn't be a problem

I use it because it works and is cheap
 
DOC-CANADA said:
Netmaking is a very useful and fun skill. Try it, you might like it. :D
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I learned how to make nets back in school when I was in Junior ROTC, but I forgot how since. I need to search online how to make it again, could be useful someday.

I love paracord, I always have some in the car and in my pack just in case. Plus they come in cool colors. :cool:
 
As far as stretching is concerned, the gutted shell will shrink if made wet and allowed to dry. This comes in handy for when you need something to REALLY hold. Tie the tightest knot or wrap you can and the get it wet. It works great on handle wraps.
 
Lately, I have been keeping good ol' jute twine in my bag as well 550 cord. I think Kev suggested that a while back. It does what I need cordage to do, I don't have to feel bad if some is accidentally left behind, and it makes a GREAT fire starter. Jute twine is handy to have in your kit.
 
I think it's so loved because it's strong enough (it is NOT climbing rope, it's not strong enough for that), it's cheap, and most importantly, it's readily available.

I don't use it because it's vunderkitter, but because it's common as dirt and gets the job done.
 
DOC-CANADA said:
That depends on the knots you use.



That would depend on the circumstances of your survival situation. You'd be hard pressed to outproduce a net with conventional fishing gear. If you're only in a short term situation, maybe not so practical, but what about long term? Also, nets are the marine counterparts to traps and snares on land. They work 24/7 and free you up for other things. They also can be used on land for birds and other critters. Nets were and are very useful for carrying things. Netting is a very fibre efficient method of construction for belts, straps, sashes, etc.

And besides, the psychology of survival is that you keep your mind busy - in a survival situation your mind is your greatest tool, but it can also be your worst enemy. By filling up your time with various and sundry tasks it helps to combat the 'what if's, and the 'what's thats?'

Netmaking is a very useful and fun skill. Try it, you might like it. :D

Doc ( a fledgling net maker) :D
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As to knots...
Of course it depends on what knots you use.
Knot selection also has a huge bearing on how much they will hold as well.

A net could out produce conventional fishing gear...
How big a net? Placed where?
How much time invested in making said net?


I'd rather set many limb lines in a cross section of habitats/locations rather than spend all my time (netmaking) and putting all my eggs in one basket (net placement).
As all good fishermen know, 90% of the fish are in 10% of the water
:D
Put the net in a non-productive area and you be easily outfished by a guy with a stick, a string and a couple of crickets who is in the right spot.
:D

As for the psychology of survival, I've never heard that before.
I will, however, take your word for it :D

Can't wait to see the nets you've made.
Do you use the prusik knot or make a 'shuttle' and weave them?
 
Snapping turtle trap (net)
Snappingturtletrap4.jpg


A side view
Snappingturtletrap2.jpg


Replica of a West Coast Cod net
2f464a44.jpg


Netting used as other than nets
6ce35a44.jpg


On a smaller scale
CellMate1.jpg


As the pocket for a sling
Coyossling2.jpg


As part of a quiver
Netquiver2.jpg


Almost forgot, some of the tools
cb66a618.jpg


BTW, as a matter of interest, the top 2 on the left are made from moose antler.

Doc
 
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Laynets (gillnets) are so effective that they are illegal in many parts of Hawaii. They catch anything and everything without discrimination. If I was going to be castaway or faced long term survival anywhere where there's fish holding waters this would be my weapon of choice for food gathering. Second would be a 3prong hawaiian sling and mask

the laynets are usually about 5-10' deep and up to 100'+. They are weighted on the bottom and have floats on the top. With a snorkeling mask to spot the schools, they can be used to surround entire schools. Then you have a bunch of people splash around inside the ring and the fish are driven into the net.

A small 6' deep by 10-20' long net would be totally functional. Large enough to block small channels. The nets are to be used similar to snares. Find spots in the reef, river or lake that the fish are funneled through. Place your net there.
 
Awesome nets Doc!! I really need to try my hand at making one. My mom makes hammocks, I recognize some of those tools, although I have no idea how to use em.

Love the pics. Thanks for sharing!!
 
Ebbtide, beautiful knife, specs please?! And that cordage in the photo? looks to be some climbing type. I agree with the folks who lament the 550's stretch afield, and carry more than 1 type of cordage because cordage is like knives, you'll never have too much or too many kinds!
 
Wow! Doc, I did'nt realize Global Warming was THAT bad! Looks to be a rather mild Winter in the Great White North,LOL! Nice netmaking skills, reminds me of the greek fishermen i watched mend their nets when I was in the Med.
 
1Tracker said:
I agree with the folks who lament the 550's stretch afield,
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Not doubting you, but what applications are you using it for that you find the stretch a problem? We use it for putting up tarps, etc. and don't seem to have a problem. Mind you, we use a trucker's hitch to get it good and tight in the first place.

Doc
 
1Tracker said:
Wow! Doc, I did'nt realize Global Warming was THAT bad! Looks to be a rather mild Winter in the Great White North,LOL! Nice netmaking skills, reminds me of the greek fishermen i watched mend their nets when I was in the Med.
Click to expand...

LOL. Those were pictures I had on my hard drive. Although, there is almost no snow at the moment.

BTW, thanks Jake and 1Tracker.

Doc
 
Doc, you've got talent.
Nice work.
The turtle net is similar in concept to the eel/killie "pots" we'd put out in the Great South Bay. They were smaller and made of screen though.

I think I need to make one of those cell phone nets, do they notice when you set it up in the store?
:D
Does the tool have a name?

1Tracker, thank you.
The knife is made by Joel Bolden.
He has his work for sale in the 'For Sale by Maker' from time to time.
The blade is about 5" and made from 154CM @ 60-61 Rockwell IIRC.
I have three of this model, which he calls his Baby American Bowie.
trio.jpg

Great knives at very fair prices.

Back to cordage...
I think I have saved the laces from every pair of boots I've ever owned.
They are strong, don't stretch and knot well.
They aren't the longest but work well for many chores.

Who ever mentioned that paracord as a survival item coming from the military pilots survival training manuals really hit the nail on the head.
Makes perfect sense for someone that already had a supply on hand.
 
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