D.I.Y. a Paracord Bracelet

What's a Paracord?

Paracord or parachute cord is made out of lightweight nylon rope, basically a 550-Paracord has 7 nylon inner strands braided with colored sheath, originally used as suspension lines of the United States parachutes during the world war two. Its usefulness was further expanded when paratroopers on duty in the field.

My encounter with Paracord ignited when I was preparing for a jungle trekking trip called CATWALK, somewhere in the middle of year 2013. I was shopping for goods& gadgets along Chow Kit Road, for my very first trip deep into the rainforest of Malaysia. After getting all the necessities. I was introduced to my first Paracord. It was black in color, 8 inches, with plastic whistle integrated into the buckles, just as what I’d show how to tie a Paracord bracelet below.

Soon after I got my first Paracord, I did a bit research and bang!  I found a shop that supply the Paracord. So I brought a few bundles home to try out myself which make out like professional in the first attempt. I’m not an extreme doomsday prepper but do belief in some magnitude we should prepare for the worst. Apart from its decorative values, the versatility of it readily transform into survival gadget of all sorts does add extra bonus to the wearer.   I would say it’s both cost effective and  weight-strength efficient which give all reason why not to have  at least one, whether as  additional accessory in fashion or dangling it as zipper pullers on backpack.

Paracord is obtainable from most of the outdoor sport shops, black tactical shops, or online via ebay. A bundle of raw Paracord cost around USD20 per10 meters& 4 plastic buckles with whistle about USD5.

I personally more engross to the grow-in-dark Paracord, not only that it has no less advantages of the conventional type but it help me find my things in the dark, wherever it is attached to. So fond of the features, I actually made a white color grow-in-dark Paracord bracelet, with double mini-shackles made out of 304 stainless steel as locking mechanism, and present it as a gift of love for my girlfriend, by the name of Kelly Tham Kar Lai. I’m sure she love it, though not sure whether she know the hidden treasure of it.

How to tie a Paracord bracelet?

Tying a Paracord is to transform it into wearable and accessible form while compress the large bundle into lifesaving capsule. There are many ways to tie a Paracord, I’ll just show you the simplest and the more common one;

Step 1- Acquire Paracord 550 and Buckles/shackles. Buckle with whistle is used here. Alternatively monkey fist can be tied as locking mechanism.

 

Step 4- Tout the knot by pulling down.

Step 7- Repeat step 6, to make double loop on the male buckles, as shown in Step 8.

Step 12- Loop the Paracord, as shown in the picture Step 12.

Step 13- Tout the Paracord, marks the beginning of Paracord tying.

Step 14- Loop the strand on the right over to the left side, as indicated by the yellow color arrow then loop over the left strand to it, as indicated by the orange color arrow.

Step 15- loop the left strand underneath the base strand through the right strand before secure the knot by tout it as tight as possible. *Note: need not to be crazy about tighten it until it break your finger, though it might get blister if you tie a few Paracord bracelets continuously, so go according to your pace.

Step 16- Tout the strand in opposite direction, as tight as possible. 

Step 17- Repeat tying the second knot with left strand this time. Over-loop the left strand (as per orange color arrow) to the right, go underneath the right strand.

Step 18- Loop the right strand underneath the base strand then overlap the left strand, as indicated by the yellow arrow. 

Step 19- Tout the strand as tight as possible. 

Step 20- Repeat step 14 to 19 until end of length.

Step 21- Pull the Paracord in opposite direction and secure the knot by tout it tightly.  

Step 24- Cut the surplus strand. Note that the inner strands should be cut to shorter than the sheath, so that when the outer sheath melt it seal the strand. Sheath (outer layer of cord) is easily melted than inner strand.  

Step 25- Seal the end by burn it with fire (±5 second). Matches should do the tricks. Suggest to rub against flat metal surface immediately after melt it to produce smooth surface. Caution: do not over burn it.

Why Paracord?

The light weight ratio per strength of Paracord give it the versatility forming part of the common décor, fashion accessories and emergency aids. The most common way to encapsulate lengths of Paracord is to tie it as Paracord bracelet or belt, making it a hidden treasure for survival. Paracord 550 is made up of 7 nylon string wrap up with colored sheath and as it name suggest it has 550 pound of tension strength, meaning it can withstand 550lbs (220kg) of pulling from end to end, making it ideal for alternatives during emergency e.g. building a raft or snares. The uses of Paracord is depend on one imagination but the more common one are;

Emergency Uses
1	Burn the end can form alternative to shoe lace when time in need.
2	Tie up a person
3	Hang a bear bag to keep your food away from critters. This is good whether you’re camping or roughing it in the woods
4	Make snare to trap prey
5	Fasten items on vehicle rooftop or to prevent it disengaged from wind-storm.
6	Act as cloth drying line. Wet clothes is both uncomfortable and dangerous in survival situation including camping out.
7	Fasten items on vehicle rooftop or to prevent it disengaged from wind-storm.
8	Tie a ladder out of it.
9	Fix broken equipment by either sewing or tying them together.
10	Belt cum Paracord capsule.
11	Can make a leash or secure pets on permanent object.
12	Hygiene is important, just in case you forgot to bring dental floss, the internal strand can be one.
13	Create additional space for your backpack by tie it on.
14	Alternative to zipper puller.
15	The internal strand can used to repair clothing with makeshift needle (keep one in your first aid box).
16	Make a pack by first making a netting then adding a draw-string
17	Act as makeshift tow rope. The strength is multiply by the number of cord with 550lbs, since each cord has 550lbs of tension strength.
18	Descending object slowly by secure one end to a reliable object. (note:  paracord is NOT climbing rope, and is NOT a realistic replacement for true climbing rope; do not expect it to catch you should you fall. For security double or triple the thickness if you can)
19	Maneuver heavy object, lifting or transporting, by rig a pulley system out of it.
20	Act as cloth drying line. Wet clothes is both uncomfortable and dangerous in survival situation including camping out.
21	Fasten tarp or poncho to make temporary shelter.
22	Form an inseparable buddy system by tie yourself to your buddy when hiking in place where there is danger of avalanche.
23	Dangling your stuff around your wrist, ankle or waist with it.
24	Rig object such as rings/bells.
Extreme outdoor survival
1	Tie a sharp object to the end, make it a weapon sling for protection or hunting.
2	Use it to tie up bamboo/ wood to corner of poncho or tarp to build shelter.
3	Tie a mirror or form a signaling on higher ground such as tree. E.g. SOS.
4	Knit a hammock if length of Paracord is permissible.
5	Make fire the cavemen way. Tie it to both end of stick/bamboo, about 1 foot in length, to form a bow drill to start fire….It take a long while for the cavemen to learn the tricks and so do you. Practice make perfect!
6	Make a snow shoes by bend a 1inch branch of teardrop shape before weave the netting back& forth within the opening then tie it one your shoes.
7	Trap a prey for food by tie a snare with its internal strand.
Fishing
1	Tie a raft out of it.
2	The seven internal strand can be fishing line and within one internal strand can be separate into two which make 14 fishing line.
3	Make a fishing net out of it (Internal strand), if time& length of Paracord is permissible.
First-Aids
1	Position your arm by tie a sling out of it.
2	Make a stretcher by loop Paracord around two or three long (prefer flat) stick to transport injured person.
3	Make a splint by tie a straight (prefer flat& stiff) object around the broken limb.
4	Slow down blood flow/bleeding by make a tourniquet.
5	Separate the internal strand as makeshift thread for sewing up wound.

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