Paracord?

BlackEdelweiss

Why is paracord so essential? Probably a very noob question but I am a noob.
I only saw this forum about 2 weeks ago but since then I have started my collection.
I have a 5l bottle of water, getting another one tomorrow, about 10 tins of various food, also add some more tomorrow, a first aid kit plus a few extra things I picked up in the chemist, some of my diabetes medication and insulin needles etc, a small led torch, a tin of baby milk, batteries and just ordered 2 whistles with attached compass and 2 firestarter flints from deal extreme.
I saw paracord on there for about $7 but I dont know what it is for yet.
My wife thinks I have gone crazy!

colonel-yum-yum

Get the right strength and the possibilities are huge. Everything from replacement shoe laces, holding up a waterproof sheet to make a tent, snaring, holding on a splint, repairing backpack straps, etc.

kildare.17hmr

Endless possabilities! The above is a drop in the water. You will always find a use for it

Hibrion

It's just the most versatile cordage you can carry. With a little knowledge and skill it can be put to endless uses.

I alos like to use it for decorative knot work as it ties great, tidy knots.

Doc Ruby

Paracord is a good strong rope, but the secret lies inside. There are seven seperate strands in proper paracord, these may be individually dyed or not, but they can be used for fishing, flossing teeth, snares, a wide variety of purposes. This is why paracord is so prized in the bushcraft community.

Khannie

BlackEdelweiss wrote: »

My wife thinks I have gone crazy!

Welcome, welcome.

Grizzly 45

Paracord so called as it is the lines used in a parachute to link the canopy to the harness.[If you hadnt guessed this!:p]
Just make sure you get the right stuff.There is a lot of fake rubbish out there that wouldnt hold up to nothing,as I discoverd while using it to suspend for gutting a deer recently.:mad:

BlackEdelweiss

Where is a reputable place to buy some and what is a fair price per unit length.

Dawn Rider

Endicots in Devon have a good reputation amongst bush-crafters in the U.K.

Their para-cord in the cheapest I've seen in a while.
http://www.endicotts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=135&products_id=2454

They also have a handy 'bargains' and camo netting section too.

When buying from these types of U.K. stores I ask the to send by regular post / small package post, as this can make a huge saving.
Just check the price on the Royal Mail site for weights and sizes beforehand.
http://www.royalmail.com/price-finder

Doc Ruby

Dawn Rider wrote: »

Endicots in Devon have a good reputation amongst bush-crafters in the U.K.

Their para-cord in the cheapest I've seen in a while.
http://www.endicotts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=135&products_id=2454

They also have a handy 'bargains' and camo netting section too.

When buying from these types of U.K. stores I ask the to send by regular post / small package post, as this can make a huge saving.
Just check the price on the Royal Mail site for weights and sizes beforehand.
http://www.royalmail.com/price-finder

That doesn't look at all like paracord. It looks like the cheap knockoff stuff they sell in the shops:


You can see the frayed end there, if it was real paracord the internal threads would be poking out, which is why you need to heat seal the stuff when you cut it. This is what real paracord looks like:



Once its cut those start coming out by themselves under elastic pressure. That other rope looks thin and flat as well, I'd bet its knockoff. I got a thousand feet of it from Red Flare Kits, and that is the real deal.

Weird how dealextreme does free worldwide shipping and these UK outlets charge an arm and a leg even though we're right next door.

Dawn Rider

You're right, it does look like the knock-off stuff. That's probably why it's so cheap. I should have made a closer inspection.

I've used builders twine, the proper stuff from builders merchants - not the stuff in DIY shops like Woodies and B&Q, before when making basha's in the woods. It's very strong, light and thin. Pity it's white... As it's so thin, you also have to put something between it and the bark so as not to damage the tree.

As you said, it's amazing how Dealextreme can post here for free, and UK company's can't. Even though they post to N.I. for free. I know that's because of prices set by 'local' postal services and the Royal Mail, but, it's still a bit of a sh1tter...

My ex-MOD goretex bivi cost £12 + £15 P&P. Which was better than the P&P marked on the site as £30 :eek:

BlackEdelweiss

Is the deal extreme para cord any good?

FrostyJack

Make or buy a paracord braclet. Very handy in tight situations.

http://www.raems.com/550_cord_bracelet.pdf

Better to use plastic clips.

Doc Ruby

Dawn Rider wrote: »

My ex-MOD goretex bivi cost £12 + £15 P&P. Which was better than the P&P marked on the site as £30 :eek:

Crazy really. I'd expect that from suppliers in the states, but not the UK.

BlackEdelweiss wrote: »

Is the deal extreme para cord any good?

Certainly looks the part!



But unless it says "certified" in there somewhere its anyone's guess really. Quality is important for something as basic as a good rope.

kildare.17hmr

How much was rhe postage on the 1000ft paracord doc? Wouldnt mind gettin me a spool

Doc Ruby

kildare.17hmr wrote: »

How much was rhe postage on the 1000ft paracord doc? Wouldnt mind gettin me a spool

I bought a load of other stuff from them at the same time, so the shipping wasn't seperated out, I'd say maybe $20? All in it should work out at around 20c per meter; nice to have a good supply handy.

BlackEdelweiss

From a few rough calculations the paracord on dealextreme is about half the strength of the red flare stuff but also less than half price when shipping is taken into account. My budget is fairly tight these days so would the dealextreme stuff be worth it till I can afford a better bit of cord?

Doc Ruby

BlackEdelweiss wrote: »

From a few rough calculations the paracord on dealextreme is about half the strength of the red flare stuff but also less than half price when shipping is taken into account. My budget is fairly tight these days so would the dealextreme stuff be worth it till I can afford a better bit of cord?

550 paracord from redflare has a 550lb test strength, the ones on dx are more like 300lbs, the prices appear to be the same though?

BlackEdelweiss

Its just the postage that sets them apart pricewise, I think it was about $15 for postage for 100ft.

Agent_47

Bought mine from this lot and it has 7 strands peeling out from the inside.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Hunters-Camping-and-Bushcraft

Got four colours and 300ft for 20 quid icluding postage. ask the seller to combine the postage if buying more than one item, works out cheaper but you guys probably know all this.

ShadowFox

Agent_47 wrote: »

Bought mine from this lot and it has 7 strands peeling out from the inside.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Hunters-Camping-and-Bushcraft

Got four colours and 300ft for 20 quid icluding postage. ask the seller to combine the postage if buying more than one item, works out cheaper but you guys probably know all this.

I also got mine on eBay ill post a link tomorrow it was cheap and the real deal

Doc Ruby

grapeape wrote: »

I also got mine on eBay ill post a link tomorrow it was cheap and the real deal

That dealextreme stuff would have had me fooled from the photos only they came out and actually said it was just a little over half as strong as real paracord. Its hard to tell really.

BlackEdelweiss

I went for 100ft of the ebay one, good price including postage, less than €10. Now to try making one of those bracelets.

Grizzly 45

Check out instructables.com for the instructions.They have a bunch of designs for bracelets/watch straps..

Hmm,be a cool way to identify yourself amongst others that you are a survivalist/preppie by a paracord braclet/watchband of a certain colour or weave.;)

baords dyslexic

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

Check out instructables.com for the instructions.They have a bunch of designs for bracelets/watch straps..

Hmm,be a cool way to identify yourself amongst others that you are a survivalist/preppie by a paracord braclet/watchband of a certain colour or weave.;)

Recently made a dog lead (2 double strands and alternate half hitches) not happy with it as its a bit to stiff but one way of carrying a whole load of paracord.

There used to be years ago a style of climbing harness belt that was made up of rope so if necessary you could take it apart and use the rope. I was thinking it would be good if someone could make a belt buckle and a few tape guides that allowed you to create a paracord belt but without all the f%%king knots. I can't help thinking that paracord thats been tightly knotted is never going to be as strong as virgin cord off the reel or wound losely.

colonel-yum-yum

I'm pretty sure I also spotted a paracord belt on instructables too. Would definitely hold a lot more than a bracelet. Anyone want to be the first to make paracord trousers?

baords dyslexic

colonel-yum-yum wrote: »

I'm pretty sure I also spotted a paracord belt on instructables too. Would definitely hold a lot more than a bracelet. Anyone want to be the first to make paracord trousers?

The best paracord belt one I could find was this one http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-Paracord-Rescue-Belt/
(Looks like tunisian crochet? Once untied at one end should just pull out) but not exactly what I wanted.

Deise Musashi

I get mine as well as the buckles from http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/550-gsa-compliant-paracord-85-c.asp

or from the US for different colours or full spools

http://www.supplycaptain.com/index.cfm?category=6


Don't buy premade bracelets, they are a doddle to make. Look for Stormdrane on youtube or "King Cobra" weave for instructions.

You can often see my black and blaze orange one in my videos and photos.

Mick7_62

Proper para cord has seven internal strands, one of which is a different color (usually OD Green or yellow). If it lacks this quality it is not "spec" cord, so it was made for the civilian market, not for government procurement and likely junk.

I'm an ex-paratrooper, BTW.

Esel

^ We are not making parachutes, though!

kildare.17hmr

Esel wrote: »

^ We are not making parachutes, though!

Yeah but we still want decent kit tho!!

Mick7_62

Esel wrote: »

^ We are not making parachutes, though!

And I don't ride them anymore, but I still want para cord (a.k.a. 550 cord) to be rated to hold 550 lbs. Nothing worse than rubbish cordage.

Doc Ruby

Mick7_62 wrote: »

And I don't ride them anymore, but I still want para cord (a.k.a. 550 cord) to be rated to hold 550 lbs. Nothing worse than rubbish cordage.

Very true, but you can get certified 550 without the coloured strand though.

Mick7_62

Doc Ruby wrote: »

Very true, but you can get certified 550 without the coloured strand though.

I've seen that around. Old habits die hard, though, and I just don't trust it. Without the colored strand, it is not eligible for government purchase, and by default isn't para cord. Just 550 rated cord. As a paratrooper, when you get into the harness, at least one cord/riser tie must be left frayed to check for the strand. If it isn't there, the chute must be cut away from the risers and repacked.

BTW: I'm not intentionally misspelling color, it's how I learned to spell it in the US.

Deise Musashi

Like this?

http://goinggear.com/survival/paracord-cordage/8-strand-550-paracord-foliage-green-acu-gray-100-hank.html

My cordage is certified Milspec but with no extra coloured line?

Blackedelweiss, let me know your wrist size and colour preference and I'll make you a king cobra wrist band. Drop me a PM with your address and I'll get it in the post next week.

Mick7_62

Deise Musashi wrote: »

Like this?

http://goinggear.com/survival/paracord-cordage/8-strand-550-paracord-foliage-green-acu-gray-100-hank.html

That stuff is for heavy-drop chutes. Good stuff!

Grizzly 45

Mick7_62 wrote: »

Proper para cord has seven internal strands, one of which is a different color (usually OD Green or yellow). If it lacks this quality it is not "spec" cord, so it was made for the civilian market, not for government procurement and likely junk.

I'm an ex-paratrooper, BTW.

All American or Screaming Eagle?;)

Mick7_62

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

All American or Screaming Eagle?;)

Neither. 20th Engineer Brigade/ 37th Engineer Battalion/ B Company. Direct Engineer support for the entire 18th Airborne Corps.

Unfortunately, my unit has been deactivated and replaced by the 307th engineer battalion (formerly of the 82nd airborne).

Deise Musashi

Green and yellow neon, pink, black and green all use two pieces of cord about 3' each side, with emergency whistle for driving Dad mad!

Black king cobra on plain fastex buckle, about 18' of cord in a single strand. It'd be a bugger to untie but can be done. Pop the burnt seal ends out of the weave and unpick the whole thing. :eek:

These are off to he post office now, should be there by Tuesday next week? Maybe the Bank Holiday will delay some more?

kildare.17hmr

First attempt at paracord braclet. Took about 15 mins to make and has 3m of cord. Its a bit thick but its grand and it fits my arm fine

the GALL

Just to clarify the Milspec paracord is colour coded so the military can identify who supplied it in case a chute failed. Each company has their colours they put into their cord, unless the cord has the colours the military will not use it. Civilian grade cord does not require this, also 'real' paracord is graded to hold 550lbs is made of nylon. 'cheap' imatation cord is made of polyester with a polypropalene core which makes it a bit more ridgid. When burned the 'cheap' stuff turns to a black goo the 'real' cord will melt into a blob and will turn a straw colour. It you have to pieces of cord one Real and the other fake when you burn them the fake is more pungent smelling and when you cut them the real cord will start to unravel/explode on it's own the fake won't. If anyone wantsto see what I mean I'll try to put up a video later in the week oh and one last thing you'll know/remember the diffeence when the polyestrer passes through your hand at speed.