2. Intro: Simple Paracord Ring
If you are anything like me, you love to make things out of Paracord, but hate to waist anything.
This simple (if overly worked) Instructable (my first) should show you how you can use those annoying bits or Paracord that are often left at the end of making just about
anything, but are to short to be of any use.
These rings are purely decorative, you wont see them getting Bear Grills out of a tight spot anytime soon.
Step 1: Materials
You will need:
Off cuts of Paracord, greater than 3" is best (UK FYI I get my Paracord from thebushcraftstore.co.uk)
An open flame of some sort. (It doesn't have to be a comedy lighter)
A thin spike or peace of stiff wire that can be heated without burning your fingers.
Needle-nose tweezers or Hemostats.
A sharp knife or scissors.
A ruler or other measuring implement.
A good surface to cut on.
If you're used to working with Paracord most of these will be familiar and probably close to hand.
Image Notes
1. Ruler
2. Paracord off-cuts.
3. Lighter or any Flame
4. Spike from a dissection kit.
5. Tweezers/Hemostat
6. Knife or scissors for cutting
7. Cutting board.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Simple-Paracord-Ring/
3. Step 2: Size and Messure your cord
Rap the Paracord around your desired finger to get the size right.
Measure this against your ruler for future reference.
Make sure that any ends that are sealed or tatty are not counted in your measurements as these will be cut off.
Once you have the right length for your finger add extra 1/8" to 1/4", this will be used in the joining of the ends.
Image Notes
1. Note sealed end not counted when measuring
Image Notes
1. Extra 1/4" added.
2. Circumference of my finger
http://www.instructables.com/id/Simple-Paracord-Ring/
4. Step 3: Cutting and Gutting
Go ahead and remove the excess Paracord.
If the other end is sealed or tatty remove it as well.
Pull out and discard the central fibers.
Make sure you do not reseal either end at this stage.
Image Notes
1. Clean up the ends.
Step 4: Shaping and Sealing the ends.
You should now have a hollow tube with two unsealed ends.
Role one end between thumb and forefinger to try and close it down as much as possible.
With your flame lightly melt this end sealing it.
Careful molten Paracord can be painful.
When sealed the end should be as small as possible, it does not need to be completely closed.
With the other end use your tweezers or hemostat to lightly tease the in open and again lightly seal it with your flame.
There should now be one smaller nearly closed end and one widely open end.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Simple-Paracord-Ring/
6. Image Notes
1. Careful not to go to close to the cut as that will unravel fibers, leading to an
untidy end when sealed.
Image Notes
1. Closed end
2. Open end
http://www.instructables.com/id/Simple-Paracord-Ring/
7. Step 5: Closing the ring
Tuck the smaller end into the open end.
Use your tweezers to push the it in further.
Check the size on your finger to make sure its not too loose or tight.
Step 6: Sealing the bond
When you are happy with the size use the flame and gently heat the mouth of the join this should cause it to shrink slightly gripping the ends together.
You can at this time also clean and flatten any bumps around the rim by melting and flattening with the flat part of your blade.
Do a final size check as you should still be able to adjust it at this time.
Its possible that the bond will now be strong enough.
However if you wish strengthen the bond, heat up your spike/wire until it glows, do I really need to tell you to be careful with this?
Insert it into the bond for a very shot time (a second or less), remove the spike/wire and quickly pinch the join, this should melt and bond the two ends together.
This may leave an unsightly mark but twisting the ring will move the mark to the inside of the ring, hiding it when worn.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Simple-Paracord-Ring/
8. Image Notes
1. Spike left in slightly too long, it should not melt through like this.
Step 7: All Done
Provided you have not made it too tight you shouldn't even feel the join when wearing the ring.
They also have a little stretch to them allowing you to wear more than one on the same finger comfortably, this allows you to match your favorite colours, or show support
for teams, school and with the world cup coming your country with the colours.
It may be possible to use this technique to close a more complex Paracord ring, such as a Turks head knot ring, I will look into this and let you know how I get on.
I hope you enjoyed this Instructable and will find it useful.
I am dyslexic so may have made a few grammatical or spelling errors, colours is not one of them I'm English ;) .
http://www.instructables.com/id/Simple-Paracord-Ring/
9. Image Notes
1. Sweden's World Cup colours it would be England (white-red-white) but I only
have one white at the moment.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Simple-Paracord-Ring/
10. Image Notes
1. Italy/Mexico/Algeria World Cup colours
Image Notes
1. German World Cup colours
Image Notes
1. USA/France/Holland etc, etc World Cup colours
Image Notes
1. The Olympic rings, I may try and sell this idea to the mayor of London for 2012
;)
http://www.instructables.com/id/Simple-Paracord-Ring/
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