Step 4: Preparing the core
For this first step, you will need your first 4 strands of paracord and the 3 corresponding lengths of lamp chain:
Paracord:
- x1 2m strand (6.55 ft )
- x1 1m strand (3.30 ft )
- x1 80cm strand (2.60ft )
- x1 50 cm strand (1.60ft )
Chain:
- 90cm (3 ft )
- 60 cm (2 ft )
- 30 cm (1 ft )
You will remove the inner strands from the 3 shortest pieces... but wait !
You will then have to put the corresponding lengths of chain into the corresponding strands and this can be a real pain without the proper technique.
I've tried a few:
Making a wire needle to pull the chain through the strand, hand threading cm by cm, threading a whole wire through it first and pulling it back with the chain taped to it...
None of them worked...
On the other hand, this last technique did wonders :
Carefully remove 6 of the 7 inner strands taking great care not to let the last one slip along with it's friends ( you can tie it around a finger, a pen or anything that will stay out of the paracord sheath).
Then tie one end of the last inner strand 1-3 balls away from the end of the lamp chain using the smallest knot possible.( preceding it with half hitches between every ball might help to improve it's lengthwise pull tolerance as knots tied in those slick inner strands tend to be a bit slippery )
Then just pull the inner strand out of the cord to get the chain in place and cut the string off.
If by mistake your last inner strand slips out of the sheath early or alone, you might try to feed it back through the cord by tying it to a long piece of stiff wire ( longer than the cord ).
Or you might just cut another piece of paracord and start over.
Paracord:
- x1 2m strand (6.55 ft )
- x1 1m strand (3.30 ft )
- x1 80cm strand (2.60ft )
- x1 50 cm strand (1.60ft )
Chain:
- 90cm (3 ft )
- 60 cm (2 ft )
- 30 cm (1 ft )
You will remove the inner strands from the 3 shortest pieces... but wait !
You will then have to put the corresponding lengths of chain into the corresponding strands and this can be a real pain without the proper technique.
I've tried a few:
Making a wire needle to pull the chain through the strand, hand threading cm by cm, threading a whole wire through it first and pulling it back with the chain taped to it...
None of them worked...
On the other hand, this last technique did wonders :
Carefully remove 6 of the 7 inner strands taking great care not to let the last one slip along with it's friends ( you can tie it around a finger, a pen or anything that will stay out of the paracord sheath).
Then tie one end of the last inner strand 1-3 balls away from the end of the lamp chain using the smallest knot possible.( preceding it with half hitches between every ball might help to improve it's lengthwise pull tolerance as knots tied in those slick inner strands tend to be a bit slippery )
Then just pull the inner strand out of the cord to get the chain in place and cut the string off.
If by mistake your last inner strand slips out of the sheath early or alone, you might try to feed it back through the cord by tying it to a long piece of stiff wire ( longer than the cord ).
Or you might just cut another piece of paracord and start over.
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At the cracker end, you're probably gonna cut some leftovers anyway.
I featured your comment so everybody can see the results near the top of the page. I also planned on using multiple color strands, but didn't have long enough strands of matching colors at the time.
How many orange strands did you use ? My guess from the pattern would be one ?
Very nicely done, and thanks for your support :)
The only way that worked for me( and it was easy ) is the one I described: by pulling the chain through by using an already threaded inner strand.
Putting the chain through it in any other way just seemed to be impossible, it took minutes just to progress a few mm.
It's also possible you got some knock off version of paracord depending on where you purchased it : /
You could try with anything a little heavy as said in the comments on the first page.
Even before plaiting the 2 layers, you should be able to already tell that it behaves somehow like a whip.
Just don't use cable that remains bent once unrolled.This would make manipulation of the whip very hard.