Stretchable Paracord Bracelet

While making paracord bracelets (for which there are many great instructables) and wishing there was a way to make one that did not require clasps or clips, I stumbled on this method which produces a bracelet that can stretch to slip onto your wrist and then form to it snugly and comfortably. The bracelet also looks quite a bit like the normal ones on which the design is based, because it is the same basic technique that is used.

The key to the design is removing the "core" strands that are used in most paracord bracelets. This allows the bracelet to stretch so that it can be made into a continuous circle and doesn't need clasps or clips to fit around your wrist.

Step 1: Setup

Tools:
    - Scissors
    - Lighter

Materials:
    - Paracord
        - up to two colors
        - two 3 ft strands (one of each color if using two colors)
        - one strand (of any color) that is long enough to wrap around your wrist when folded in half, plus about 4 extra inches (see pic). This will be the temporary core strand
        - Use the lighter to melt both ends of all three strands to prevent fraying

Comments

[Nixion]

For those who are having trouble melting the ends hold the two ends on either side of a candle flame then both end will melt at the same time an you can fuse them together easy.Worked for me.

[Nixion]

(removed by author or community request)

[Nixion]

awesome bro.but i fear that the melted ends may come apart is there any other alternative?
and can i use some other kind of "soft" rope besides paracord ? i dont think my area has any.

[drumbum11]

I dont see any reason that you could not use some other type of rope or cord. Melting the ends may or may not be as effective for bonding the loose ends though, depending on what material the rope you use is made of
As far as the melted ends coming apart, it took me a bit of practice to figure out the best way to do it, but the result is actually quite strong. When done right I have no worries about it coming apart even when treated pretty roughly. Obviously it is not as strong as the uncut/unmelted parts of the paracord, but I personally am unable to pull it apart, even on purpose. Alternately you could try to splice the ends together, but I have never tried it and Im not sure if it will be much stronger.

[duckman200]

is there any other way apart from burning it together?

[drumbum11]

Melting the ends was the best solution that I found. If your a bit more patient than I am you could probably find a way to splice the ends together instead, but I have not tried that and idk how well it would work with the paracord.

[Schmidty16]

hello does anyone know where to get paracord would duhmans have it i need to get it at local stores {only 14 not old enough to get online}

[airsoft master 25]

such a good idea. it worked for me

[kaylaangelkisses]

you should enter the prandacord contest

[DFree]

What if you used a piece of elastic the length of your wrist and used it as the core instead of just not having one. You wouldn't have to compress it yourself, the elastic would take care of that.

[drumbum11]

I attempted that as well, but it ended up being difficult to put on and still needed to be compressed partly by hand, so I decided it was more trouble than it was worth. Thats not to say that it can not be done though. If you (or anyone) finds with a way to make it work I would definitely like to see it.

[DFree]

http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bracelet-without-Clip-or-Knot/

[drumbum11]

Nice job, it looks good

[That One Eegit]

This is great! Just about to get another shipment of paracord, and im definitely going to make one of these!

[mrmucox]

Nice job, though I've never been able to make those fused joints work.

[drumbum11]

Thanks.
Yeah they can be difficult, but with some practice and experimenting I've been able to make them pretty solid. What kind of problems have you had with them, just strength issues?

[mrmucox]

Yup, they usually fall apart on me. Probably not keeping them completely melted until I get them together. I'll have to try it again.

[joey99]

cool!!!