Introduction: Paracord Fid

By The Wonderful World of Me
About: Jack-of-all trades, master of some. I would probably be much more modest if it wasn't for these delusions of granduer that I suffer from.

After seeing some of the amazing projects made from paracord here on Instructables I decide to try my hand at making some. One tool I would need that I lacked is called a fid. A fid is a tool that has one end hollowed out and threaded to grab onto the paracord. The other end is tapered for inserting paracord into an existing weave.

I went online and ordered a set of fids for making paracord projects since I couldn't find a local retailer.

no problem.

Then I had to wait for them to be delivered from the other side of the world (literally)

PROBLEM!

So HI HO HI HO it's off to the big box store I go.

Step 1: Don't Screw Around

I was hoping to find a 3 inch Chicago screw to make my fid since that was the size fid that I ordered. Unfortunately, the largest I could find was a 2 inch.

It turns out the 2 inch was a very good working length.

Step 2: Off With His Head!

Lacking a guillotine or a proper lathe, the quickest way I had to remove the head was to chuck the post in the drill and apply liberal amounts of hacksaw blade to the problem area.

Step 3: Smoothin' Right Along

At first I tried to use sandpaper to taper the end of the fid, but the edge of the metal was just cutting right through the sandpaper.

A quick switch to the metal file made taking excess material off much easier.

Once I had the shape I wanted for the point I used the sand paper to remove the grooves left from the file.

It doesn't have to be a mirror finish, but you do want to make sure there are no bits sticking out to snag on the paracord as you work.

Step 4: It's a Twister .. It's a Twister

Using the fid is easy.

take the end of your paracord that you melted to prevent fraying.

Insert it into the threaded end of the fid.

Twist the fid down onto the paracord until the threads grab onto the melted end of the paracord. When you are all done you simply twist the fid the other way to remove it from the paracord.

Now I can make something cool .. like a lighter holder.

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