Simple Paracord Ring

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 over 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 Grylls out of a tight spot anytime soon.

STEP 1: Materials

STEP 2: Size and Meassure 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 your sports teams, school or country.

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.

Comments

[vknotty]

Excellent! I do hate throwing away those scraps that are too small for me to twist together. Not to mention your technique! Near flawless seems. I’m gonna make one right now!

[JackG54]

Thanks for this!! I'm a total noob to paracord projects. You gave me an idea for making a "breakaway" simple dog collar just to hold her ID tag. Just what I was looking for!

[MicheleP13]

I am fire challenged. How do I get it hot enough to melt but not hot enough to char the side where the flame catches it?

[cool123cool]

Paracord cool!

[syiel.cordell]

This was one of the easiest things i've ever made with paracord.

[KCBCHSV]

thank you for the shirts and stuff

[Malkenite]

I have been sporting a paracord ring for almost 8 years now. On my second one because I lost too much weight and the first one went down the drain in a shower....

[DaggerTA]

This looks so easy

[Smurfy92]

Hmm, buy that lighter, or the paracord, decisions...

[Codus]

Where did you get that lighter? It is brilliant, and I want.
P.S. Nice instructable! :D

[clintonmc]

lol Thanks, its actually my second one ironicly the first was stolen, anyway I bought it at a shop that sells "alternative" cards and small gifts, its a chain called "scribbler", but if you are outside the uk that probably isn't much use to you.

[Plo Koon]

"molten paracord can be painful" is a gross understatement. i have hurt myself 2 times on it, and each time it left burned pits in my skin, even after cold water. both are still healing. =(

[clintonmc]

I hope it wasn't as a result of this 'ible, I've been pretty lucky and only had a few minor burns.

[lolmaster2000]

Ehm... the German flag is Black-Red-Yellow.
The colours are right, but what you did is the Belgium flag ;)

[clintonmc]

Fair point, should have checked that. :)

[oud25]

i made a few of these before i saw your post and you did a better job than i did
but i love doing it in black para because it looks like a carbonfiber ring

[unclex6]

dont you mean like. you put "lie" ={)

[timothymh]

 Great instructable, but you should check all your spelling before posting.

[Apple_4_life]

good job! and you actually only made lie 2-3 mistakes, so good job!

[Lithium Rain]

GRYLLS

(Nice ible ;)