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.