Heavy Duty Cell-phone Lanyard
Intro: Heavy Duty Cell-phone Lanyard
I really hate lanyards. The ones you can buy look so pansy, they're too thin, they're ugly, and....I can't think of anything else bad to say about them. The other option is buying something more classy off the internet, but airsoft sites sell them way overpriced and Japanese sites sell pretty cool stuff, but getting it home is an issue.
What to do.
Having abandoned the thought of daring to use one, I visited my Chinese teacher (who is very cute, and Chinese) and noticed the lanyard she always uses is busted...cello-taped back together?
Big turn-off.
But thinking about it, I reckoned that there aren't really instructables on the subject, and a military grade, gothic looking lanyard would be something I could not only use, but also make. And would make a pretty cool gift to score brownie points with Miss Zhao. HooHaa.
And so brothers and sisters, my second instructable, hopefully not my last.
What to do.
Having abandoned the thought of daring to use one, I visited my Chinese teacher (who is very cute, and Chinese) and noticed the lanyard she always uses is busted...cello-taped back together?
Big turn-off.
But thinking about it, I reckoned that there aren't really instructables on the subject, and a military grade, gothic looking lanyard would be something I could not only use, but also make. And would make a pretty cool gift to score brownie points with Miss Zhao. HooHaa.
And so brothers and sisters, my second instructable, hopefully not my last.
STEP 1: Shopping/Scavenging/Looting List
These are the sort of parts you'll need:
1) Wire cutters and pliers for handling the metal parts
2) .5mm heatshrink.
3) Two mini-screwdrivers or really anything that can be used to wind wire coils.
4) Thin gauge wire (I think it's around .1-.3mm? Choose what you like the look of.)
5) Wooden, rib shaped beads. These are slightly hard to find, but you might find some at a craft market.
6) Cell-phone charm connectors. Go to any China mart for these. R5 for 7. That's about half a dollar.
7) 45-65cm of soft, black headphone wire. This is a very good material for stuff you'll hang around your neck.
1) Wire cutters and pliers for handling the metal parts
2) .5mm heatshrink.
3) Two mini-screwdrivers or really anything that can be used to wind wire coils.
4) Thin gauge wire (I think it's around .1-.3mm? Choose what you like the look of.)
5) Wooden, rib shaped beads. These are slightly hard to find, but you might find some at a craft market.
6) Cell-phone charm connectors. Go to any China mart for these. R5 for 7. That's about half a dollar.
7) 45-65cm of soft, black headphone wire. This is a very good material for stuff you'll hang around your neck.
STEP 2: The Cord
Check that you're happy with the length of cord and see where it goes on your chest.
DO NOT CUT IT TOO SHORT! If it's too long, that fine. That's great, but too short and you've wasted a good piece of headphone cable. More is better.
Fold the cable and slip heatshrink down to the middle. Add and heat two or three layers of the heatshrink to make a loop. Though it may be...burny....press the heatshrink down as tightly as you can.
When you're done, tie the ends of the cable up.
DO NOT CUT IT TOO SHORT! If it's too long, that fine. That's great, but too short and you've wasted a good piece of headphone cable. More is better.
Fold the cable and slip heatshrink down to the middle. Add and heat two or three layers of the heatshrink to make a loop. Though it may be...burny....press the heatshrink down as tightly as you can.
When you're done, tie the ends of the cable up.
STEP 3: Springs
Next you'll need to wind 2 springs with a diameter that can just barely fit over the cable. 6-10 turns.
Cut the ends off of each spring, then slide each onto the 2 loose ends of the cable.
Crimp the last loop of each spring down so that it will never come off.
Cut the ends off of each spring, then slide each onto the 2 loose ends of the cable.
Crimp the last loop of each spring down so that it will never come off.
STEP 4: Rings and More Springs
You're going to make another smaller spring, but to make jump rings with. Know how to make jump rings? Yes? No? It's easy - wind a spring that's about 1cm in diameter, 3 turns, then cut the spring down it's length. You should have some jump rings.
But now comes a slightly more risque part - make another pair of very small springs, 6-8 turns, small enough to fit over other wire. You will use these springs to crimp the bigger jump rings closed.
But now comes a slightly more risque part - make another pair of very small springs, 6-8 turns, small enough to fit over other wire. You will use these springs to crimp the bigger jump rings closed.
STEP 5: Assemble
The rest is pretty clear.
Add the cell-phone part to one ring, add it to the loop, add a spring, seal it off.
Do the same with the beads. The spring gets crimped last.
Add the cell-phone part to one ring, add it to the loop, add a spring, seal it off.
Do the same with the beads. The spring gets crimped last.
STEP 6: Fin
And there you have it.
It's a good thing to have while you're driving - not that...um...I would answer a phonecall whileI'm driving, 'cos that would be...er...breaking the law. But IF...someone where to phone me, and I were to answer, I wouldn't crash the car fumbling around in my multidimensional Nato jacket finding my cell.
Hope you like making it. Please show me pics if you do!
It's a good thing to have while you're driving - not that...um...I would answer a phonecall whileI'm driving, 'cos that would be...er...breaking the law. But IF...someone where to phone me, and I were to answer, I wouldn't crash the car fumbling around in my multidimensional Nato jacket finding my cell.
Hope you like making it. Please show me pics if you do!
5 Comments
stephenniall 15 years ago
Udon 15 years ago
GeeDeeKay 15 years ago
This a way cool lanyard knot, much nicer than the functional yet ugly overhand knot.
Lanyards in general are not too pretty or functional, so building your own is always a better choice, I think. I use 3mm cord for my lanyards, it's a lot softer, comes in cool colors, and takes knots a lot better than cable. The lanyard I use for my keys has a chinese good luck knot at the key end with 2 loops and the 3rd for the tail of the lanyard (3 for good luck!). Going up the tail are 3 lanyard knots, a Matthew Walker knot, a cross knot, and another Matthew walker knot tied in the opposite direction. It looks cool and works well. It's more of a pocket lanyard, not one for around the neck, so the knots up the tail keep it from slipping out of my hand.
Here are a bunch of chinese knots, including the cross knot and the good luck knot: http://www.trinitylondon.com/chinese-knots.asp
Cool project!
Udon 15 years ago
Thanks a lot for the links! I've never thought about learning other ways to knot before...
sharlston 15 years ago