Introduction: Paracord Bracelet Milk Crate Jig
I've been using several different ways to make 550 Paracord bracelets, but the fastest and easiest way that I have found is to use a jig of some sorts. I've tried making them out of wood using springs, nails, bolts etc, tied the 550 paracord to my big toe, various pieces of furniture, door knobs and the like, but the one I'm currently using is a very simple one and it seems to work quite well. A milk crate with tarp bungee balls through the handles.
Milk crates can be purchased from your local dairy or grocery store for a few bucks. I've even seen them at the larger big box home centers. They are sturdy, can withstand the tension of the work at hand and make it all nice and convenient when you want to transport your hobby from home to the beach or park. I've set up the milk crate with two bungee balls through each handle, with a male and a female bracelet clip attached through the bungee. When I'm ready to make a bracelet, I attach the new clips that will be a part of the bracelet to the bungee clips, affix the 550 paracord to one end, thread the 550 paracord through the other and pull it tight until I have the desired length. I use a ruler to measure the space between the clips, then use the hemostats to keep it from slipping until I can tie the first knot.
As far at the rest of the jig goes... I use plastic containers with screw lids to hold the many different colors of 550 paracord. This way, I can grab different colors from the shelf, and load the milk crate with the colors that I will be using. I used brass grommets in the lids to pull the 550 paracord out from and riveted the brass clips from Lion Coffee bags to the lid so that the 550 paracord won't fall back in after dispensed. I'm sure you can use twist ties on the ends of the 550 paracord to keep it from falling back inside. I just happen to have like a bajillion of these in a drawer. I love plastic containers. I've save all of my used peanut butter containers for years, and have a few hundred or so in my work shed to hold all the different nuts, bolts and washers that I've also collected over the years. They are see through, won't break if you accidentally drop them and the lids won't rust out, which is especially important living here in Hawaii.
I made a lighter, scissor and hemostat holder out of PVC pipe. I drilled a couple of holes in them and attached them to the inside of the milk crate with zip ties.
I hope that this helps someone.
Aloha!
Milk crates can be purchased from your local dairy or grocery store for a few bucks. I've even seen them at the larger big box home centers. They are sturdy, can withstand the tension of the work at hand and make it all nice and convenient when you want to transport your hobby from home to the beach or park. I've set up the milk crate with two bungee balls through each handle, with a male and a female bracelet clip attached through the bungee. When I'm ready to make a bracelet, I attach the new clips that will be a part of the bracelet to the bungee clips, affix the 550 paracord to one end, thread the 550 paracord through the other and pull it tight until I have the desired length. I use a ruler to measure the space between the clips, then use the hemostats to keep it from slipping until I can tie the first knot.
As far at the rest of the jig goes... I use plastic containers with screw lids to hold the many different colors of 550 paracord. This way, I can grab different colors from the shelf, and load the milk crate with the colors that I will be using. I used brass grommets in the lids to pull the 550 paracord out from and riveted the brass clips from Lion Coffee bags to the lid so that the 550 paracord won't fall back in after dispensed. I'm sure you can use twist ties on the ends of the 550 paracord to keep it from falling back inside. I just happen to have like a bajillion of these in a drawer. I love plastic containers. I've save all of my used peanut butter containers for years, and have a few hundred or so in my work shed to hold all the different nuts, bolts and washers that I've also collected over the years. They are see through, won't break if you accidentally drop them and the lids won't rust out, which is especially important living here in Hawaii.
I made a lighter, scissor and hemostat holder out of PVC pipe. I drilled a couple of holes in them and attached them to the inside of the milk crate with zip ties.
I hope that this helps someone.
Aloha!