Paracord tool / Fid

[Hood]

For all those about to embark on paracord sleeving for the first time, or those who are doing it regularly enough to want to save a lot of time, here are is a guide on making a tool in about 10 minutes that makes threading cables inside paracord a breeze.

I have used Slema fids for many years, they are for splicing ropes, essential for getting one rope inside another. they are by far and away the nicest fids to use.

this is what they look like http://www.selma.no/sider/produkt.html unfortunately the smallest they make is a 4.0mm and its just little too big for paracord.

To make our paracord fid, we will need

150mm of 3.3mm OD 2.2mm ID tubing - turns out this is the size used in model steam trains, available on eBay and model shops.
Hack saw
and a file.

All we do is cut one of the tubing at a 60 degree angle with the hack saw. use the file to clean up the edges. At the other end make two cuts on either side about 2mm from the end.

the trick to making it not catch, bend the tip inwards.









The way the two cuts at the back work, when the fitting is inserted it locks into place like it normally would, when you want to get it back out, rotate the wire 90 degrees and it will fall out.

Didnt cost very much to make certainly does not take much time, and works extremely well.

hope this helps.

[mgrobins]

Nice to see ingenuity in action

[mpayne]

just finished doing my cable and tbh bit of tape on the crimp and your set