Monday, September 07, 2009

A Video Tutorial for the Two-Bight Turk's-Head Paracord Lanyard

I uploaded this video tutorial to YouTube.



About 5 feet of camo green 550 paracord used in the finished lanyard, shown with a small S-BINER looped onto one end, and my iTP A3 EOS Upgrade Edition AAA LED Flashlight, from Going Gear clipped onto the other end.

And here's a paracord bracelet done with a two-bight turks head. It could also be used as a longer length flexible lanyard, done with fewer passes to have an open pattern, leaving the underlying cord visible...

40 comments:

Albert A Rasch said...

Nice job! Once again I want you to know that I appreciate the effort you put in to try and teach us these knots and tying techniques.

Best regards,
Albert
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
SiegeWorks American Longbow

Michael Anderson said...

I know you've probably covered this a thousand times but exactly what is that needle you're using? Is it one of these? Are there various sizes?

Thanks for the tutorial.

Mike

Stormdrane said...

Albert, thank you, Sir!

Michael, yes, I used a Jumbo Perma-Lok threaded lacing needle for working with paracord sized cordage. The one you linked to is the smaller model and I have one of each. There's also a longer one, but the two sizes I have work for me.

There's a tutorial somewhere, to make your own using copper tubing, and I think I recently saw that link on the KHWW.net site.

And another method I've seen and tried, was using old ball point pen ink cartriges, but the ends need to be tapped so they have threads to bite and hold the cord. Just sticking the cord into the end didn't work well.

Or, a drop of glue on the cord end may suffice to hold it to the cartridge for the time it's needed.

Mik said...

That is pretty sweet, I need to try some of this stuff for all my knives and stuff.

k13pt0 said...

excellent job as always Stormdrane.. i love checking out the crazy things you do with rope/string.. i wanted to leave the comment on youtube but they were disabled so i had to settle with just rating the video 5 stars :D

-Abe

100poundsago said...

Another phenominal tutorial! Thanks!

rabsknots said...

Excellent video SD.

KnotGuy said...

Once again - fantastic!

You have a different way of showing knotting. It makes what you do all that more interesting.
Keep up the good work!

Thanks for the reference to my site - www.morethanknots.com
I appreciate the referrals.

Can't wait to see your next entry.

RedSig said...

I love this lanyard. I'm just getting into tying knots and want to do more projects with and for my Cub Scouts. Your video makes this look so easy, which is good b/c I have a hard time following the written instructions. I'm a visual learner. Anyway, I was wondering about the lanyard knot and where I might find a simple instruction for tying it. Keep up the great work--it's awesome!

Stormdrane said...

RedSig, I've also done a video for tying the 'lanyard knot', and a previous blog post has a few other names the knot is known by and instructions for tying it.

RedSig said...

I just practiced tying it and didn't have any problems. I appreciate the information and all your great projects!

Unknown said...

This tutorial is by far the best one you've published. Once you've made a couple of them, it's very easy, and you can whip them out in no time.

Thanks

Chris said...

You have sparked my interest in decorative knots. Soon I leave on a 7 month Deployment (Navy) and plan on taking up this hobby while at sea, Allot of Time. I guess the question I have is what tools would be recommended in taking with me at beginner level and how much paracord. Thank you for your time..

Stormdrane said...

Chris,

Thank you for serving your country. I hope you stay safe during your deployment.

The most common items/tools I use with knot work are:

-scissors and a sharp knife

-lighter(torch) or soldering iron/wood burning tool for melting nylon/poly cord ends

-hemostats(2) with a narrow tip which is good for tucking/pulling cord ends and used as clamps

-clay stylus or small screwdriver awl to be used like a marlin spike

-tape measure

-a knot book or two for reference

-plus a variety of attachments like swivel clips, snap hooks, carabiners, split rings in different sizes, maybe some beads, etc...

It's easy to go through a lot of paracord fairly quickly, so I'd take several '100 hundred ft hanks' in different colors. You might also take smaller diameter cord, like mason's line, cotton cord, or 1.4mm/2mm nylon braided trot line to work with.

Markie said...

Once again you've inspired and humbled me. Very much appreciate your sharing and work for our benefit (mine anyway).

Thanks for another great tutorial and project.


Markie

Kevin said...

Like the others have said, very good. Appreciate your time. Cool needle by the way.

Strycnine said...

Very nice work! I just made my first one following your video.


Thanks for adding my site to your link list.

Unknown said...

I made a few fobs and a couple of lanyards. Gave them away to coworkers. They absolutely love them.

On the longer lanyard you made, how many wraps did you start out with?

Thanks

Stormdrane said...

War-Pig, I believe I started with six turns on the longer paracord bracelet version. I used a full length, stretched out bendy straw to tie it over the lanyard knot/loop section.

Anonymous said...

Storm;
I just finished the 16X3 TH tutorial and will install it on my walking staff. Now I must try the 2 bight TH for a bracelet. I have tied a "mystery Braid" TH bracelet with buckles. Maybe I can send you a photo somehow.
Thanks so much for the excellent tutorials.
Don Rexer

Stormdrane said...

Don,

I'd like to see what you made, and you can send the photo to me at stormdrane at hotmail dot com, or you can upload your photo to xanga, flickr, or photobucket and add the link here in the comments so everyone else can see it too. :)

Unknown said...

Do you use a specific formula for determining the amount of cord you will need per project? I know it would depend on the types of knots you are making. Just curious

Stormdrane said...

I usually just guess on how much I'll need and try too make sure I have more than that.

There are too many variables involved for me to use a specific mathematical formula on turks head knots, depending on cord size, object tied around size, # of bights, # of leads, # of passes, etc..., but I'm sure there's probably one out there. Someone on the KHWW.net site might know. :)

Anonymous said...

this tutorial is great and your blog is just awesome.
Thanks a lot

mconnor said...

nice video...
I need to try some of this stuff for all my knives and stuff.

Aron Kom Kom said...

Hi!

Thank you for the great videos and pictures!

I have a "request" for you:)'
'
I been looking for a video/instructions to make an turkshead bracelet like the one u can see @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-PSdeV3x40&feature=related
but the video, ehhh, sucks:)

And...
Were can I bye the paracords in different colors?

Regards from Norway,

Mr_dahl

Aron Kom Kom said...

BTW!

Jeg have found a lighter that is great to use on ropes and cords:)

They are awsome and gives a very good presicion!

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6783

Free shipping too:) a bit to wait for the package but well worth the time!


Regarsd again,

Mr_dahl

Stormdrane said...

Here's the link for the online tutorial that I learned to make a Turk's Head bracelet from. They're also known as a Nantucket Sailor's bracelet or just Sailor's bracelets.

You might find more info on the KHWW.net website.

The Supply Captain sells paracord in various colors.

Anonymous said...

I always look forward to seeing what you have done next. Thank you for sharing your skilll and making the tutorials that inspire the rest of us to try the craft.

I love the guitar music in the background of the video. Please tell us who and what album.

Thanks,
Maggy

Stormdrane said...

The background music is 'Amy' by thinkstandard.

Anonymous said...

Nice work Stormdrane! Thank you for the tutorial, I made my own and love it! I have a question though. You sold me on that permalok needle. I got mine in the mail and am having a hell of a time trying to thread paracord on it. I got the jumbo one. Can someone give me some tips on threading the needle on?

Stormdrane said...

Cut the paracord end at an angle, so there's a point. Quick melt the end to prevent fraying, and then stick the pointed corner of the paracord into the end of the needle and screw it on. The threads should make a good grip on the cord.

Anonymous said...

I'm still stumped with the needle. Did you cut it at a slant and start at the tip and twist or did you cut it from both sides to form a point at the middle and go from there? I haven't picked up a torch lighter yet, does that make a huge difference when melting it for the needle?

Thanks again for your help.

Stormdrane said...

I cut the paracord at about a 45 degree angle, then torch the ends just enough to prevent fraying and provide a bit of hardened melted cord to allow the needle threads to grip it.

You don't need a glob of melted cord on the end. A torch lighter allows precision melting compared to a regular lighter.

botfly said...

Concerning the threading needle... I sharpened a chop stick from the local Chinese restaurant and took a wittled off a little extra and inserted that into the open end of the paracord, melted the cord to the wood chopstick and that worked great for me. I'm quite the impatient one, didn't want to wait/spend money.
Thanks SD you are very awesome.

Unknown said...

Stormdrane I appreciate the time you put in. I have been using a modified golf tee as a needle. http://img198.imageshack.us/i/imagelai.jpg/
I made this out of desert but it looked greenish. http://img249.imageshack.us/i/imageld.jpg/

What is the song playing in the video. I watched it several times just for the music. Thanks again.

Stormdrane said...

Good job on the lanyard and nice use of a golf tee. I haven't played golf in 4 or 5 years, and will have to dig up my dusty/cobwebbed golf bag, somewhere in the garage, to see if I have a few tees that might serve as an improvised spike/fid. ;)

The YouTube audioswap music with the video, is 'Amy' by Thinkstandard.

Anonymous said...

Just wondering if you can make more
Wraps around a longer straw like object
To get a longer fob?

Stormdrane said...

@Anonymous, yes you can use a longer straw, making more initial wraps/turns to make a longer turks head knot, which of course means using more cord.

I used a 30" long rifle cleaning rod to tie a long 2 bight knot, then increase it to a 4 bight turks head knot for this lanyard.

The only limit to the length you want to tie one, is having enough cord and time to tie it.

Clayton Erickson said...

Awesome lanyards. I've tied 4 so far. Fun to make. I am getting married in July and am making an array of lanyards in different styles as gifts to guests to take.

I ended up ordering some permalock needles from where you recommended unfortunately I forgot to specify the right size so I"m stuck with 4 of the tiny ones. I did buy one large jumbo one so I wasn't completely out of luck.

Thanks so much for all of these tutorials!