Shock cord question

[6 feet over]

Can shock cord be melted to seal the ends of a cut, similar to para cord?

Does this work well, or does it need to be tied to keep the ends from fraying?

[GrizzlyAdams]

Can shock cord be melted to seal the ends of a cut, similar to para cord?

Does this work well, or does it need to be tied to keep the ends from fraying?

I did that once and it seemed to work. BUT for heaven's sakes do it outside. It stinks like you wouldn't believe and takes a lot to vent out the house. Sez he who had some explaining to do to his better half....

Grizz

[headchange4u]

Yes you can seal the ends of shock cord.

Speaking of shock cord, I just bought some from this Ebay seller and it's really nice. It seems to have a nicer, stiffer "pull" than other types of cord that I have used. It is also available in different colors and it's one of the cheapest sources I have seen when you include shipping. I know that 1/8" shock cord from Quest is .15 per foot before shipping. I got the OD green.

[6 feet over]

Once I get out of work Monday morning, I’m heading down the shore. I’ll be making ‘in-line’ tarp tensioners for my Neo tarp.

Nice tip! I don’t need to hear from the wife I’ve stunk up the joint with burning shock cord.

Side question: Has anyone ever used heavier shock cord for one side of the Neo tarp’s ridgeline to take up ridgeline stretch sag? Is this worth the effort?

6

[Schneiderlein]

Once I get out of work Monday morning, I’m heading down the shore. I’ll be making ‘in-line’ tarp tensioners for my Neo tarp.

Nice tip! I don’t need to hear from the wife I’ve stunk up the joint with burning shock cord.

Side question: Has anyone ever used heavier shock cord for one side of the Neo tarp’s ridgeline to take up ridgeline stretch sag? Is this worth the effort?

6

I think what gives off the unpleasant odor is the rubber part of the shock cord. That won't fray anyway, and all you have to do is sear the outside. If you are careful, you can do this with a lighter without burning the rubber by twisting the end over the flame. I'd still go outside, just in case...

I have recently started using tensioners on the side guy-outs, and they do a really nice job without ridgeline tensioners, so I am not sure if ridge line tensioners are needed.

[Youngblood]

I think what gives off the unpleasant odor is the rubber part of the shock cord. That won't fray anyway, and all you have to do is sear the outside. If you are careful, you can do this with a lighter without burning the rubber by twisting the end over the flame. I'd still go outside, just in case...

I have recently started using tensioners on the side guy-outs, and they do a really nice job without ridgeline tensioners, so I am not sure if ridge line tensioners are needed.

There are different issues using shockcord on the ridgelines. I don't use them on ridgelines.

[QChan]

Something you can do to reduce the smell and smoke is to super heat a butter knife and use that to cut the rope, it will melt the cord and cut it at the same time, less work is better.

[gunn parker]

I used ridgline bungee on my neo 9x9 and did not like it but on the side tie outs it works well.
gunn