I saw a bulk of boot lace with plastic heat shrink tips available online a while back but didn't get it. I can use accessory cord but i want to have the heat shrink ends to prevent fraying. Has anybody seen this anywhere? Thanks in advance.
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I saw a bulk of boot lace with plastic heat shrink tips available online a while back but didn't get it. I can use accessory cord but i want to have the heat shrink ends to prevent fraying. Has anybody seen this anywhere? Thanks in advance.
Radio Shack or any other electronics store.
Try going to an electrical supply outlet or automotive parts supplier and they should have lengths of heat shrink tubing you could install on the ends of the light cord you are using for laces. The heat from a bic lighter waved under the shrink wrap will cause it to tighten on the cord.
Heat shrink tubing is the best method. You can also just wrap the ends tightly with a piece of clear tape, like packing tape scotch tape works okay too. heat shrink is going to be the most durable though.
Dunno the answer to that one, but, on a personal note, I want to welcome DevilDoc (Trail name Doc) to HF. I hope y'all will do the same. I've known DD since we were in service together, many years ago and he's still to this day my closest and most trusted friend. There is no better guy anywhere. Welcome aboard, DD!:D
Welcome DD... this is hammock boot camp ... and soon ya will have laces:D
welcome to HF Doc.
i'm not sure what kind of cord you have, but most of the cord i have has a plastic likeness to it so it can be melted on the ends w/ a lighter & that will stop all fraying. ...tim
If just stopping fraying is the goal then "tipping" the laces is all you need to do; you can melt them or use super glue on the ends.
However, if you want to replace the Aglet (the heat shrink end of the lace) then you have a couple of options.
Obviously Aglets are essential if you need to lace through eyes on a regular basis, which is the main reason shoelaces have them, there are several commercially available options .
1) Heat shrink tubing: it will not last as long as your original Aglets but it is quick, cheap and easy to find. Just look in the electrical section of your favorite home repair center or electronics outlet.
2) Whipping: long used to keep ropes from fraying it also makes a very good Aglet on a shoelace. You can use almost any thin twine. I use mostly Dyneema in various colors because I have it (I also use it to build custom bowstrings) however you can use the PE strands from the guts of 550 chord or anything similar in size. You just need to learn the very easy Whiopping Knot (good for all your rope and cord). The good thing about whipping is you can make it as long or short as you please, and any color also. Done correctly whipping will outlast the life of the shoelace, and it can be performed in the field if needed.
3) Aftermarket Aglets: Several kinds of aftermarket Aglets are also available, from the plastic melt-on kind (similar to heat shrink tube, but heavier) to the metal crimp-on kind.
A) Plastic: obvoiusly you had plastic originally, and the aftermarket kind have the same shortcommings, short life span due to a number of things; but they are cheap, easy and come in many colors.
B) Metal: While they are a little harder to install, if installed correctly will last the lifetime of the shoelace. They also come in several different colors and are about the same price as a pair of cheap shoelaces, but you generally get anywhere from two to four sets. Personally I don't like the metal kind because they flop arond alot and bang the top of my feet. While I am in no danger of being hurt by this, it is a littel irritating. You can alleviate this by pulling the bitter end through until the Aglet no longer flops but, if your laces are too long, then you have great big floppy loops, which also irritates me (and snags on stuff), as well as not having much prchase to untie your shoelaces. Just something to consider.
This is proly waaaaaay more info then you ever thought you would get, but I ain't done yet. There is a super resource on the web for all things related to shoelaces. I found this site several years ago while researching the knot I use to tie my shoes with. I have used it since I was very young, I don't even remember learning it, and it isn't listed in the Ashley Book of Knots. I did find it tho, it is called the Ian Knot, (it is actually a sdouble slipped reef knot, but the method was not listed in ABoK) I also uncovered a superior way to tie slippery shoelaces called teh Ian Secure Shoelace knot (it really is secure and easy to untie!). There is also a wealth of other information, from history to alternate lacing methods on his site.
So enjoy Ian's Shoelace Site!
BTW, Welcome to the Hammock Forums :D
Welcome to the forum devildoc!
wow... it never ceases to amaze me how detailed the information can get on something considered so simple<g>.
A chorus of wows for that post Hogn8r...
I answered my own Q today. Everestgear.com has the aglets in bags of 10 or 100. Also the have spools of 100-333' of boot lace in multiple colors. This cord is also suitable for use as an accessory cord. Thanks for the help ladies and gentlemen and thanks for the welcome!
some one has a lot of free time on there hands, wow!:DQuote:
Originally Posted by slowhike
Cool website... I've long given up on commercial shoelaces, especially for my hiking boots.
I use lightweight braided rope from.... you guessed it.... the sailing supply store. Nothing like it for good strength... For the aglets I just melt the rope and shape it before it cools... Permanent and integral.
The rope is WAY more durable than most any lace material I've ever seen. Even when used with aggressive metal boot hooks and eyelets. One pair has outlasted the boots they were installed on (10 years of regular wear.....) Yes I wear my boots for things other than hiking.
I have tried heat shrink tubing, but proper aglets are much better. They are stronger and adhere better to the cord. Has anyone heard of an aglet slipping off of a shoelace?
Yep... Happens fairly frequently to me... maybe I just abuse my shoelaces...Quote:
Originally Posted by ZDP-189
had that happen, also had them weaken the lace at the very end of the aglet till the peice of lace with aglet over it just fell off.Quote:
Originally Posted by ZDP-189