How to make a paracord handle wrap

In this article I will show you the fundamental steps you need to make a quality paracord handle wrap.

There are a lot of tutorials out there that teach you a specific handle wrap. Those work well enough, but why not start building a solid understanding of paracord handle wraps before jumping into it?

Why wrap?

Paracord handle wraps are commonly used for wrapping handles of knives (and swords), axes, tomahawks, as well as other tools used for survival. There are several benefits of having a paracord wrap on your tools:

For wrapping we usually use paracord 550, which can be used directly, or gutted (by removing the inner strands before wrapping).

How to make a paracord handle wrap- the steps

Wrapping a handle in paracord does not sound that hard, right? But, there are a few steps in making the handle wrap that you would not consider without some prior experience. So, what are the steps in making a paracord handle wrap?

Let me say a few words on these steps.

Ending the wrap

There are a few ways you can use to finish your paracord handle wrap depending on the knots you know and the number of cords you are using. Because every wrap is different though, it is useful knowing a basic technique that work in most cases. I use the following way of starting/finishing a wrap where I work with only one cord (or example when simply wrapping the handle round and round):

1. I fold the end of the cord  to make a bight which I place at the point I want the wrap to end (the bottom of the grip). This folded piece is as long as I want the wrap to be.
2. I secure the cord using a rubber band or paracord.
3. the top end is placed at where I want the wrap to start.

Shrinking the wrap

Paracord interacts with hot water by shrinking. This is very beneficial when making a wrap because you do not want it to be loose. By shrinking paracord it will grip the handle firmly which is essential.

Waxing it!

Using wax with wraps and grips is amazing! It increases the friction generated by the wrap, which makes your hold on the tool that much more firm. It also protects the paracord from wear and sweat, which does happen when you are using your tools.

There are two ways of waxing paracord, by rubbing it on or melting it and brushing it on. You can read more about using wax with paracord here.

 

That is it! All you need to know before you get into wrapping things in paracord. It is fun and produces beautiful results! I wish you much success and joy working with paracord!