KnotWorx
Finishing Touches
Once you've got a piece of braiding to the point where you are now ready to do something with those loose ends you've been working with, we need to know how to finish it off.
First, make sure all ends are pulled as tight as possible.
Finishing typically involves cutting excess paracord off, either with sharp scissors or utility knife. You want to leave about 1/4" (10 - 12mm).
The next step is where an electric soldering gun comes in handy, but if one isn't available a lighter or candle could be used - BUT VERY CAREFULLY.
What you want to do is melt the end of each cord enough that it sticks to the other strands. Once in place, AND STILL HOT, use the back of a spoon or similar tool to meld it with the other strands, and smooth out any rough edges.
If you don't do these finishing steps, your project will likely unravel and come apart - not what we want.