After several years of selling a 4mm steel screw thread needle and many requests for a larger needle to use with larger cords. I finally had some made in 4mm and 5mm and 6mm diameters. The 4mm and 5mm work well for 550 paracord. With the larger sizes you can use some of the larger cotton and synthetics cords.
I had the threads of the 5mm and 6mm needles made to a depth of 1/2 inch for better holding power. So as of today they do exist.
Marty
Hi Marty,
Do you treat the ends of the paracord before you thread it into the needle?
When I melt the ends on paracord, I get a little lump that holds onto the threads of my home-made needles, but I often have to use a size up to get the threads to start. I made my needles from hollow knitting needles, and ran a tap into them. The wall thickness of the needle is very thin, but they are effective.
With cotton cord, I tape the ends with masking tape, which makes a nice taper that threads into the needles quite well. It is important to have a variety of sizes to be able to use the correct needle on the correct material.
I use this method to attach the paracord to the needle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKS14fIL09k
I’ve tried the method that some people do and use their fingers but I get burned to much that way.
If you use the medical tape like on a bandaid on the ends of cotton cord that works well to screw it in. Masking tape works also but after someone showed me the rubber bandaid tape I have used that ever since. It’s hard to find though.
Do you use right-hand thread or left-hand?
I have made screw thread needles in metric M-threads from M2 up to M12 for several years, but only use right-hand thread. (Left-hand thread taps do exist - but the prices are way over my budget…)
Lasse C
I think that they are right hand threads I know that when I screw the cord into the needles I twist it to the right.