Shock cord whipping connection with silicone rubber
Connection of braided cord to shock cord or bungee cord to make a smooth tangle-free whipped connection with silicone rubber.
Light shock cord is a valuable, cheap and versatile product for DIY backpacking gear. It is abundantly and cheaply available by the meter, in various thicknesses from most boating shops or chandlers. Often a simple or double knot is all that is needed to form a stop or a connection point on the ends of the shock cord.
The method described here is for situations where a smooth connection between a light cord and the shock cord is required to prevent the ‘catching’ and tangling that would otherwise be caused by the presence of knots. I use this silicone rubber whipping method for tent guy lines that are left in place for convenience and speed of erection and pack up (laziness). They also can be used to make stretch fittings on gators and pack covers where knots are also not welcome.
The shock cord whipping
Preparation
I start by putting a simple knot in the nylon cord. Then I stretch the shock cord as much as possible as shown in the photo below. Then with simple loops and a knot, I tie the cord to the shock cord beside the knot. This is now ready for the whipping with glued thread. Quality sewing thread will do, but I use discarded braided fishing line as it is very strong and glues well. “If you don’t go fishing or have friend that goes fishing, the little boxes placed on piers for safe disposal of lines and hooks often have such fishing line in them.”
Next, the binding of the union is continued and acetic cure RTV silicone rubber is generously smeared onto the union and the whipping thread.
Cover the whipping with a sheath of stretch fabric cut from nylon stockings or pantyhose. It too should be impregnated with the RTV silicone rubber. It should be run up and over the end of the union between the nylon cord and the bungee cord so that there is no ‘catch point’.
Lastly, the union can be coated in a little more silicone rubber and then wrapped tightly in cling wrap to allow the silicone rubber to set with a smooth finish onto the nylon cord.
[Add a photo of a finished tent guy cord with bungee]
Keep the line tight and stay tangle-free.
Tim
