Boot laces – new/repair ends

Heat shrink tubing on laces! Good show.

For help remembering the correct name for shoe lace ends:

It's funny that I never knew what an aglet was, or even recall hearing the word aglet, until seeing that Phineas and Ferb episode. Now I hear it mentioned all over the place.

BM

Ken: Thanks. I do a lot of heat-shrink tubing, but hadn't ever known the super glue trick.

The other technique I use at times is to burn the end, letting it catch fire for a while. Then WHILE WEARING A LEATHER GLOVE!!!!, I roll the molten nylon in a fold of wax paper to make an aglet / tip / sealed end. I roll it so the hardened tip is somewhat narrower than the cord itself so it is easier to thread through holes.

If it ends up with a hard sharp tip on it, I round it off with sand paper or expose it for a second to a flame and surface-tension causes it to smooth out.

And this technique? You can do it on the trail with a mini-Bic and two pieces of tree bark.

"An aglet (or aiglet) is a small plastic or metal sheath typically used on each end of a shoelace, cord, or drawstring. An aglet keeps the fibers of the lace or cord from unraveling; its firmness and narrow profile make it easier to hold and easier to feed through the eyelets, lugs, or other lacing guides." -Wikipedia

Who knew?

David, I use the same technique on all synthetic twine or rope except I use a damp rag, it seems to cool the melted material and shape it at the same time.

I also (when I have time) whip finish the shoe lace ends. I usually use embroidery thread ( I think that is what I had around the first time I did it, so it stuck).

You can see in the pictures below, I now try and match the shoe lace. The older red/green is on my old leather hiking boots, I did that one back in 1980, so yes I think whipping lasts pretty well.