OUR LADY OF GRACE ROSARIES

Paracord and Fishing Net Twine

About Paracord & Cord (Fishing Net Twine)

Our Lady of Guadalupe Paracord Rosary, we have more handmade rosaries for sale in the store.

We use both Paracord and fishing net twine for our rosaries. Each has different features and design options.

About Paracord and Cord (Fishing Net Twine)

Origins

FISHING NET TWINE: The idea of twisting fibers together originated circa 2800 BC. Twisted twine was the original type of cord used for strung rosaries.  The first twine made with nylon was in the early 1950s.  The photo is an example of a rosary knotted with fishing net twine.

PARACORD has its name from its origins. It was a suspension cord for World War II parachutes before it was a craft cord. About a decade ago, a rosary designer in Texas came up with the idea to make Paracord rosaries. Now they are available worldwide.  

How They Compare

Paracord & Fishing Net Twine: Comparing cord and knot sizes.
TYPE
WIDTH
STRENGTH
Micro
1.18mm
50 pounds
#9 T
1.14mm
84 pounds
95 P
1.75mm
95 pounds
#36 T
2.28mm
300 pounds
550 P
4mm
550 pounds

Matching the Cord & Beads

The size and construction of the cord have different design options.  For example, Micro Paracord is the only one that fits through gemstone bead holes.  Although it is thicker than #9 twine, it is more flexible.  Number 9 twine works well with all sizes of Euro Wood beads. 550 Paracord only works with specialty-cut large-hole beads.

St. Michael Paracord Rosary, we have more rosaries for sale in the store.

Construction

Nylon fibers are the base material of both types of cords. Both start with tightly twisted 3-ply nylon yarn. Nylon has the highest strength and shock absorbency of any synthetic rope.  It is weather-resistant, resists fraying, feels smooth, and holds its knots well. 

The main difference is the cord construction. Fishing Net Twine holds the strands together by twisting them. Paracord has a braided sheath or tube that holds the 3-ply twisted nylon cords together.  As a result, the Paracord is thicker.   The photo shows a rosary knotted with 95 Paracord.

Quality

We only use American-made Paracord. Overseas manufacturers make a cheaper version. For example, 95 Paracord looks the same, but the quality does not compare. The inner core has 2-ply instead of 3-ply yarn. I repaired a rosary made with the overseas cord, and it was frayed, stretched out, and broken apart.  The rosary in the photo has our quality American-made paracord.

Paracord Rosary on a worn wood sidewalk at the beach.
Small Olive Wood Cord Rosary: We have more handmade rosaries for sale.

Strength

Tensile strength measures the weight that a straight length of cord can support.  No. 9 twine (84 pounds) is a close second to 95 Paracord (95 pounds).  550 Paracord (550 pounds) stands above the crowd for resistance.  

Once knotted to make a rosary, its strength is reduced by about 25%. Our metal components will also affect the overall endurance of the rosary. Yet it still has more than enough durability for the function of a rosary.

What We Noticed

PRICE:  Rosaries made with fishing net twine are less costly than Paracord rosaries.

TEXTURE:  Twisted fishing net twine has a solid, smooth, and textured feel.  Paracord has a smooth, woven design.

COLOUR:  We have found that both Paracord and fishing net twine will fade slightly with use.  If exposed to harsh chemicals, like hand sanitizer, it is more noticeable.

Is a Paracord Rosary right for you? (A guy holding a Paracord Rosary at the beach.)

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Handmade Catholic items by Our Lady of Grace Rosaries are designed to be cherished and built to endure.

CREDITS

The LOGO image of Our Lady of Grace is original artwork by Martin Lariviere in 2009. We have the artist’s permission (my son). It is our exclusive trademark logo image.

A beautifully photographed sky by Donald Tong inspired the website’s colour scheme. Cropped portions of it are the background for the footer Bible quote. He shared it as a free download on pexels.com.

Raphael painted The Sistine Madonna circa (1513-1514). We made circular cut-outs from the original image.

We referred to https://www.ramblinjim.com/articles/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-paracord/ for more information.

Our information is from general knowledge, experience, and shared internet resources. We’d like you to use it as a starting point for your research to verify facts and build a reference list.

IN REVIEW
What is the difference between Paracord and other cord?

Paracord has a braided sheath or tube that holds straight inner strands of nylon yarn together.  Other twines hold strands together by twisting them.

What is the true strength of a Paracord rosary?

550 Paracord will hold 550 pounds on a straight length of cord.  95 Paracord holds 95 pounds.  Once knotted to make a rosary, its strength is reduced by about 25%.  The durability of the metal Crucifix and center medal is another factor that reduces its strength.  Overall, it still has more than enough durability for the function of a rosary.

OUR LADY OF GRACE ROSARIES