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Thread & Glue Aglet
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Binding the lace end with thread and glue produces a very strong aglet. It's a small version of
whipping, which is used on larger ropes.
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Step 1:
Hold the end of the lace in a vise or locking pliers so that it can be pulled taut. Place a piece of strong thread
alongside the shoelace and fold it back on itself. |
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Step 2:
Bind the long end of the thread tightly around the shoelace for about 15 mm (1/2 inch), working back
towards the vise or locking pliers. Make sure that part of the original loop is still protruding out the right
side of the binding. |
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Step 3:
Feed the long end of the thread through the protruding loop. Don't pull it completely tight - leave a small amount
of slack. |
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Step 4:
Whilst holding the bound section firmly, pull the other loose end of thread, which is protruding out the left side.
This will tighten the loop of thread around the loose end on the right side. |
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Step 5:
Here's where the "magic" occurs that hides the loose ends: Continue pulling the left end of thread until the right
end is pulled
underneath the coiled section. Stop when the right end is about mid-way through through the coiled section. |
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Step 6:
Using a sharp knife or scissors, carefully snip off the protruding ends. The excess shoelace can also be trimmed
to length. |
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Step 7:
Finish by coating the thread with one or two layers of general purpose glue or nail polish. Glue can also be used
either before or during the binding for additional strength and security. |
What Sort of Glue?
Preferably choose a glue with an acetone based solvent, such as "Tarzan's Grip", "Elmer's Clear Household Cement"
or "Britfix Balsa Cement", just to name a few. These will dry clear, hard and waterproof, as opposed to the PVA
based glues such as "Aquadhere" or "Elmer's Glue-All", which are not as hard and are only water resistant. You can
tell the difference by their look and smell - acetone based glues are clear and have a strong petro-chemical smell,
whilst PVA glues are milky white and smell mildly acetic. |
