DIY Projects

Want to become a craft tool reviewer for DIYProjects.com?
Enter your email address for a chance!

DIY Projects » Create and Decorate » Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist

Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist

Paracord-Projects-How-to-make-a-Giant-Monkey-Fist

By 42 Comments

Paracord-Projects-How-to-make-a-Giant-Monkey-Fist-pool-ball
Paracord Projects: Make a Giant Paracord Monkey Fist with A Pool Ball

A paracord monkey fist is beneficial to carry on you for survival and self defense purposes. It's super easy to conceal and carries enough power to slow down any attacker.

In this tutorial you'll learn how to make a paracord monkey fist using a pool ball! This giant monkey fist weighs in at a hefty 6 ounces!

How to make a giant paracord monkey fist using a pool ball:

Supplies you need:

  • pool ball
  • 18ft 550 paracord in a color that you want to be the main color
  • 10ft 550 Paracord in a color that you want to be the compliment color
  • 8ft 550 paracord in a color that you want for your lanyard and handle
  • Monkey Fist Jig
  • scissors
  • lighter or matches

Need supplies? Check out my recommendations at the end of this post

Free Paracord Bracelet - FireKable by DIY Projects

Monkey Fist Instructions

Step 1: How to Connect Paracord

To get started, we will need to connect both pieces of paracord at the ends so we have one single strand to make our monkey fist:
paracord-monkey-fist
Take the ends of both your major and minor paracord. In this case, we are using black 550 paracord as our major color and grey 550 paracord as our minor color.
paracord-monkey-fist
Cut the ends.

 

Step 2: Melting Ends of Paracord

Take both ends, melt them using your lighter and press them together.
diy-projects-paracord-projects
Take both ends, melt them using your lighter and press them together.

Step 3: How to Make A Monkey Fist: Starting

Now, let's get started weaving the monkey fist!
Grab your jig and line up your paracord so the the merged part is lined up in the center on the inside of the two pegs closest to you.
550-paracord-projects
You will want your major color on the right and your minor color on the left.

Step 4: How to Weave A Monkey Fist

Start the weave with your minor color. Holding the black strand in you right hand so it's kept in place, use your left hand to wrap the grey strand out and around the four pegs in a counter-clockwise fashion. This counts as one loop.
You will repeat this 9 more times until you have completed 11 loops.
diy-survival
Wrap the grey strand out and around the four pegs in a counter-clockwise fashion.
how-to-make-a-monkey-fist
This is how it should look once you've completed wrapping 11 times.

 

make-monkey-fist
Make a single loop around the peg in order to keep the grey strand in it's place.

 

Step 5: Wrapping Monkey Fist Loops

Keeping those loops in tact, place the pool ball in the center and hold it in place with your hand.
monkey-fist-instructions
Place the pool ball in the center. Start to wrap the black cord up and over the grey loops.

Step 6: Wrapping Alternate Monkey Fist Loops

Repeat Step 4 with the black strand (your major color). You will wrap it clockwise, making sure it goes on the outside of the grey(minor color) cord. Once you've wrapped it around 11 times, your ball should be able to sit in the middle without you holding it.

Helpful Hint: As you wrap your paracord to make your monkey fist knot, do your best to keep each loop next to each other and not overlapping any other loops. This will make it easier for you when you start to tighten your monkey fist.

How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist
Loop the black paracord counter-clockwise around the outside of the grey paracord.
monkey-fist-tutorial
Keep wrapping like this, going around the pool ball in the center.
dyi-projects
Wrap until you have gone around 11 times.

Step 7: Complete the Monkey Fist Loops

Now we are going to complete the last set of loops, continuing with the black strand. This time, we will weave the strand so it is on the inside of the grey loops but around the black loops we just made.
Be sure to use this series of loops to contain the pool ball. Just like the previous steps, you will wrap it around 11 times.
paracord-projects
Grab the end of your black paracord.
monkey-fist-step-by-step
Thread it up and inside the grey loops.
homemade-survival-weapons
Thread it over the black loops then back down on the inside of the grey. These loops will be hugging the pool ball.
diy-survival-weapons
Thread it back under the pool ball.
cool-survival-project
Bring it behind the pool ball and inside the grey loops.
hot-diy-projects
Repeat until you've made 11 loops.

Make A Monkey Fist

 

 

Step 8: Remove the Monkey Fist from Jig and Tighten Loops

You have now formed your monkey fist knot! Now you are going to remove it carefully from the jig and start tightening. As you go through and start tightening, it is important that you do not make anything too tight for the first round.
This is a slow process that you will have to repeat a couple of times to gradually get your Monkey's Fist as tight as you want it. If you tighten too much too early, you will end up causing the cords to over lap. This is especially important for the loops on each ‘edge' – if you pull these too tight, you will begin to pinch the loops underneath together, making it very difficult to keep your monkey fist neat and even.
Take your time at this phase, and try to maintain symmetry all around your knot.
Remove your monkey's fist from the jig.
Remove your monkey's fist from the jig.

Step 9:

Starting with the grey paracord at the corner where you made your first loop, pull the complimentary side up gently to tighten the corner.
Follow the strand around the fist, continuing to tighten.
Follow the strand around the fist, continuing to tighten.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist25
Start tightening the loops. Be patient, this is a slow process.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist26
Follow the cord around the ball and continue to pull and tighten.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist27
Continue all around the ball, it should start to look like this.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist28
Continue along the ball starting with the black cord. You will have to go around a couple of times to get the monkey fist nice and tight.

Step 10: Lanyard and Handle

 Now let's start to make your lanyard and handle. To do this, you will first make a diamond knot with the two pieces of cord hanging out of the monkey fist.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist29
To start the diamond knot, align the two cords next to each other.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist30
Take the black strand and make a loop over itself.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist31
Bring the grey strand under the black loop, over the top of the black strand then back under the black strand.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist32
Now thread the grey strand over the bottom part of the black loop, underneath itself then back over the top part of the black loop.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist33
Pull the grey strand slightly to tighten the loops. (Just slightly)
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist34
Pull the grey strand around and under pulling up through the center of the black loop. Make sure you end up on tom of the other grey strand that is there.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist35
When you pull it a little tighter, this is what your knot should be looking like.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist36
Now let's go back to your black strand. Grab the end of it.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist37
Loop the black strand on the left side of the knot, over the grey strand and under all the other pieces, pull it up through the center of the knot just like you did with the grey strand.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist38
This is what it should look like. Now, carefully start tightening the knot. Pull the strands one by on to get the diamond knot closer to the base of the Monkey Fist.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist39
This is how your diamond knot should look.

Step 11: How to Make A Paracord Lanyard

Now that you've made your diamond knot, let's move on to creating your lanyard.
To do this, we will tie a seesaw knot. Grab your third piece of paracord (8ft piece) and fold it in half to get started:
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist40
Fold your third piece(the 8ft piece) of paracord in half to make a loop.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist41
Thread the loop around the grey cord.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist42
Now grab the black cord on the right.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist43
Thread it behind the grey loop and up through the new piece.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist44
Pull all four strands to tighten. You will always start with the strand that is the highest up. So, the next strand that you will work with, is the black one on the top left.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist45
Now, grab the top left black strand from your new piece.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist46
Do the same as you did before and wrap it behind and up through the center of the right two pieces (the grey and black strands).
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist47
Bring it back to the left side. Pull all four strands to tighten. Now the grey strand is the highest strand, so this will be the next one you work with.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist48
Wrap the grey strand back behind.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist49
Then pull the grey strand through the middle of the left two strands.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist50
Pull the grey strand back to the right side, and pull all four strands to tighten.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist51
Continue to repeat those steps until you have reached your desired length.

Step 12: How to Make the Paracord Handle

Make your lanyard as long as you want. Now let's make the handle using the cobra weave:
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist52
Keep your black and grey strands that came out of your monkey fist as the center piece of your cobra weave. Pull your remaining black pieces of cord to opposite sides.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist53
Starting with the left piece, pull it under the center pieces and over the right strand.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist54
Take the right strand over the center pieces, then over and through the loop on the left side.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist55
Tighten the first knot. Now repeat with the right strand. Bring it under the center piece and over the left piece.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist56
Take the left strand over the centerpieces and down through the loop on the right side.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist57
Pull to tighten. This is what your cobra weave should be looking like.
How-to-make-a-giant-monkey-fist58
Continue on down until you've reached your desired handle size. Finish the ends by cutting and burning. Make a knot with the black and grey center strands and cut and burn as well.

Want more cool projects? Join our mailing list and be the first to know about our latest and greatest.

 

Like this post?

Be sure to like us on Facebook (button below) so you can be the first to know about latest project updates as well as great DIY articles.

 

Check out all of our Paracord Posts Here:

Looking for a list of Cool Paracord Projects?

How To Make A Paracord Dog Collar

How To Make A Snare Trap With Paracord

 How To Make A Monkey Fist

How To Make A Paracord Keychain

How To Make A Belt Using Paracord 

How To Make A Paracord Bracelet List

Ready to get started? Here are our top picks for supplies:

Pool Balls- sets

I recommend you buy a set. You get 16 and can share with friends, or make some of these and sell them on EBAY.

Pool Table Billiard Ball Set by Felson Billiard SupplyCheck out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/

Check out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/Check out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/

Pool Table Billiard Ball Set, Art Number StyleCheck out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/

Check out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/Check out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/

Pool Balls- individual

# 8 Ball Regulation Size 2 1/4″ Pool Table Billiard ReplacementCheck out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/

Check out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/Check out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/

Various Lengths of Paracord

Check out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/Check out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/
550 Paracord – Five Colors 100 Feet TotalCheck out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/
Check out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/Check out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/
Rothco Type III Commercial Paracord (Black, 550-Pound/100-Feet)Check out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/

 

Monkey Fist Steel Centers

1″ Steel Ball Bearings

Check out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/Check out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/
Avler™ 1″ (25.4mm) Chrome Steel Bearing Balls for Paracord Monkey Fist Center (Pack of 10)Check out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/

Key Rings for Your Monkey Fist

Check out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/Check out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/
KEY-BAK #500 Premium Quick Release, Pull Apart Key Accessory with 2 Split RingsCheck out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/

Monkey Fist Jigs-

NOTE: these will not be big enough for a pool ball, but will work to make smaller monkey fists

Check out this post to make a monkey fist that uses these jigs

How To Make A Paracord Monkey Fist

 

***Want a jig like mine? Let me know in the comments if you might be interested in a kit for this!***

I will also be posting a tutorial soon on how to make a monkey fist jig

Check out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/

Jig Pro Shop® Multi-Monkey Fist Paracord Tool Jig ~ Make Monkey Fists From 5/8″ Thru 1 3/4″Check out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/

Check out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/

Check out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/Check out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/

The Multi-Monkey fist Jig for Monkey Fists from 5/8″ up to 1 3/4″Check out Paracord Projects: How to make a Giant Monkey Fist at https://diyprojects.com/make-giant-monkey-fist/

 

Good luck! Hope you learned how to make a monkey fist!

Comments

  1. Mike says

    I really wish you would warn your readers that carrying a slungshot or “monkey’s fist” is a felony in many states.

    Reply

    • Bob says

      Trust me, that’s not the way we tie a monkey’s fist in the Navy. You can google and find out how to very easily. Normal monkey’s fist will only have 3-4 wraps when finished weaving needs a center weight less than half the size of a cue ball.

      Reply

    • Gene Read says

      I would Like to Buy 1 of each already done ( arthritis in fingers ) or a set of plans
      thanks Please advise
      Gene Read

      Reply

  10. Shirley says

    I would like to make the monkey fist using the pool all… Iam interested in the jig to make these… Is it possible to buy one already made as a pattern?

    Reply

  14. Joshua Chronstedt Englar says

    All the links to the images are broken so you cant see any of the instructions. It would be awesome if you could reupload the images, would love to take on this project. 🙂

    Reply

Trackbacks

Leave a Reply

DIY Projects
4330 Gaines Ranch Rd. Suite 120
Austin, Texas, 78735
Email Support: [email protected]
Phone: 512-366-3332

%d bloggers like this: