Your D.E.W.C. comes as a completely assembled survival kit, or just by itself, so you
can add your own items that meet your requirements. Either way, you're going to want to learn how to wrap the D.E.W.C.
in case you ever need to use it and re-use it in the field.
Start with a 12ft. length of 550 parachute cord. You can use whatever you prefer, but it's hard
to beat the versatility of paracord. Make sure you've properly burned and sealed the ends to prevent the cut cord
from unravelling and grasp the cord about 2 feet from the end with your thumb and index finger. Place this point against
the ridge at the end of your D.E.W.C. over the fishing line.
The 2 ft. mark is going to be the bottom point of one lead of your lanyard. Hold the 2ft. mark against
the ridge near the end cap on one end of your D.E.W.C. and wrap in the direction of this fishing line and
tape. We wrap the entire D.E.W.C. counterclockwise. Be sure the entire wrap is making contact
with your D.E.W.C. but do not attempt to pull the cord tight at this time.
After you've made 4 wraps, push the wraps tightly up against the ridge of the D.E.W.C.
Start putting a little tension on the next wrap. After the 5th wrap, it's time to really pull on the cord and make
the wraps as tight as you can. Continue working the wraps as tight and as close together as you can. Every now
and then you need to hold your wrap tight with one hand and with your thumb nail or a dull instrument, systematically shift
the wraps so they are pressed against each other leaving no tiny gaps.
It's a good idea to stop at the halfway point and try to shift the wraps you've made so far as tightly
as you can against the ridge at your starting point. Once you are satisfied that your wraps are tight and there are
no gaps between them, continue wrapping in the same manner until you run out of space.
Here's the point where a picture is worth a thousand words! At this time, you should have a
concealed lead and an untied wrap. Hold the wrap tightly and make one last shift of the entire length of wraps making
sure to pack them tightly against one another. Once you are satisfied, pull the last wrap as tightly as you can muster,
so it lodges between the ridge and the last wrap. Then tie a half knot in the last wrap so that
when it's pulled tight, it's exactly opposite the concealed lead.
Carefully unwrap the last wrap just enough to place your thumb on the next wrap in line exactly beneath
where the half granny knot was. Remember to keep tension on the top wrap until your finger is holding the next
wrap in line. Once your finger is holding the next wrap, make a loop with the top wrap and
insert the end of the live lead through creating a half knot with the D.E.W.C. penetrating the loop
and pull it tight. You will need to make sure the last wrap is in its groove between the ridge and the next wrap.
You can help to tighten it by using your thumb and pushing the half knot in the same direction
as you're pulling the wrap to tighten it.
Be sure to alternate tightening the wrap and pulling the live lead back against the wrap to shorten the
distance between the existing half knot and the stop knot you are going to tie. (photo right)
When you are satisfied, tie another half knot and force it as tight as possible against the cord between
the two half knots. Keep tension on the cord as you are doing this. If the knot wobbles a bit, it's not tight
enough. You may have to loosen the knot and change the direction of the loop for the half knot 180 degrees if you continue
having trouble. Once the knot feels tight, pull the cord and tighten the last wrap as securely as possible.
Tie the two leads together to make your lanyard. Your finished D.E.W.C. is now ready for action.
