Buckles, rings and hardware
Hardware decides how a piece opens, how it adjusts and how it fails. It is worth as much attention as the weave.
Fastenings
- Side release buckles in plastic or metal, the default for bracelets and collars
- Shackles for a heavier look and for pieces meant to be taken apart
- Belt buckles for woven belts
- Trigger hooks and swivels for leads
Rings and loops
D rings carry the tag and the lead. O rings and square rings act as joins. Tri-glides hold the adjustment. Each of them has a width, and mixing widths within one piece is the most common building error.
Materials
Plastic is light and quiet, and it releases under load, which for a cat collar is the point. Metal is stronger and heavier; on a large dog it is the sensible choice, and on a small one it is a nuisance around the neck.
Buying
Buckles and fittings are grouped here: buckles (https://www.123paracord.co.uk/paracord-buckles/) and supplies and accessories (https://www.123paracord.co.uk/paracord-supplies-and-accessories/).