What should be done to the ends of a cut nylon cord before use?

Burning the ends of a cut nylon cord is a standard practice to prevent fraying and unraveling, which can compromise the integrity of the cord when used. When nylon is exposed to heat, it melts and creates a hardened tip that keeps the fibers from loosening. This is especially important in applications where the cord is subjected to tension or repetitive movement, as frayed ends can lead to failure under load.

While fusing the ends also serves a similar purpose and involves using heat to secure the fibers, the term "burning" is more commonly used in this context, emphasizing the process of melting the nylon with a flame. Seam the ends tends to refer to stitching material together, which is not suitable for nylon cord. Tying the ends would be counterproductive as it could create knots that weaken the cord's strength and doesn't address the issue of fraying. Thus, burning the ends is the most effective and widely accepted method for preparing cut nylon cord for safe and reliable use.