Does anyone know a safe way of melting the ends of ribbon or cord to stop it fraying, no candles or lighters as I am scared of such things?

Saw a thread burner on Ebay but the seller hasn't got back to me re it's suitability for this task.

Thanks in advance.

Don't know about something to melt it.  But I've used clear nail varnish to seal frayed ends.  Any good?

Thanks Jean

Yes seen that mentioned and something called Fray Check but with wear and tear don't know how permanent either would be.

There are ends you can clip over but they wouldn't work for my projects.

You could try super glue,but it would depend on the fabric as some things are impossible to super glue. Or you could try one of the craft glues but I dont know the names of them, sorry.

When I've used ribbon for various crafty things, I've also used clear nail polish. Does the job and cheap ;)

A hot or hottish iron should melt it, it may be an idea to try putting an old bit of cotton cloth over what you want to melt as sometimes the direct heat from an iron can change the colour. Another idea my daughter has used when making paracord leads is to use a soldering iron. 

Thanks

Yes I thought of a soldering iron and a ruler for the ribbon but the tip looked too small for the cord unless there are extra bits you can apply to make it work.

Keep the ideas coming.

Cant help I am afraid but your comment re lighters and candles is interesting I have never met anyone else that is worried by them  :) I can manage candles if the are by my ideas very safely standing some where .  Find it difficult to light them. As for lighters NO ! mind my fear extends to all things fire related
sorry for going off thread

Also going off thread, my son has a thing about matches. He just can't strike one. I think its the sudden spark of flame. If he does manage it, he drops the match!! Always have to be around when he attempts it, in case he sets the carpet on fire :)

My son would stay over night at a fellow nurses house whilst I was at work, one morning I went to pick him up and there were no adults in the house, 5 kids including my son who was about 10, one toddler running around, one new born in her pram, an 11yr old with mild cerebral palsy and a 15yr old, the latter was in the shower, Dad had gone to pick Mum up from her second job,there were lit candles everywhere because the electric had run out, I went nuts and went round blowing them all out, took my son and went home, I later discovered that this wasn't the first time this had happened and that the 15yr old had been told to remove them when daylight came in and before I arrived.

I had words later and he never stayed there again.

I nursed several burn victims over the years, kids and adults and the damage can never be undone.

Things can catch light so easily so don't want to risk it.

I fully understand the nursing of burns victims> I could go on for ages about how I avoid things to do with fire burns etc no foundation really in my life but almost to phobic levels. I call it a strong sense of survival LOL but it can be abit irrational at times have to talk myself to be sensible :) I have it a bit more control these days partly due to trying to rational for my kids sake. Well managed that neither of them have a problem and when people say why have you never tried smoking? well apart from all the usual reasons why on earth would I put a fire stick in my mouth and how would I light it any way ???
Nearly lost my professionality one day when one of our students flashed a lighter in my face oh boy did I tell him what I thought ( no swearing I add )
I understand your boys response Rocknose I am onlya bit better and hand over anything like this to others if I can. Also cook on a ceramic hob cant manage electric oh dear reading this I sound quite mad !
anyway sorry Rhodach this hasnt helped you at all 

I have found a gas operated soldering iron kit which has interchangeable heads and a hot knife so going to give that a go as it should work on cord and ribbon to melt it.