Page 52 - Barbara Merry - The Splicing Handbook

To taper the end of the coat, work toward the fid from R, and count off seven
sets of picks, or parallel ribs, that run clockwise; mark this spot with a T.
Continue toward the fid, marking every seventh pair with a dot so you will know
where to cut.

Now go back to the R, this time marking the counterclockwise picks for
tapering. To offset the tapering on these picks, mark your first dot at the fourth
pair. From there, mark every seventh counterclockwise pair until you reach the
fid.
Remove the fid and the tape. Cut and remove a single strand at each marked

pick along the coat.
While holding the core, pull the coat until the T shows beyond the two hash
marks. Take care not to lose the end of the tapered coat into the core.

For extra strength, the core end should be drawn through the coat, past the
throat of the splice, and into the standing part of the rope. Measure from the X
toward the slip knot one short half of the tubular fid; label this spot with a Z.
Tape the pinched end of the core into the hollow fid end. Insert it into the coat
at the T and work it through the coat as far as you can without a struggle.
Depending on the size of the eye, the fid may not reach the necessary exit point
in one pass. If this happens, bring the fid out of the coat, pulling some of the core
with it. Then simply reinsert the fid into the same hole and work it farther

through the coat. Continue this snaking process until the fid exits at the Z. Be
sure not to snag any strands of coat with the fid at reentry points.