Page 122 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

ally obscured by, is very, very simple. What follows Splicing Wand
are streamlined instructions for several braid splices.
Which splice you use is determined by which rope The best tool for splicing braided rope is the Splic-
construction you select. And that is determined by ing Wand, and I’d say that even if I didn’t invent
it. The Wand is available at some chandleries,
the job you want it to do. (For more on this sub- and from the author. You’ll see it in use in Figures
ject, see the “Characteristics” sidebars in Chapter 4-13, 4-16, and 4-18.
2, pages 25-26) Double-braid is the most com- The Splicing Wand makes the job less intimi-
mon construction, but I strongly urge you to start dating. Once the tool is in the rope, it slides back
to reveal a snare. The snare grabs the tail to be
with the Stropsicle and the 12-Strand Eyesplice, to buried and tucks it.
become familiar with details and technique. That said, you can do these splices using any
As with any knot, a splice is secure if it can tool, including a coat hanger; it just won’t be as
easy. Regardless of which tool you use, be careful
generate enough friction that no amount of jerking to avoid snagging any interior yarns with the tool.
or extreme of load can pull it out. A braid splice
accomplishes this by the Chinese Handcuff princi-
ple, whereby the exterior of the braid compresses on
what’s inside as the load is applied. The only trick
is to be sure you have buried enough tail for that
handcuff effect to work.
As you’ll see, tail length varies depending on
rope material and construction. Just as with three-
strand rope, the stronger and slicker the rope, the
more friction you need for security. But instead of
making extra tucks, you bury extra length. A good
field rule for single- and double-braid Dacron and to tie to. The Stropsicle is a short length of rope,
nylon ropes is to make a splice tail that is 24 times configured to take maximum advantage of the Icicle
the diameter of the rope. And a brilliantly simple Hitch. Start with a piece of ⁄8 -inch double-braid
3
way of calculating it is this: Find the rope diameter Dacron about 6 feet long. Measure 9 inches for the
in sixteenths of an inch, increase the numerator by tail, and form a small eye. Stick a paper clip or
half, and bury the result in inches. If, for example, safety pin through the rope at the middle of the eye.
7
you have ⁄16-inch rope, you’d increase the 7 by half Pull the core out of the rope at both ends of the eye
1
1
and get 10 ⁄2, and your splice tail would be 10 ⁄2 and cut the core ends. The paper clip will hold the
inches long. core in the eye in place (Figure 4-13A).
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If you had ⁄2-inch-diameter rope, that would be Note: The Stropsicle can be made with any-
8 ⁄16 inch. Since 8 plus half itself is 12, you’d bury 12 diameter rope; adjust the splice tail length to suit,
6
3
inches. So then, ⁄8 inch is ⁄16 inch, and 6 plus 3 is using the simple formula described in the introduc-
9; 9 inches is your tail. With this formula, brought to tion to this section for the double-braid splices.
you by Christian Gruyé, my extremely smart spouse,
you’ll never have to deal with the pesky fid lengths Brummel Splice The Brummel Splice provides
that confuse standard instructions. extra security for this strop: Tuck the tail through
the standing part at the end of the eye. Pull the tail
The Stropsicle through until the core fetches up in the hole. Tuck
The Icicle Hitch (Figure 3-12) will hold better than the standing part through the tail right below where
any other knot, but you can maximize its effective- it emerges. Pull it up snug. Figure 4-13B shows a
ness with this first splicing project. The hollow tail Splicing Wand (see sidebar) being used for tucking;
grips tenaciously, while the eye stays open and easy other fids will also work. (See also the double-sheet

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