Page 226 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

Figure 6-41C. Rope tail and unlaying stick applied
to standing part. Note that the wire has been slightly
unlaid. The inset sketch shows a quick-to-make Basically, these tail lengths are about what
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unlaying stick. The setup is for right-laid wire; most they’d be for 7 x 7 wire that was ⁄8" bigger. These
1 x 19 is left-laid. lengths will give you a comfortable length of wire to
work with while splicing, although you might find
as you gain proficiency that you prefer to work with
Scratch awls (Figure 6-40B) make perfect mar- more or less wire than suggested here.
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lingspikes for wire up to ⁄16 inch (8 mm) in diame- To apply the seizing, wrap a 1-foot (0.30-m)
ter. Snap-On’s large scratch awl has a notably supe- length of seizing wire onto the 1 x 19 wire, in our
rior taper. File the tip flat for easier entry into the case 1 foot 3 inches from the end. Wrap tightly,
lay of the wire. against the lay, covering the short end with the
A rope tail and an unlaying stick (shown in Fig- working part, until the seizing is approximately
ure 6-41C), optional for yacht-sized 6 x 7 wire, are square. Then twist the two ends around one another
essential for working with ornery 1 x 19 wire. to make a “pigtail.” Tighten this pigtail with a pair
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You’ll also need nippers, pliers, a hardwood or of pliers, nip off all but ⁄2 inch (12 mm) or so, and
soft-metal mallet, and—please—a pair of safety then press the tail down against the wire as shown
glasses. in Figure 6-41A. Note that it points away from the
end of the wire rope.
The Splice Secure the vise at elbow height, and open its
The first step is to put on a wire seizing a short dis- jaws as wide as they will go. Measure the circumfer-
tance from one end to serve as a stop for unlaying ence of your thimble—not in the score, but around
strands. The distances for yacht-sized wires are as its outer edge—and make a mark on the wire half
follows: this distance above the seizing. Bend the wire by
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1 ⁄8" and ⁄16" 1' (0.30 m) hand at this point, so that the tail of the seizing is
(3.5 mm and 5 mm) on the inside of the curve. Bend it just enough so
1 ⁄4" (6.5 mm) 1'3" (0.38 m) that you can horse it into the vise (end on the left
5 ⁄16" (8 mm) 1'4" (0.41 m) as you’re facing the vise). Put the thimble in place,
3 ⁄8" (9.53 mm) 1'6" (0.46 m) and crank the jaws in until there’s no slack around
7 ⁄16" (11 mm) 1'8" (0.51 m) the thimble, with the seizing just outboard of the left
1 ⁄2" (12 mm) 1'11" (0.58 m) hand jaw, and the hollow at the pointed end of the

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