Page 227 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

thimble just past the seizing. (Figure 6-41B shows tip should be showing (see Figure 6-41E). If, as you
this setup in detail. This setup assumes left-laid travel, strands jump over one another or kink, then
wire, which most 1 x 19 is in the U.S. Reverse things the spike is at the wrong angle, in too far, or both.
if you have right-laid wire). Once you’re at home with entry and shuttling,
Tie the standing part of the wire out horizon- it’s time to prepare the strands. Notice that 1 x 19
tally under light tension, then wrap on the unlaying wire comprises a left-laid outer layer of 12 yarns,
stick against the lay (as shown in Figure 6-41C), a right-laid inner layer of six yarns, and a single,
about 3 feet (0.9 m) from the vise. Take out a single straight heart yarn (Figure 6-39). Nearly all 1 x 19
turn. If the stick is not heavy enough to hold the wire is made this way, though you might stumble
turn with its own weight, brace it securely. across some with opposite lay; if that’s what you
When the stick is set, the lay of the wire should have, mirror-image these directions.
be opened up just a little. If it looks like a loosely The trick is to convert this unspliceable mass
woven basket, you’ve taken out too much lay. The of yarns into six spliceable strands. This is done by
idea is to have it just loose enough for a reasonably dividing the 12 surface yarns into pairs, and match-
easy spike entry. ing each pair with an interior yarn. In the interest
Now for a little spike practice. Stand on the right of a fair entry, we want particular yarns joined with
side of the wire, brace your spike arm against your one another, and tucked into particular points of the
body, lay the tip of the spike on the wire parallel standing part.
with the lay, and with your free hand grip the wire To find the #1 pair, look at the base of the thim-
and the spike as shown in Figure 6-41D. Lean on ble and find the two end yarns that are just to the
the wire, using your free hand’s thumb as a fulcrum right of center where they exit the seizing. That is
to ease the tip down between two surface yarns. your #1 pair for the end. Mark or make note of
Keeping your spike parallel with the lay, roll it up where your #1 end pair should be, then lay out a
and down the wire a few times. This is the shuttling randomly chosen pair from the end. You just might
motion that will send the strands home as you tuck get the right pair (as shown in Figure 6-41B), but
them. Practice keeping the same length of spike in as if you don’t, count how many yarns it is away from
1
you travel—about 1 ⁄2 inches (38 mm) of the spike’s the #1 pair. If it’s an even number, proceed to lay

Figure 6-41D. Entering the spike into the wire.

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