Page 264 - Brion Toss - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

Riding Turns
After you’ve made enough full turns (12 for this
diameter wire) so that the seizing is longer than it
is wide, angle the stick down so that the wire eases
onto the first layer to begin a series of riding turns
(Figure 6-66C). Apply the riding turns snugly too,
but not so much that they displace the round turns
beneath. As you progress, you will note that the
crooked face underneath makes the riding turns lie
horizontal on both faces. Elegant.
The wire should continue to feed smoothly right
to the bottom of the seizing. When you run out of
turns to cover, pinch the bottom turn tightly with
one hand to keep it from slipping, and remove the
seizing stick with the other while your assistant
removes the rigger’s screw.

Frapping Turns Figure 6-66G. The second frapping turn crosses over
Next, one of you hefts a scratch-awl spike and the first at the bottom of the seizing (upper drawing).
pushes it between the two parts of the wire rope, The end then recrosses its own part at the end of the
immediately above then immediately below the seiz- second frapping turn (the top of the seizing). Haul
ing (Figure 6-66D). It may be necessary to pound it this turn taut with the mallet also, again massaging
through with a mallet in order to make holes large slack toward the mallet as you haul.
enough to pass the seizing wire through. Be sure the
flat tip of the spike is vertical so that it will not cut
the service as it goes through. mallet, then use a spike handle or other rounded tool
Pull the spike out and thread the end of the wire to “massage” slack in the frapping turn toward the
into the lower hole (Figure 6-66E). When there’s mallet. Just press down and slide it along the seizing.
just a small bight of wire left on the front face of How hard do you haul on the mallet? Hard
the seizing, fair carefully and take up the rest of the enough to slightly stretch the wire, but not hard
slack sharply to set the wire. Do this by grabbing enough to be in danger of wasting all your work by
onto the wire a couple of feet from the seizing with a breaking the wire. This happens. You just have to
pair of pliers. Keeping tension on the standing part, get to know your own strength and that of the wire.
thread the wire end through the upper hole and once Pinch the seizing again with your hand to hold
more through the lower hole, snapping each time to what you’ve gained, widen the holes a little with the
set the wire. Watch your fingers. little spike if necessary, and pass the end around
Pinching the seizing so that slack can’t work again. Cross over the first frapping turn to bind it
back, bend on your—Mallet de Mer—and take a top and bottom (Figure 6-66G), then apply a bit
light strain (Figure 6-66F), just enough to hold more tallow and heave and massage this second
things in place. Apply a little tallow or shortening frapping turn taut.
where this first frapping turn goes around the cor-
ners of the seizing, then gradually increase the strain Finishing
on the mallet. The wire will flatten and start to move, Work the tip of your spike under the frapping
and as it does your assistant should lightly tap the turns below the seizing wire end. Remove the spike
last riding turn to work any slack in it toward the and thread the wire through the space it made

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