Page 468 - The Ashley Book of Knots

EYE SPLICES (MULTI-STRAND LOOPS)

ing, preferably of lead; for otherwise there is danger of the rope

snapping out and injuring someone. Rope that is temporarily served

with marline is of course much less apt to slip than uncovered wire

rope.

2805. The British Board of Trade specifications (1932) call for an

OVER-ONE-AND-UNDER-ONE WIRE EYE SPLICE. The technique of

handling wire strands has already been discussed somewhat at the end 1\\\\\1

,

of the previous chapter. The ends of all working strands should be

kept taped, or whipped. The rope itself should be strongly stopped

just above the point where the strands are to be stuck. It is well

to serve the rope over for the round of the thimble before the 2803

thimble is seized in. After the heart has been cut out the strands are

-stuck in the order marked on the diagram and pounded with a mallet 2801-

until all lie fair. After sticking as pictured, each strand is tucked

three times more over one and under one, then each alternate strand

only is tucked once, over one tmd under two, which serves to taper 3

the splice. After a thorough pounding with a mallet all ends are cut

short with nippers. Sometimes strands are split and tapered as de-

scribed for Manila splices, in which case the cores are first removed.

I
Finished wire splices should always be covered, as otherwise hands

are bound to be tom on the sharp ends. Sometimes, instead of being

served over, an EYE SPLICE is covered with canvas or else rawhide.

2805"
The seam goes around the outer edge of the eye and the wire beneath

should be painted with thick white lead. The thimble is driven in

with a hammer or a mallet.

2806. This is perhaps the most satisfactory way of sticking an

OVER-ONE-AND-UNDER-ONE WIRE EYE SPLICE. Stick the strands in

the order numbered on the diagram, but after strand 3 is stuck do

not remove the marlingspike until 4 has also been stuck; this should

be under the same strand but in the opposite direction-that is, to

the left. Moreover be careful to observe that, after the end has been ,

opened fan-fashion and strands 1 and 2 have been stuck, strand 3,

which is actually the right-hand strand of the group, is passed to the

left under strands 1 and 2 and is tucked beyond them and to the

right. Strands 4, 5 and 6 are next tucked to the left. Work wire

strands firmly back into the splice but do' not force them sufficiently

2.80&

to kink or bend them out of shape. Half the success of a wire splice

is in a thorough and proper pounding after all tucks have been

made.

Stick the splice four times full. Then stick alternate strtmds once

more over one and under two. Pound, cut off ends and serve over.

2807. An early form of OVER-AND-UNDER WIRE EYE SPLICE, now

seldom seen, was tucked over one and under two. The strands were

tucked full twice, then tapered three quarters, one half, and one

quarter; or else two thirds and one third.

2808. This splice was lost in the shuffle.

2801

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