Page 90 - Eric C. Fry - Knots and Ropework

50 The long splice in wire is made on the same basic principle as
that of rope and for the same reason, namely to join two ends in
such manner that the diameter of the wire is not increased at the
Long Splice join and it is thus suitable for working over a sheave.
It may be said that it consists of two stages: the unlaying and
IWirel replacement of corresponding strands. which is comparatively
simple, once the principle is understood; and the tucking away of
the tail ends, which is the secret of good long-splicing. The
former is shown in Figs 1 to 6 and the latter (which also applies
to the grommet, Knot 51), in Figs 7 to 14.
Again, as with rope, the splice depends solely on friction for its
stability, but a much longer splice is required when working with
wire.
The accepted standard for the total length of the splice is 10ft for
every one eighth of an inch of the diameter. This does not provide
for the tail ends, for which a further 6in per one eighth of
diameter is allowed.
It is assumed that the wire illustrated is one inch diameter, in
w hich case the total length of the splice would be 88ft and as it is
impossible to photograph such lengths without a complete loss of
detail, the splice has been done in miniature and the reader must
envisage the true lengths involved.
A temporary w hipping is put on each of the two wires 44ft from
their respective ends, all strands are un laid back to these points
and the hearts cut out, Fig 1.
The strands are interwoven on the same principle as those of rope
in the short splice (Knot 32, Fig 1 L until all are meshing
alternately, when the two wires are brought together until the
ends of the hearts meet and the six pairs of strands are married,
Fig 2, when the whipping is removed.
As with the long splice in rope (Knot 33L one corresponding pair
of wires is selected, that of the right hand w ire un laid for a
distance of 40ft and that of the left, carefully laid back in its place,
when 4ft of its length remains at the 40ft mark.
The unlaid right-hand strand is cut to the same length and the
first pair of tails, each 4ft long, established 40ft away from the
point of marry (the centre of the splice) as Fig 3. The next
adj acent, corresponding pair of strands are now worked in the
same manner and the second pair of ends, both cut to 4ft long,
established 28ft from the marrying point, Fig 4. The process is
repeated w ith the third pair of strands, resulting in the third pair
of tails, cu t to length as before, 16ft from the centre, Fig 5.
The whole process is repeated to the left of centre resulting in a
further three pairs of tails being established and the whole
appears as Fig 6, with six pairs of tails, each 4ft long and the
distances between them being 12, 12,32, 12, and 12ft
respectively. This completes the basic splice and it only remains
10 tuck away the tail ends.
Each tail is served for its full length with marline or soft wire to
increase the diameter of the strand to approximately that of the
heart, Fig 7.
Again for photographic purposes the tails are shown in miniature
and the reader is rem inded that they are in fact 4ft long.
The heart is exposed and lifted, Fig 8, cut at the crossing point
and worked out through the lay for a distance exactly equal to the
length of the ta il which will eventually replace it, Fig 9, where it is
cut off.
There are special tools, designed for tucking the tails namely a