Husky288XP
ArboristSite Guru
I would like to start splicing my own 16 strand climbing lines, after a lot of practice of course. But, I was wondering what tools would be needed fids, needles, etc to start out. And maybe some pointers.
Learning to Splice
- Thread starter Husky288XP
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NickfromWI
Addicted to ArboristSite
The Brion Toss Splicing wand is nice, but for 16 strand, all you NEED is...
Coat hanger or other stout wire, maybe 30" long
Sharpie or equivalent marker
scissors
measuring tape
needle (preferably a quite stout one)
thread
All stuff you probably had around the house, right! Check out samson's web site. They have great instructions for 16 strand rope.
love
nick
(ps, fold the wire in half....this is your "fid")
Coat hanger or other stout wire, maybe 30" long
Sharpie or equivalent marker
scissors
measuring tape
needle (preferably a quite stout one)
thread
All stuff you probably had around the house, right! Check out samson's web site. They have great instructions for 16 strand rope.
love
nick
(ps, fold the wire in half....this is your "fid")
NickfromWI
Addicted to ArboristSite
Gotta love this camera!
Here's a comparison of the wand and the coat hanger verson
Here's a comparison of the wand and the coat hanger verson
NickfromWI
Addicted to ArboristSite
A close up of the tips
John Paul Sanborn
Above average climber
You should have had your zing-it noose poking out Nick!
NickfromWI
Addicted to ArboristSite
John, I don't think that is appropriate talk for a public forum. Let's keep it clean!
love
nick
dbeck
ArboristSite Operative
the $4 sailmakers needle from sherrill is good stuff...you'll lose it before you break it.
John Paul Sanborn
Above average climber
A good apolstry needle works fine. I cannot remember how much i paid, but a pack was less then that.
dbeck
ArboristSite Operative
Maybe your upholstry(spelling) needle supplier was better, but I continuously broke them after little use. That is why i 'blew' $4 on that big needle!
TreeJunkie
ArboristSite Guru
I've tried both needles, just depends what i'm lock stitching or whipping, 16 strand the sail needle is fine, but for ultra tech double braid, i have a real hard time w/ that big of a needle, the upholstery is prob. better..
NickfromWI
Addicted to ArboristSite
This was posted a long, long time ago...
2- Massage the throat to loosen the fibers before you begin.
1- Go down a few more inches before you start. Right where the cover strands are entering the cover, there is a ton of tension. Move down until you can get that needle through. I've seen some splices from Sherrill (on split tails) where the stitch was about a foot down the splice. I don't go that far because it doesn't look good to me and I'm not getting paid by the hour, so I can take the extra time to do it my way.
2- Where ever you decide to put that needle in, if it doesn't go easy, and you don't have a thimble or a palm, try this: Put the needle in the little bit you can..maybe just barely an eighth of an inch. Now hold the rope parallel to a firm surface (work bench) and push the rope onto the needle. With some work, it should go through.
3- THE BROCCOLI RUBBERBAND TRICK!!!! I love this. Next time you're at the grocery store, head to the produce department (which is usually the first thing you see when you go in). Pick up a bunch of broccoli. It is often bundled by a fat rubberband. Either buy that bunch of broccoli, or find some other way to obtain that rubber band (or one like it). Now, when you have a needle that is sticking out of the rope, but you can't get it all the way...don't use pliers...that will scratch up and ruin your nice needle. Instead, pinch the needle with that rubber band. You should be able to get the extra friction/gription necessary to pull that sucker outta there.
4- Thin needles go in and out easier
5- Don't wrap a whipping on so tight that you can't get the needle through....that is a sign that there is too much tension in the whipping...or that you are using a needle that is just too large.
6- Brion (toss) doesn't spend all day climbing on those lines. I will continue to lock stitch (using NICCS Method) no matter what he says.
2- Massage the throat to loosen the fibers before you begin.
1- Go down a few more inches before you start. Right where the cover strands are entering the cover, there is a ton of tension. Move down until you can get that needle through. I've seen some splices from Sherrill (on split tails) where the stitch was about a foot down the splice. I don't go that far because it doesn't look good to me and I'm not getting paid by the hour, so I can take the extra time to do it my way.
2- Where ever you decide to put that needle in, if it doesn't go easy, and you don't have a thimble or a palm, try this: Put the needle in the little bit you can..maybe just barely an eighth of an inch. Now hold the rope parallel to a firm surface (work bench) and push the rope onto the needle. With some work, it should go through.
3- THE BROCCOLI RUBBERBAND TRICK!!!! I love this. Next time you're at the grocery store, head to the produce department (which is usually the first thing you see when you go in). Pick up a bunch of broccoli. It is often bundled by a fat rubberband. Either buy that bunch of broccoli, or find some other way to obtain that rubber band (or one like it). Now, when you have a needle that is sticking out of the rope, but you can't get it all the way...don't use pliers...that will scratch up and ruin your nice needle. Instead, pinch the needle with that rubber band. You should be able to get the extra friction/gription necessary to pull that sucker outta there.
4- Thin needles go in and out easier
5- Don't wrap a whipping on so tight that you can't get the needle through....that is a sign that there is too much tension in the whipping...or that you are using a needle that is just too large.
6- Brion (toss) doesn't spend all day climbing on those lines. I will continue to lock stitch (using NICCS Method) no matter what he says.
Lumberjack
Banned
To remove any doubt or confusion Nick could you post a set of pics with that new snazy camera of yours, takin the pics of each step of samsons instructions. I understand how to splice it, but pics are always cool, and are better than talk.
SilverBlue
Addicted to ArboristSite
Hey Nick, have you been able to tape any seminars?
Koa Man
Kahuna giganticus
Buy the Brion Toss Splicing video and his wand. It is worth every penny.
Splice it
If you need pictures, (can't follow Nick's easy instructions) go to www.samsonrope.com and search for eye splice instructions for BlueStreak and don't forget to look at Lock Stitch Procedure for whipping finished splice. The pictures are there for those that need pictures. For those of you that have not moved on from manilia or hemp yet, look at 3-Strand Splicing Instructions, I hear tell it works on synthetic three strand also. These are printable so push print and make a copy or two for yourself and crew.
If you need pictures, (can't follow Nick's easy instructions) go to www.samsonrope.com and search for eye splice instructions for BlueStreak and don't forget to look at Lock Stitch Procedure for whipping finished splice. The pictures are there for those that need pictures. For those of you that have not moved on from manilia or hemp yet, look at 3-Strand Splicing Instructions, I hear tell it works on synthetic three strand also. These are printable so push print and make a copy or two for yourself and crew.
SilverBlue
Addicted to ArboristSite
I agree Koa.
samson
well i printed off a series of pdf from samson and tehn popped off to the local DIY shop to get some 3 strand blue polyprop..... crap rope but well its practice
anyway, ive now spliced 3 eyes and have ran out of rope (i only got 3 meters)
well i think ive caught some bug from it......im off to buy more 3 strand and make more pointless splices.
one question, when tucking in teh strands, if i pulled the strands the spice bunched up and buckled, if however i pulled them up (as if chockering them) and pulled the eye and standing part of the rope the locked tight, is this normal? or have i done something wrong?
antway, when i get the cash or decide that food aint important for the week, im gonna send off for some 'proper' rope and make a lanyard or two and some cord for some fancy hitches
thanks for inspiring me to spend more money
jamie
well i printed off a series of pdf from samson and tehn popped off to the local DIY shop to get some 3 strand blue polyprop..... crap rope but well its practice
anyway, ive now spliced 3 eyes and have ran out of rope (i only got 3 meters)
well i think ive caught some bug from it......im off to buy more 3 strand and make more pointless splices.
one question, when tucking in teh strands, if i pulled the strands the spice bunched up and buckled, if however i pulled them up (as if chockering them) and pulled the eye and standing part of the rope the locked tight, is this normal? or have i done something wrong?
antway, when i get the cash or decide that food aint important for the week, im gonna send off for some 'proper' rope and make a lanyard or two and some cord for some fancy hitches
thanks for inspiring me to spend more money
jamie
OutOnaLimb
ArboristSite Guru
OK, I kinda got it figured out, but how do you attach the running end of the rope to the improvised fid? It keeps popping off or I break the wire. I think I will just order the video and get the right tools. But at least I have a concept of it and am going to keep playin around with it. Thanks
Kenn
Kenn
knudeNoggin
ArboristSite Lurker
Agreed.
It does suggest (realizing how the BToss wand works) that the
homebrew version could be some suitably narrow tube with a thin,
flexible wire, or cord (fishline?)
Thanks for the pics!
knudeNoggin
ps: Re those broccoli rubber bands, yeah, handy to use for adding
friction to various things (got a cutting board sliding around
on the kitchen counter?). And, of course, the FOOD is
wonderful. One can also apply the bands TO the pliers,
rendering them kinder & gentler & grippier.
(E.g., I've put a rubber band on a binder clip that
I use to show spoke wind-up when truing a bike wheel.)
That is pretty good homemade rig Nick. Other good tricks too. i've heard about another interesting adaptation i thought someone else might bring up (cuz i never tried, but it sounded like it would work), and mimicked Brion Toss's wand more closely; perhaps an easier companion at some point to the vid.
A car antaenae with a few of the sections collapseed for strength, and set into a vice for wand. Then make a snare to snake down the tube from wire etc.; (possibly even ran up inside or crimped and fused to much smaller diameter section of the discarded parts of antanae).
The vid would be much harder to replace IMLHO, splicing (the ultimate strenght knot)can give more understanding of/for other knots IMLHO.
A car antaenae with a few of the sections collapseed for strength, and set into a vice for wand. Then make a snare to snake down the tube from wire etc.; (possibly even ran up inside or crimped and fused to much smaller diameter section of the discarded parts of antanae).
The vid would be much harder to replace IMLHO, splicing (the ultimate strenght knot)can give more understanding of/for other knots IMLHO.
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