SPLICING INSTRUCTIONS

Everything you need to know about splicing!

WHAT IS SPLICING?

A splice is a way of terminating a rope or joining two ends of rope together without using a knot. Apart from being bulky and unsightly, even a correctly tied knot can cause significant loss of strength to a rope.

SPLICING TOOLS

Swedish fids are used primarily for 3 strand and multiplait splicing. They also aid Marlowbraid and D2 Racing splices.

Braid on Braid Fid Set – Selma fids are used primarily for doublebraid, D12 and D2 splices, but can also be used to aid 3 strand and marlowbraid splices.

Splicing Needles – Large and small used for Marlowbraid, D2 Racing. Can also be used for the doublebraid splice.

Excel Control Splicing needle – Used primarily for Excel Control and Excel D12 2.5 and 3mm.

Other tools and equipment – Sharp knife and/or scissors, tape measure, permeant marker pen, splicing (or insulation type) tape, strong point on your work bench, hot knife or flame for sealing the rope.

Check our shop for splicing tools

SPLICES VS KNOTS

Splices: Most Marlow ropes can be spliced, this is normally the preferred method of termination. A good splice using the recommended method should not reduce the strength of a rope by more than 10%.

Knots: A knot will reduce the strength of the rope, sometimes very significantly. This loss is caused by the tight bends and compression found in any knot. The amount a rope will be weakened will depend on the knot, type of rope and the material from which it is made but can be up to 60%

Eye Sizes: Wherever possible the angle formed at the throat of a splice when it is loaded should be 30 degrees or less. This means that the length of the eye when flat must be at least 2.7 times the diameter of the object over which the eye is to be used and the distance from the bearing point to the throat when in use should be at least 2.4 times the diameter. Some materials like Aramids and HMPEs (Dyneema) will require a larger eye with an angle at the throat of 15 degrees or less.

SPLICING TUTORIALS

Covered Eye Splice

Used for core dependent rope constructions. Designs where the core contributes most or all the strength and the cover provides protection to the rope.

Skill rating: Advanced 4/5

Continuous Loop Splice

The Continuous Loop splice is specifically designed to make endless loops useful for kicker, cunningham and outhaul systems. Marlow’s Control Line has a tough, strong cover that takes much of the load bearing duties and a small polypropylene core that is designed to be sacrificed in this very neat end-to-end slice.

Skill rating: Beginner 2/5

Taper

A Taper splice is useful in areas of rope that don’t require handling, for reducing friction and when needing to change the diameter of the line.

Skill rating: Intermediate 3/5