A push fid will never make it through 24 strand Double Braid, or 16 strand. Push Fids are most helpful for hollow braids, or simply as a measurement tool only for 16 and 24 strand ropes.
The first Wire Fid I ever made was using a coat hanger. It was a poor choice since the coating caught fibers terribly. A piano string of similar diameter will be much more friendly. There are many sources for wire of the appropriate gauge.
For most 24s Double Braids, all you need to do is:
- Take about 40" section of wire and fold it in half, to make it 20" overall. Do not crimp the fold super tight, rather, make the bend around something like a nail (1.5 mm or so).
- Next is to form the free ends of the wire around a ring or thimble to create an attachment point to pull the fid from. Whether using a ring or thimble, the means of connection is not unlike that of a soft cable wrap in a tree...pass the wire around the ring and begin forming turns around the standing part.
- Cover all the turns up with tape to prevent any snags from happening and you should be left with about an 18" Wire Pull Fid.
Cheers!
Made the rocket line splice with a push fid
