three strand splice

[Waldo]

does the three strand splice need to be whipped and stitched?

 

[NickfromWI]

nope

 

[williamd]

You could burn and mushroom the ends. Pull each end out about an inch or more, mushroom it, then put in on the concrete and roll it with your foot. That should finish it up. Just an old trick from an english arborist from years ago. I've climbed on spliced 1/2" 3 strand prusik loops for years and never had a problem. Never come apart. Eye splices and end to end.

 

[NickfromWI]

I haven't found a way to finish a 3 strand splice that I like.

 

[chris_girard]

[ QUOTE ]
I haven't found a way to finish a 3 strand splice that I like.

[/ QUOTE ]

Neither have I Nick, so I just wrap the end with electrical tape and replace it as necessary.

3 strand is still my favorite splice to do. So much history in that line that it's very satisfying to work with.

 

[Norm_Hall]

[ QUOTE ]
I haven't found a way to finish a 3 strand splice that I like.

[/ QUOTE ]

I like this method the best (mariners taper).
Front side:

 

[Norm_Hall]

Back side:

 

[NickfromWI]

That's as good as I have found, too.

Electrical tape, whipping, heat-shrink tubing, athletic tape, whipit/dipit...none of them work as good as melted globs.

I tried using really long tails, then when the splice is done turning the tails into a core that the 3 strands wrapped around. It finished as you would expect. Fat, clunky, and messy.

 

[chris_girard]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I haven't found a way to finish a 3 strand splice that I like.

[/ QUOTE ]

I like this method the best (mariners taper).

[/ QUOTE ]

Norm, I like the looks of that mariners taper! Could you describe how it is done, or point me in the direction of where I may find instructions?

Thanks.

 

[Norm_Hall]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I haven't found a way to finish a 3 strand splice that I like.

[/ QUOTE ]

I like this method the best (mariners taper).

[/ QUOTE ]

Norm, I like the looks of that mariners taper! Could you describe how it is done, or point me in the direction of where I may find instructions?

Thanks.

[/ QUOTE ]

Chris, one end stays after 4 or 5 tucks (I know, 5 tucks with synthetic fibers), 2nd end gets tucked 1 more time, 3rd end gets tucked 2 more times. So, when you're done, all ends are in a row.

 

[chris_girard]

Oh, OK Norm I get it now. Thanks for the info.

I'll give that a try, instead of always using electrical tape.

 

[overpaidmuniguy]

Barbara Merry has that as the "California Taper" in her splicing handbook. Nice bit of style, less grabby than the normal finish when dragged backwards through branches.

 

[John_Hartenburg]

Barbra is a hoot. I called her once when I had a question on a splice and she was quite helpful, swore like a sailor....but helpful.

 

[SingleJack]

[ QUOTE ]
I haven't found a way to finish a 3 strand splice that I like.

[/ QUOTE ]

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH: ... did this splice nearly 50 years ago!

<u>AFTER</u> the 'weave', feather the strands flat, spread evenly about the laid strands, whip &amp; frap, trim excess, melt 'fuzz' if desired ... makes for a nice finish ...

 

[John_Hartenburg]

And that my friends is how we turn a $3 splice into a $20 dollar splice...

 

[SingleJack]

[ QUOTE ]
And that my friends is how we turn a $3 splice into a $20 dollar splice...

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks! Yeah, it's totally unnessary as Nick points out but some people REALLY like that extra touch...

Actually, it adds little more than half the splice time for a nice, 'pro-lookiing' finish. So, if a $3 splice + $2 whip is worth $20 ... COOL!!!

 

[Riggs]

I aalwys tapered my three strand splice and never had to stitch lock that splice . Ghetto

 

[Brion]

Hi all,
Ah, 3-strand. Nice to know that you guys still have a use for it, even with all those neon braided super-ropes you use. That 50-year-old splice was finished with a palm-and-needle whipping, and yeah, it is labor-intensive. But I've found that a couple of Double Constrictors are nearly as permanent, at least if the splice is well-faired and -tucked, so that the ends don't want to pull out to begin with.
I find melted gobs to be sharp, toxic, and ugly, and I've seen them pull out. Also, it is so very easy to melt the standing part strands, too, which isn't good for the rope.
As for the taper Norm shows, here's one more name: "Frisco taper".It is tidy, and though I've done no tests with it, I've heard that the asymmetrical tucks produce lower break numbers.
For what it's worth, on some tests we did with nylon, the rope broke a few percentage points weaker when the splices were tapered (fully tapered, with each strand having the same number of tucks). Only with nylon, and I don't know why.
I usually don't taper, unless the client asks for it. But I always finish with a backed tuck (with the lay), as this seems to lay down a bit smoother.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss

 

[chris_girard]

Thanks for the info Brion. Very good tips.

Yeah, there are a lot of us in the tree care industry (I think) that still use 3-strand for certain applications.

That was the first kind of rope that I learned to splice on and I read about it in your book, Chapman's Nautical Guides KNOTS. Best directions that I've seen for splicing s-strand.

I've got a question to ask you and our other members, but I think that I'll start a new post on it.