WHAT IS HAND SPLICING?

WHAT IS HAND SPLICING? Hand splicing is a technique where you partially unravel the rope strands then braid and feed them back into the main part of the rope in a particular way. It can either be used to make a loop/eye at the end of the rope, something called a back splice or to join 2 ropes together. Splicing can be done on a range of wire, synthetic, and fibre ropes. There are many different applications for having a splice on your rope over alternative methods to do the same thing.

So why would you splice your rope? Ever wondered how to stop your rope from fraying? Or realized your rope wasn’t quite long enough? Annoyed when the eye on the end keeps catching? Splicing could be your solution.

Splicing can allow you to change the functionality of your rope products and with a number of different methods, the opportunities are vast. The most common use we see is eye splicing. This involves unravelling the strands at the end of the rope and passing the strands over and under against and back into the rope to form a loop. It can be used to permanently attach items to the end of your rope, like hooks, or help prevent the eye from catching if it's running through machinery and sheaves.

Another technique is back/end splicing, where the strands of the end of the rope are spliced directly back into the end without forming a loop. This increases the thickness at the end, helping to prevent fraying and makes the rope easier to hold and grab.

The long splice technique can be used to join two ropes together and create an endless loop with your rope. This method doesn’t alter the diameter of the rope, unlike a back splice.

If you’ve decided that a splice in your rope is to your benefit, consider the following tools to make the process easier:

• Something to cut your rope with
• A good source of light
• Splicing fid to suit the size and type of rope you're working with
• Pliers
• Tape
• Wooden Mallet

Keep in mind that if there is a splice in the rope, it can reduce the working load by up to 20%. This can vary depending on the size and type of rope used.

Dont forget to contact your nearest All Lifting branch to learn more about how splicing could benefit you!