7x7 splicing, obtaining a fair entry
 

My 7x7 practice splices are looking pretty good to my eyes, but I'd welcome some expert eyes and comments. Below are some pictures of what is probably my 7th splice. My only complaint is that there is a bit of gap between strands #3 & #4 which didn't exist when held in the vise. It looks like it should disappear once served and loaded up, but I'd love to hear your opinions on whether it is important and how to improve it. I know I could put a small seizing on the standing end, but the old splices were very well done without one and I'm trying to see if I can pull off an equally elegant splice.

Details
 

Hello,
Nice work, really nice work. You have just earned 30ft of annealed stainless 1x7 seizing wire, suitable for seizing the tail of your splices. If you apply these seizings correctly, at the correct place, I believe you'll find it easier to get a fairer entry -- and to improve the tensile strength of your splices, as well as their appearance. Write to me at the shop, say what diameter of wire you are using, and we'll send the right diameter of seizing wire.
Meanwhile, if this splice is representative, it appears that you are selecting starting strands a bit too far inboard, and that this is making the (normal) gap between 3 and 4 larger. It is also possible that the wire is a bit loose in the vise, and that the standing part is rotating clockwise a bit as you splice, throwing off the lead of the later tucks. If this is the case, it should be easy to stop. Perhaps you could show a splice positioned in your vise.
Other than that, you might try breaking the lay on the end strands just a little bit less. Not a normal problem, I can assure you; yours appear to be right on the edge of losing coherence.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss

Email sent! I just thought of another question that might be of general interest to practice splicers. Once I finish a splice I need to get out the thimble and cut the splice off of the rest of the wire. Right now the only tool I have that is consistently up to the task is my hacksaw. Surely, there must be a better way to make short work of this task. What tool would you recommend for cutting through wire rope expediently? (The sizes of rope I'm dealing with are 1/4" to 3/8") Thanks for the encouragement!