[Stumble]

Unfortunately there is no way to arrange it so that the larger doesn't run through blocks.

I did consider trying to use the Samson Smooth Ice cover installation splice but couldn't get the larger line to bury in the smaller. The size difference was just too large. I could certainly just bury it up the middle, lock stitch it, then whip it to see if it holds, but I am concerned this wouldn't transfer the load appropriately, and would jam in the blocks.

edit:

I received my order of line and documented all the testing I did as well as my final result.

In order to be as efficient as possible I wanted to go from 9mm salsa to 3mm dyneema in as few steps as possible. I think with one of the Toss splicing wands it maybe possible to eliminate a step, but I don't have one so can't test it.

I have no way to test strength, but because the tapers are somewhat shorter than ideal the stress risers created are likely going to cause the line to break. In this application reducing the leingth of the total splice was more important than retaining maximum strength because the total package is far stronger than needed for the expected loads.

1) 9.5mm Salsa was end for end spliced into 6mm dyneema each end was tapered 17" from the crossover
- tapering the Salsa first was required to make this step. Here a wand would have been prefered.
2) Then 6mm dyneema was end for end spliced into 5mm dyneema on a 17" taper.
- I suspect that with a wand the 6mm could be buried into 4mm, but with the Selma finds I couldn't get the line throug
3) 5mm was spliced into 4mm. With each side tapered 14"
4) 4mm spliced to 3mm. With a 11" taper.

So from the Salsa to the 3mm amsteel is a total of four splices, and a distance of a little over 5'.
If I am correct that 6mm could be buried into 4mm directly then it would be 3 splices and not quite 4' long.

What I found is that generally dyneema will open up enough to accept a bury from up to 1.5 times its original size. I need to replace my #4 Selma fid before making the finish rope and posting pictures, and I have no idea where this would have an application other than here, but I have found it a fascinating experiment that will cut weight from my boat and reduce line friction at the same time.