Sta-Set X eye splice problem

[whimsy]

I'm re-using what was an old halyard (sail raised likely under a dozen times, but on the mast 3~4 for years) where I need a fixed segment with an eye on each end.

This is 1/2" Sta-Set X. I've done my third of a total of eight splices so far, using Brion's splicing wand instead of the fid but otherwise New England Rope's instructions.

My first two went pretty well, although I'm not sure quite what "a lot of force to set it" really is...I finished them up with a 18-power secondary winch.

My third one doesn't seem right--Most of the tapered part of the core didn't go back inside the cover. But the crossover did go up into the core, and I can see enough of both marks to tell it didn't slip.

Since I'm re-using what I have rather than buying what I need, I've got rope that is twice as strong as I need for this purpose...so I am wondering what chance my splice is so bad as to have under 50% of the strength of the line.

Any thoughts (besides the reminder that old ropes are harder to splice)?

Thanks.

[Brion Toss]

Oh no you don't. The purpose of splicing is to attempt, at least, 100% efficiency. If less than that is acceptable, don't splice, tie a knot. A badly-done splice might be 50% efficient. Or more. Or less. If you are having difficulty splicing, it is not an opportunity to rationalize; it is an opportunity to learn to splice better.
If you are not in a hurry, and if you have some extra rope, send me a sample, along with the splice you are describing, and I'll offer some free advice. If you are on a schedule, try posting pictures here, okay?
Fair leads,
Brion Toss

[whimsy]

OK, Brion, you got me. I actually have two goals:

1. I want to make the lines I need for my new rig. They need to be strong enough, not perfect. (If I trust this splice enough, I don't need to re-do it for this purpose)

2. I do want to be better at splicing. And that is what I hope to get here on this board. I don't have time to send stuff to you, I'll describe what I've done as best I can here.

I've done two splices that seem "good" and one that seems "bad" I've also marked the rope for my 4th attempt. (I need to make 4 segments with an eye on each side, so 8 total splices)


I've marked them with black at the cover crossover, purple at the other side of the eye on the cover, and red on the cover where the core gets pulled out.

I made a red mark on the core at the crossover where the fabric tape ends, but that is pretty well buried along with the black cover mark in my splices.

The picture doesn't show it, but I can see that my crossover marks on the core and cover are aligned within ~1/8" on all my splices, and pulled within 1/8" of the cover entrance. The "bad" splice cover goes into the cover with 1/8~1/4" from one side to the other.

This next pic shows one of my splices before I tapered, taped, and pulled things home. I didn't keep track, but it is probably the 2nd splice (good), although it could be my 3rd (bad) splice.


Here is a detail shot of the eyes of the two "good" splices I did:

[whimsy]

(This forum limits pics, so here is the other part of my reply here)

I have two detailed shots of the "bad" splice, and here they are:


I struggled to get the cover tight over the core in the eye portion in all my splices, but felt like I did pretty well--it isn't quite as "hard" as the rope is undisturbed, but I can only work a tiny bit of slop around...I would guess that pulling 1/8"~1/4" of core into that portion would get rid of it, if that makes sense.

Following NE Ropes directions, after pulling the core out at the middle mark, I loosened the cover all the way up to my knot (doubled figure-eight leaving a loop easy to drop over a winch drum, etc.) and milked it back down before I marked the two points on the core.

I was surprised at how much "extra" core I had out after that process was done, but I figure if nothing was going to change, they wouldn't have included that step.

So...I'm still looking for suggestions on how to do my next set of splices with 100% strength, and also what I can do about trying to salvage what I've done, given that I can live with 50% strength if I trust it that way.

Also, I do intend to do throat whippings on all of my splices, I'm just waiting until I'm done splicing to get onto it.

[whimsy]

I'm still working at it...the rope I had has an extra end, so I started on splice #4.

I have yet to really apply force (I used my secondary 18X winch) to pull this one home, but I did milk the core down pretty well. The core tail is going away better than my 3rd splice, but not completely, and (I think) not as quickly as it did on my first two splices. I decided to take a break before I figured out if it was really messed up or not, and it was too late to fix it either way...so here is a picture in-progress.

[SV Papillon]

If you look at samson's double braid splice instructions for used line it accounts for the problem you are having. I don't have it on me but it basically adjusts your measurements to account for increased friction of a used jacket, it will not slide back down nicely like new line as you can see. Not a big deal at all I'm sure someone will come around to give you more specifics on how to adjust your measurement, I'll see if I can dig up the samson book.

FYI it doesn't matter how little a line was used, unless it was stored inside the UV alone will stiffen it up sufficiantly to give you a headache

Jake