Samson Vs NE ropes splicing instructions

[benz]

While watching a video off the Samson website on splicing class 2 double braid (Polyester covered Vectran, in this case), I noticed a few differences between their instructions and those of NE ropes. Firstly, Samson has two extraction points, rather than just one, which isn't a big deal, just a different way to get the cover over the eye, but secondly, they seem to take a very casual approach to tapering, which I had been given to understand elsewhere is very important. Their taper is simply to cut the end of the bury off at an angle, whereas NE ropes gives directions for a far longer, more gradual taper.
I will be splicing some Samson Validator II shortly, and would like to taper for maximum strength, but wonder whether I need to make the bury longer than they recommend so that there's sufficient bury of full diameter before I begin to taper. I've heard mention of 72 diameters for the bury, which seems to come out to a bit more than either Samson or NE recommends. Thoughts?

[Brion Toss]

Hi,
Tail lengths vary according to product strength, slickness, and construction. Samson's and New England's are based on "fid lengths," which in turn are based on 21x the rope diameter. I prefer the more easily-calculated multiples of 8x diameter. This does result in slightly longer tails, which in turn accommodates a longer, fairer taper, which I find more chafe- and jam-resistant, and more handsome than a blunt taper.
Splicing technique also varies, and you might also look at Yale's method for "Class II" splices, but the results are comparable. I find that Samson's double-exit is cumbersome, at least for the tools I use, and especially with good, tough rope.
So recommendation: long taper, with suitably long tail.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss

[benz]

Thanks,

I will check out Yale's directions, but unless they are far and away superior to NE's, I'll probably stick with the latter's instructions, which I've used with their version of that rope with good results. Less importantly, any thoughts on Samson's recommended method or serving the splice? Their video says to parcel it with masking tape and to hitch each turn of the service, which seems ugly to me. Still, they stress that it is a necessary step. I planned to serve my splices with plain round turns, which seems more tidy. Anyhoo nothing like Too Much Information!

[Brion Toss]

Hi again,
The hitched "service" that I see on Samson's site is for securing a reeving eye made from a piece of twine. Not a style I favor, to say the least; Id rather put in a reeving eye with the cover. Serving the splice is another thing altogether. I'll do that for an aesthetic effect, but usually will just whip the short end down. If you do serve, hitches aren't needed, unless the splice will see a lot of chafe. In that case, hitches will keep the service from coming apart altogether. If you need to hitch, then, make it pretty -- Moku or St. Mary's hitching, for instance.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss

[benz]

The hitching I saw on the Samson site was on their core-to-core splice video. Interestingly enough, I downloaded and printed NE's directions again (mine had gotten faded and indistinct), to find that their directions are slightly different than two years ago. Better pictures, though, and nice taper directions. Couldn't find Yale's but that doens't mean they don't exist.