nigelmercier
RIP
- Joined
- 20 Jun 2007
- Messages
- 16,234
- Location
- Live in Kent, boat in Canary Islands
It's been a long time since I used my Selma Fids, and suddenly I'm confused; perhaps because I have read more on the subject.
I have some 16mm Double Braid to Eye Splice. Using the formula, this gives a "fid length" of 16 x 21 = 336mm. The largest Selma fid is 13mm internal diameter (also marked "13") and is 285mm long, which is close to 21 times 13mm (273mm).
However, this "13" fid is much too large even to splice my 16mm, as you only use the fid with either the core or the cover, never both. I have seen videos and instructions (even from Uncle Tom Cunliffe) where they appear to use a fid that is the same diameter as the rope, this is clearly wrong. The fids themselves say they "... can splice braid on braid rope ... [up] to 22mm", so this largest fid is clearly meant for 22mm.
So now I'm left with a quandary, do I:
I have some 16mm Double Braid to Eye Splice. Using the formula, this gives a "fid length" of 16 x 21 = 336mm. The largest Selma fid is 13mm internal diameter (also marked "13") and is 285mm long, which is close to 21 times 13mm (273mm).
However, this "13" fid is much too large even to splice my 16mm, as you only use the fid with either the core or the cover, never both. I have seen videos and instructions (even from Uncle Tom Cunliffe) where they appear to use a fid that is the same diameter as the rope, this is clearly wrong. The fids themselves say they "... can splice braid on braid rope ... [up] to 22mm", so this largest fid is clearly meant for 22mm.
So now I'm left with a quandary, do I:
- Follow the herd and use "one fid length" of the longest fid (285mm) for both measuring and threading? [Really tight to thread through]
- Use "one fid length" of the correct size fid for 18mm (either a 10mm or 7.5mm fid)? [This is clearly wrong]
- Use the long fid for measuring, and the smaller fid for doing the threading? [Close enough]
- Or use what I believe is the correct length (336mm) and the correct fid?
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