Splicing 6mm Marlowbraid - defeated!

[roblpm]

Being a cleverclogs I thought I would order a new topping lift, spinnaker up and down and splice them myself.

Problems:

The small Marlow needle is too large.

I ordered a small splicing needle, its too short!

No way I'm ever going to get the cover back down inside the standing rope cover, I can only just get the core back down!

What to do??!! Luckily the 6mm wasn't too expensive!!

 

[lpdsn]

I guess you've done a normal splice with the cover going inside the core then the core being pulled back inside the cover.

Couple of tricks I've found help.

1) mark the core where you pull it out and position the point where the sheath goes inside the core just beyond that. Stops you have a bit of the core sticking out if you don't end up milking it all the way.

2) when milking the core back in, keep tension on the line to stop the core bunching up at the splice. Bit of a black art if you're doing it on your own. Easier to have someone pull the line whilst you milk it.

I also stitch the core to the sheath a couple of yards away from the splice, just so I know the core hasn't slipped out from further away.

Loads of videos on YouTube.

 

[roblpm]

Thanks for that

However there seems to be only the marlow video on YouTube for splicing Marlowbraid specifically

Have you successfully spliced 6mm? What needle did you use?

Cheers

Rob

 

[Norman_E]

I guess you've done a normal splice with the cover going inside the core then the core being pulled back inside the cover...............

That works with braid on braid, but Marlowbraid has a braided cover and a three strand core, so splicing it is different from any other rope that I have tried. The Marlow video is here. http://marlowropes.com/splicing-videos/marlowbraid-eye-splice.html

 

[RobF]

If it's any consolation, I had to give up trying to splice 6mm Liros line yesterday evening. My splicing needle was also too large and I couldn't pull the core back through the sheath.

 

[Norman_E]

I had some 16mm Liros, and that I could not splice, the outer cover was so tightly woven that it was just impossible to finish the splice.

 

[lpdsn]

That works with braid on braid, but Marlowbraid has a braided cover and a three strand core, so splicing it is different from any other rope that I have tried. The Marlow video is here. http://marlowropes.com/splicing-videos/marlowbraid-eye-splice.html

Ok, I was thinking just normal braid on braid.

Looking at the video the trick seems to depend upon having the right pulling needle and thinning the core and sheath by the right amount.

 

[Bobc]

Put bowlines in the end instead.

 

[roblpm]

Put bowlines in the end instead.

Ok that is plan b.

How about I sew the cover to the cover of the standing rope if I cant get it back through? Is that allowed? Bad form?

 

[LadyInBed]

Make your own fids
Would 4mm tube be about right?
http://elementgames.co.uk/paints-ho...be---3s?d=22&gclid=CKTRlMO-7bwCFbLJtAod-BkA4g

 

[PlankWalker]

Use knitting needles, or easiest solution a halyard knot.

Plank

 

[alahol2]

Neatest non-splice solution is probably to whip and sew it.

 

[VicS]

+1
for stitching and whipping

.

 

[Neil_Y]

A DIY tip that worked, I made a needle and pulling eye out of a piece of solid copper core from normal domestic two core and earth wire, the copper is stiff enough to thread through as a needle, you can make it as long as you like (in a loop so double) then when you want to pull rope through simply put the end in the loop and it closes and grips when you pull. I'll try and add a photo.
I used a crimp terminal to hold the end of the copper. The big needle is the only other tool I use to open up the rope, but a knitting needle would work as well. I've done an I14 forestay 5mm D12 with this.

 

[prv]

Neatest non-splice solution is probably to whip and sew it.

+1

A number of the lines on Kindred Spirit, where a splice would have been appropriate but I don't think the previous owner knew how, had a single half-hitch to take much of the load and then the end sewn to the standing part and a seizing applied over the top. Looked neater than a knot and never came apart.

Pete

 

[Keen_Ed]

Dyneema is easy to splice. If you buy double braid, you can simply strip the cover and splice the core. I haven't checked, but how much is ebay dyneema compared to marlowbraid?

 

[roblpm]

Well just had near success with 8mm!! Used small Marlow needle which is the right size for that (though isnt long enough to do the 35cm that they suggest on the video!)



Though it is really only a partial success as the thinned bit of the core has somehow ended up half way round the loop! So not sure how strong it will be. The cover is helping as I managed to get it through.

As people have mentioned the skill is in milking rather than pulling!

These are my spinnaker sheets so will try the other one tomorrow and see if I can do it better!

I must have the most expensive splicing kit in the country now! Have some more needles coming! If that doesnt work I will try the earth wire trick mentioned above. I will splice the 6mm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will not be defeated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MikeBz]

Dyneema is easy to splice. If you buy double braid, you can simply strip the cover and splice the core. I haven't checked, but how much is ebay dyneema compared to marlowbraid?

Be aware that the core has very little UV resistance.

 

[roblpm]

Ok i am triumphant!!

After many blisters and much money I have succeeded mostly.

I think neils suggestion from above would have worked but as i am useless at diy i bought a set of dsplice needles which are effectively the same thing. The big ones i bought first are too big for 6mm but the small ones work fine!

Someone should start a website with each specific rope type and diameter and the tools they actually used to splice it successfully as the manufacturers and chandlers websites are pretty vague.

Anyway onwards and upwards (or downwards when my sails fall down due to my dodgy splicing!!)