I whip each end twice - near the end and 150 mm or so from the end, in case the first fails. Then I cut off the hard "heat-sealed" end, leaving a nice soft end that won't hurt so much if it whips around.
I use heat, liquid and traditional - sometimes all together. Mainly depends on how much of a hurry I'm in. Don't like frayed ends but still have some on board in the scrap rope bin.
I also like to use a backsplice on occasion (tapered over 3 or 4 tucks, naturally) - gives a nice heavy slightly stiff end which can be useful.
But I ticked the traditional whipping twine option 'cause that's what I do the rest of the time (yeah, I know I use terylene, but we know what you mean).
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I wrap a few turns of electrical masking tape around the part that I intend to cut in the rope.
Use a knife with a serated edge or a bread knife to cut through the rope where the masking tape is. The masking tape preventing any frayed end.
Then use the galley stove to burn and melt each new end made from the rope.
The masking tape melts into the rope and gives the equivalent of whipping with twine.
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I do the same with two exceptions.
1. I use my lighter to burn the end as I'm still a (well organised) smoker /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
2. In the case of spectra ropes that do not melt with heat I go traditionally.
[edit] Try a razor-like blade instead. Easier to cut and makes a nicer end.
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I use heat, liquid and traditional - sometimes all together. Mainly depends on how much of a hurry I'm in. Don't like frayed ends but still have some on board in the scrap rope bin.
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Frayed ends and scrap rope .... especially stranded rope ... Keep it. An old seamans trick ... double the scrap rope so that you have the middle forming a U. If the rope is loosely bound ... you can "draw" a strand out to provide a whipping or lashing strand ...
If you see the way a traditional ship carrys whipping twine ... it was cut into short lengths about 3 - 5ft long, laid up .... single strand bound the mid-point and plaited to form a criss-cross ... the middle binding then used to form a loop to hang it by. You wanted a whipping - you pulled a strand from that middle section ...
Plastic ropes!!?? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
The whole point of making your hands bleed by splicing was to qualify for the extra tot of rum one was rewarded with afterwards! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Hence the origins of 'splicing the mainbrace'...... but now with plastic bits of rope, no rum! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif