Eye splice

Eye splice

The eye splice is the best method of creating a permanent loop in the end of multi stranded rope by means of rope splicing. The ends of the rope are tucked (plaited) back into the standing end to form the loop. Originally this splice was described with each end being tucked only about three times. When the splice was made in tarred hemp or cotton this was reasonably safe. With modern synthetic ropes, five complete tucks is a minimum and additional tucks are recommended for critical loads. The eyesplice is also commonly used on wire rope.

Technique

The ends of the rope are first wrapped in tape or heated with a flame to prevent each end from fraying completely. The rope is unlayed for a distance equal to three times the diameter for each "tuck", e.g., for five tucks in half inch rope, undo about 7.5 inches. Wrap the rope at that point to prevent it unwinding further. Form the loop and plait the three ends back against the twist of the rope. Practice is required to keep each end to retain its twist and lie neatly. In stiff old rope or in new rope which has been tightly wound, a marlinspike or fid can facilitate opening up the strands and threading each end.

In some cases, the splice is tapered by trimming the working strands after each tuck. Also, the splice can be whipped to protect and strengthen the splice.

The eye splice has several advantages. The most notable is the permanence of the loop. An equally important, but less noted advantage, is the lack of stress it puts on the rope. Splices average 10-15% of rope strength decay which is very low compared to even the strongest knots. Literature and reference sources typically attribute only a 5% strength decay for a properly tied splice. Technically, a perfectly tied splice retains 100% of the original strength of the rope, but only a trained professional is considered capable of performing this task. Destructive testing of rope in manufacturing facilities makes use of a professional and spliced eyes for connecting the rope to the testing apparatus.

Alternatives

The Bowline is a quick practical method of forming a loop in the end of a piece of rope. However, the bowline has an awkward tendency to shake undone when not loaded. The bowline also reduces the strength of the rope at the knot to ~45% of the original unknotted strength.

External links

* [http://www.animatedknots.com/splice/ Eye Splice Animated]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Eye-splice — n. (Naut.) A splice formed by bending a rope s end back, and fastening it into the rope, forming a loop or eye. See Illust. under {Splice}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • eye splice — n. a splice made by turning back the end of a rope and interlacing its strands into the body of the rope so as to form an end loop, or eye: see SPLICE …   English World dictionary

  • eye splice — eye′ splice n. navig. tex a splice made in a rope by turning back one end and interweaving it with the main body of the rope so as to form a loop • Etymology: 1760–70 …   From formal English to slang

  • eye splice — noun : a splice formed by bending a rope s end back and splicing it into the rope so that a loop is formed * * * a splice made in a rope by turning back one end and interweaving it with the main body of the rope so as to form a loop. See illus.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • eye splice — a splice made in a rope by turning back one end and interweaving it with the main body of the rope so as to form a loop. See illus. under splice. [1760 70] * * * …   Universalium

  • eye splice — /ˈaɪ splaɪs/ (say uy spluys) noun a splice made in a rope by turning back one end and interweaving it with the main body of the rope so as to form a loop …  

  • eye-splice — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Splice — may refer to:* Connection of two or more pieces of linear material: ** Rope splicing, joining two pieces of rope or cable by weaving the strands of each into the other ** Eye splice, the best method of creating a permanent loop in the end of… …   Wikipedia

  • Eye (disambiguation) — Eye may refer to one of the following: *Eye, the sight organ *Eye of a needle *Eye (cyclone), the center of a tropical cyclone *The loop of an eye bolt *The result of an eye splice *Batter s eye in baseball *Eye of Providence, the all seeing eye… …   Wikipedia

  • splice — spliceable, adj. /spluys/, v., spliced, splicing, n. v.t. 1. to join together or unite (two ropes or parts of a rope) by the interweaving of strands. 2. to unite (timbers, spars, or the like) by overlapping and binding their ends. 3. to unite… …   Universalium

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